Budget 2010 - Extra social workers in hospitals

The Government is investing $6.6 million over the next four years to expand the number of Child, Youth and Family (CYF) social workers based in hospitals from six to 16, covering District Health Boards nationwide.

New Zealand has an appalling track record when it comes to the abuse and neglect of our most vulnerable children - a child under two is hospitalised because of abuse every five days in this country - and the Government is committed to addressing this.

The Minister held an independent expert forum in September 2009 to look into more effective ways of protecting our most vulnerable children. Their report identified the need for greater communication between agencies as critical in helping prevent child abuse. At the same time we introduced social workers in hospitals and this has since proven to greatly enhance the links between professional services and improve the information flow about potential abuse cases, resulting in better outcomes for children, young people and their families.

The hospital-based social workers help ensure that appropriate action is taken to address possible child abuse when children present at hospitals. They also ensure that medical and care and protection information is combined when necessary to provide a fuller picture of a child's circumstances.

The expansion of this programme will allow the existing CYF social workers based in hospitals in Auckland, Counties Manukau, Wellington and Hutt Valley, Waikato, Dunedin and Christchurch to continue and 10 additional CYF social workers to be based in other DHB regions throughout New Zealand.