Ministry of Justice

Number

Question

Ministry's response

1

How many people will be on the AOD panel?

All applicants who meet the criteria and submit an application will be offered a place on the panel. There is no limit on numbers at this time. 

2

Who will assess and choose the panel?

Applications will be assessed by approved Ministry employees.

3

Will preference be given to report writers who live close to the regional courts that they live close to?

If an applicant meets the criteria they will be offered a place on the panel. For individual engagements, location may be a factor they prioritise.  

4

Under Background Information, the Guidelines state: "The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background relying on section 27 Sentencing Act 2002". What does that mean? AOD reports have always included information on personal, family, whanau, community and cultural background. Does it mean we should never include background information?  

That's a problem because under the next heading 'Description of the participant’s alcohol and other drug use and the nature of the use', the guideline says the report "should also include any factors that may:

• have contributed to the development of the issue (predisposing)
• have triggered its onset (precipitating)
• are maintaining it (perpetuating), or
• are supporting resilience or recovery (protective)

The factors that contribute to the development of the issue (substance use), and are maintaining it almost always stem from the personal, family, community and cultural background. A significant percentage of clients in the justice sector are born into a family 

• where the parents are alcoholics or drug addicts,
• where the parents had mental health problems,
• where there was serious domestic violence,
• where the child (now the offender) was sexually abused,
• where the child (now the offender) was abandoned by one or both of his parents
• ended up in foster care, where he or she was sexually abused again
• has been in and out of prison
• has been the victim of life threatening situations and chronic trauma
• and as a result has grown up with mental health issues and
• should have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

These are typical background factors which contribute to the development of alcohol and drug problems, and lead to addictions. Such clients use alcohol and drugs to self medicate their chronic distress and - in the absence of treatment for the underlying mental health issues - this perpetuates the problem. Do you want this kind of information or not?

The AOD report template and guidelines were developed to ensure consistent report quality and to provide judges with key information needed to support sentencing decisions. The template focuses specifically on AOD-related information about the participant.  

A section for background information is included in the template. This section should include brief, relevant information about the participant, such as their living arrangements, employment status and any other information the approved report writer considers relevant. 

The Sentencing Act 2002 has not been changed; judges will continue to receive the background information they require.

Information about a participant’s personal, family, whānau, community, or cultural information remains available through other avenues, including section 27 Sentencing Act 2002, for example, oral submissions or privately funded reports.

5

Who has this new information been sent out to?

The Ministry has informed key stakeholders about this change including:

• AOD professionals who currently write court-ordered reports
• judiciary
• Public Defence Service (PDS)
• Addiction Practitioners Association Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ)
• Nursing Council of New Zealand
• New Zealand Psychologists Board
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
• Social Workers Registration Board New Zealand
• New Zealand Law Society
• Criminal Bar Association New Zealand
• Law Association
• New Zealand Bar Association
• Te Hunga Rōia Māori O Aotearoa The Māori Law Society
• Defence Lawyers Association New Zealand
• Pacific Lawyers Association
• South Auckland Bar Association.

6

Are the decision makers who came up with this new assessment format open to feedback, or is it a fait accompli?

Feedback is welcome as we will periodically review the service.

7

Could you confirm whether the process is the same when applying with multiple clinicians within one company?

Yes, it is the same process for individuals, subcontractors and companies. A separate application will need to be submitted for each individual in the company.

8

Who wrote the guidelines with regards to the fees schedule?

The service was established by the Ministry of Justice, with engagement from key stakeholders including associations, the judiciary and lawyers. 

9

The payment for a report is similar to what I currently receive but the non-attendance arrangement/fee is not.  As I read it, The Ministry of Justice want us to dedicated resources and time though do not wish to pay a reasonable amount for this time should an offender decide not to keep an appointment. To me this suggests that the Ministry of Justice does not understand that many AOD writers will be in private practice and that this arrangement puts all the ownness on us and not the offender. Are you able to review that clause and change it to what we have in place in the Nelson region? It does not seem reasonable that AOD report writers need to commit time to activities that they will not get compensated for.   

The non-attendance fee will not be reviewed at this time. This approach has been taken to ensure national consistency.

10

If I do not register as an AOD report writer, will this affect referrals for this work from the Public Defence Service (PDS)?

PDS lawyers have the option choose to use the service or to continue to use report writers who are not in the service. 

11

In June, how will the transition to the new system work?

Guidance will be provided closer to the time on how the transition from the existing process to the new process will work. This will include advice on what to do if you are part‑way through writing a report during the transition period, or if a report was commissioned the day before the change. In the meantime, please continue following your current processes.

12

Will the Ministry of Justice stop approving funding requests for all AOD reports filed under the current system after a certain date? 

From June (date to be confirmed), all court‑ordered AOD reports will be required to be completed by an Approved AOD report writer. Legal aid and PDS lawyers will have the option to use the service, though this will not be mandatory.

13

Will there still be any scope for us to remain operational independent of this new system while you roll it out to full capacity?

Yes.

14

I'm checking if there is a list for the AOD writer on the panel that we could have.

The panel of approved AOD report writers is not available yet. Procurement has just begun. The panel will be available in June 2026. 

15

Can I just do assessments between Otaki and Johnsonville?

Yes. You can indicate your preferred location(s) in the application form. If you are appointed to the panel, you can choose to accept or decline an individual engagement based on the location. 

16

Is it possible to have two assessments per week?

The Ministry is unable to guarantee the volume of work you will receive as an approved report writer on the panel. Clause 8 of the Standard Terms and Conditions provides further detail on this. There is also no obligation to accept engagements, you may decline any engagement, for example if you are unavailable or too busy.

17

I have been preparing comprehensive AOD reports for approximately two years. As you will be aware, these reports require significant clinical assessment, collateral gathering, risk formulation, cultural consideration, and detailed written analysis. The workload involved is substantial and extends well beyond a brief summary document.

In my experience, comprehensive AOD reports have been remunerated at a significantly higher rate, reflecting the time, expertise, and professional accountability required.

Is the $900 fee intended to apply to full comprehensive AOD assessments, or to a more limited report format?

The $900 fixed rate relates to preparation of a report provided in the approved report template. 

18

Does this framework replace the use of private report writers engaged directly by lawyers?

No. Lawyers may choose to engage an approved report writer on the panel or a report writer who is not on the panel.

19

If so, what consultation occurred with experienced report writers prior to determining this fee?

The Ministry consulted with sector representatives on the rate. 

20

Do we need to inform or obtain approval from our current employer before applying?

The Ministry cannot provide employment-related advice on this matter. 

21

I’m considering applying and was wondering if you’re able to give any indication of the expected volume of assessments for report writers. I realise this will likely fluctuate, so even a general idea would be really helpful.

The Ministry is unable to guarantee the volume of work you will receive as an approved report writer on the panel. Clause 8 of the Standard Terms and Conditions provides further detail on this. There is also no obligation to accept engagements, you may decline any engagement, for example if you are unavailable or too busy.

22

Can I send in an application prior to getting my certificate or do I apply with all relevant documentation?

We recommend that you wait until you have received your new certificate to submit your application, ensuring all relevant documents can be assessed together. Please ensure you submit your application before the closing date of 7 April 2026. 

23

Can I fill in the application form now and send in to start the process of applying as an AOD court writer. Or do I wait and send all the relevant documents together with the application.

We recommend that you wait until you have received your new certificate to submit your application, ensuring all relevant documents can be assessed together. Please ensure you submit your application before the closing date of 7 April 2026. 

24

1. Could you clarify the scope and limitations of this peer review? For example, who is a peer? (e.g equal qualifications and experience) 

2. Is the draft fully anonymised/redacted for confidentiality purposes? 

3. Is the peer review process required for every piece of work completed? 

4. Do we seek our own peers and make payment to them as an expense?

5. Do they then need confidentiality agreements?

1. The approved report writer is responsible for engaging an appropriately qualified peer reviewer. While the peer reviewer is not required to be an approved AOD report writer, they must have at least two years' experience in the AOD sector, hold a current applied or non-applied addiction qualification recognised by DAPAANZ (Addiction Practitioners Association Aotearoa New Zealand) and be registered with one of the following: 

• Addiction Practitioners Association Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ)
• New Zealand Psychologists Board
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the New Zealand Medical Council
• Social Workers Registration Board New Zealand
• Nursing Council. 

2. Please see clause 15.9 of the terms and conditions, which state that the peer reviewer must agree to be bound by and comply with, obligations consistent with those in clauses 15 (Information management and data security), 16 (Conflict of 
interest) and 17 (Confidentiality) of the AOD report writer service terms and conditions.

3. Yes. 

4. Yes, the approved report writer can seek their own peer reviewers. The cost of peer review, if any, cannot be invoiced to the Ministry of Justice as an additional expense. 

5. An approved report writer must ensure that the peer reviewer has agreed to be bound by and comply with, obligations consistent with those in clauses 15 (Information management and data security), 16 (Conflict of 
interest) and 17 (Confidentiality) of the AOD report writer service terms and conditions. 

25

I am currently on track to receive my Provisional Registration with DAPAANZ in November 2026. I have several years of experience in the AOD and Mental Health sector and am interested in providing report services once my registration is active. 

Does the Ministry accept applications from practitioners holding Provisional Registration, or is Full Registration a prerequisite for the panel?
If Provisional Registration is accepted, are there specific supervision or co-signing requirements for the reports (fixed at the $900 + GST rate)?
Given the April 7th RFA deadline, should I apply now in anticipation of my November registration, or wait until the registration is issued?

To be eligible, you must be fully registered with DAPAANZ. The first procurement round will close on 7 April 2026. After this date, the RFA will remain open and applications will continue to be assessed on an ongoing basis.

26

The new report template says: "The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background relying on section 27 Sentencing Act 2002."

You replied in answer no 4: "This section should include brief, relevant information about the participant, such as their living arrangements, employment status and any other information the approved report writer considers relevant."

So if an assessor considers information on "personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background" to be relevant, then the assessor can include it - even though the template says it should not be included? 

The AOD report template includes a section for background information. This section should contain brief, relevant details about the participant, such as their living arrangements, employment status, and any other information the approved report writer considers relevant to support judicial decision‑making. The AOD report template is to help ensure the report remains focused on AOD-relevant information.

The guidance provided in the template (such as living arrangements) gives examples only and is not intended to be a complete list. The expectation is that background information included in the AOD report is directly relevant to alcohol and other drug issues, rather than broader contextual information typically provided under section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002. 

27

Which of these is the correct information:

• "The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background relying on section 27 Sentencing Act 2002." or
• "This section should include brief, relevant information about the participant, such as their living arrangements, employment status and any other information the approved report writer considers relevant."

The AOD report template includes a section for background information. This section should contain brief, relevant details about the participant, such as their living arrangements, employment status, and any other information the approved report writer considers relevant to support judicial decision‑making. The AOD report template is to help ensure the report remains focused on AOD-relevant information.

The guidance provided in the template (such as living arrangements) gives examples only and is not intended to be a complete list. The expectation is that background information included in the AOD report is directly relevant to alcohol and other drug issues, rather than broader contextual information typically provided under section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002. 

28

1. Please advise which associations, (such as DAPAANZ, or the NZ Psychologists Board); which legal organisations (such as the New Zealand Law Society or the Criminal Bar Association) and which branch of the Judiciary you consulted.
2. Did you engage any of these organisations specifically on the proposed report template such that they would have been aware that the AOD assessments conducted under this proposed system contained the statement:  "The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background relying on section 27 Sentencing Act 2002.
3.  If so, specifically which of these organisations provided feedback on the proposal to exclude personal, family, whanau, community and cultural background information about the defendant from AOD reports proposed under this system.

1. We worked with DAPAANZ, legal aid lawyers, PDS representatives, a member of the judiciary and judicial advisory group within the criminal jurisdiction.
2. Yes. The template was endorsed by a judge and judicial advisory group. 
3. This information can be provided under the background section of the new report template if the report writer considers it to be relevant to the participant's use of alcohol and other drugs. 

29

The Social Investment Agency reports that... 

• Nearly all (91%) prisoners had a lifetime diagnosis of a mental health or substance use disorder and 62% had this diagnosis in the past 12-months.
• Female prisoners were significantly more likely to have a 12-month diagnosis of any mental disorder than male prisoners (75% compared to 61%).
• Prisoners were three times more likely than the general population to have a 12-month diagnosis of any mental disorder (62% compared to 21%).
  The new Report Writers Service does not mention mental health issues at all. Your answer to question 4 says "The template focuses specifically on AOD-related information about the participant." Your answer to question 8 says that in setting up this new service you "engaged with key stakeholders."

Was there any discussion/engagement between the Ministry and any stakeholders about excluding mental health issues of defendants from these reports?

If so, what advice did the stakeholders give the Ministry about how AOD Report writers should address mental health issues of defendants when writing up an AOD report?

Within their scope of practice, the approved report writer may include brief information about the offender’s mental health history as relevant. This ensures judges continue to receive the background information they require.

The guidance provided in the template (such as living arrangements) gives examples only and is not intended to not a complete list. The expectation is that background information included in the AOD report is directly relevant to alcohol and other drug issues, rather than broader contextual information typically provided under section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002.

30

Nearly 64% of male prisoners in New Zealand and up to 95% of female prisoners have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) [Mitchell, Theadom & Du Preez, 2017].  A significant proportion have incurred multiple head injuries.

Traumatic brain injury is associated with an increased risk of criminal offending (Lambie, 2020). 

• Individuals with multiple head injuries also tend to have more convictions involving violence (McKinley et al, 2014).
• If brain injury occurs in childhood, this nearly doubles the risk of a conviction later in life (Kennedy, Heron & Munafo, 2017; Schofield, et al, 2015).
• When TBI is so severe it leads to hospitalisation, this triples the risk for violent offending (Fazel, et al, 2001).  
  The new Report Writers Service does not mention traumatic brain injuries at all. Your answer to question 4 says "The template focuses specifically on AOD-related information about the participant." Your answer to question 8 says that in setting up this new service you "engaged with key stakeholders."
• Was there any discussion/engagement between the Ministry and any stakeholders about excluding any mention of traumatic brain injuries of defendants being assessed in these AOD reports?
• If so, what advice did the stakeholders give the Ministry about how AOD Report writers should address the impact of traumatic brain injuries on defendants being assessed under this scheme?

Within their scope of practice, the approved report writer may include brief information about the offender’s traumatic brain injury as relevant. This ensures judges continue to receive the background information they require.

The guidance provided in the template (such as living arrangements) gives examples only and is not intended to not a complete list. The expectation is that background information included in the AOD report is directly relevant to alcohol and other drug issues, rather than broader contextual information typically provided under section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002.

31

I wanted to confirm before putting my application forward that those currently registered with DAPAANZ as a provisional practitioner would be considered as meeting the registration requirement.

To be eligible, you must be fully registered with DAPAANZ. The first procurement round will close on 7 April 2026. After this date, the RFA will remain open, and applications will continue to be assessed on an ongoing basis.

32

I’m currently writing AOD assessments for another agency for just over a year and they seem to be received well. My first question is whether I would qualify at this stage. I understand the role asks for two years of AOD experience, though the work I currently do is directly related to what’s required in terms of client interviews and assessment writing.

The minimum requirement is at least two years' experience in the AOD sector. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility at this stage. Applications will be assessed through the formal evaluation process. The panel will remain open indefinitely, if you don't meet this requirement there will be an opportunity in the future to apply. 

33

Secondly, how much work do you expect to be available? Would this typically be more of a side role, or could I make it full time work something like 3 assessments or maybe 4 per week?

The Ministry is unable to guarantee the volume of work you will receive as an approved report writer on the panel. Clause 8 of the Standard Terms and Conditions provides further detail on this. There is also no obligation to accept engagements, you may decline any engagement, for example if you are unavailable or too busy.

34

In your response to question 28, you say the AOD Report template "was endorsed by a judge and a judicial advisory group."

Could you please give me an email address for the Judicial advisory group.

As this is a procurement process, all communications regarding procurement must be directed through this email address. Individuals outside the procurement process must not engage in discussions relating to it. 

35

Thank you for your reply. I have a few questions to help me finalise my decision before submitting an application:

AVL Availability: Is there an option to conduct assessments exclusively via AVL?

Yes, you may choose to conduct assessments exclusively via audio-visual link (AVL) and/or virtual assessments. 

36

Assessment Location: For face-to-face assessments, is it possible to arrange for these to take place at Community Corrections or within a court interview room?

Yes, this is to be mutually agreed between the approved AOD report writer and the participant, and any other agency/organisation involved. This needs to be organised by the approved AOD report writer.

37

Caseload Expectations: What is the expected weekly allocation for reports?

The Ministry is unable to guarantee the volume of work you will receive as an approved report writer on the panel. Clause 8 of the Standard Terms and Conditions provides further detail on this. There is also no obligation to accept engagements, you may decline any engagement, for example if you are unavailable or too busy.

38

The MOJ has provided additional information about what should, and what should not be included in an AOD report on the procurement questions and answers page. The  MOJ's  answers to a number of questions contradict the statement in the AOD report Guidelines that "The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background relying on section 27 Sentencing Act 2002."

• The answer to Question 4 indicates that a report can include "any other information the approved report writer considers relevant."
• The answer to question 29 indicates that "the report writer may include brief information about the offender’s mental health history as relevant."
• The answer to question 30 indicates that "the report writer may include brief information about the offender’s traumatic brain injury as relevant."

None of that information is in the Guidelines. So anyone relying on the Guidelines will be led to believe that "The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background." 

1. Does the Ministry intend to update the actual Guidelines and include the information it has provided when answering the questions above?

2. If not, will the Ministry leave the Questions and Answers page on the website after 7 April, the closing date of the first round of procurement. 

3. If you remove the Question and Answers page from the website - and do not update the Report Guidelines - how will Report Writers know that this statement  in the Guidelines ("The report should not include information on personal, family, whānau, community and cultural background" ) - is so misleading, it simply does not mean what it says.

4. I understand the Ministry initiated this new procedure and new report format "To improve the consistency, quality and cost-effectiveness of AOD reports." How do you expect to achieve consistency and quality in AOD Reports if you do not provide clear, consistent guidelines on what information should be in these reports? 

Please update the Guidelines.

1. The AOD report template guidelines have been published and are to be used by the Approved AOD report writer at their own professional discretion.
2. Yes.
3. Not applicable. 
4. The AOD report template and guidance are sufficient to improve consistency. 

39

In preparation for my application for a position as an AOD report writer,
I am seeking information on how to apply to, and attend one of the Family Violence, Sexual Violence Response Training offered by the Ministry of Justice to all people who work in the courts.

To book your training please contact FVSVTraining@2shine.org.nz

The training consists of two pre-learning modules and one full day of face-to-face training. The Ministry will cover the cost of the training but will not reimburse you for the time you take to complete the training.

40

How many [applicants] does the Ministry intend to approve under the new scheme? 

There is no upper limit to the number of appropriately qualified AOD report writers who can be on the panel. The panel will remain open to new applications to join the service. 

41

Are report writers, as expert witnesses, expected to undergo cross examination in hearings?

This would be highly unusual at the sentencing stage for an AOD professional and we don't anticipate this happening. If, however, this does occur, then a separate process would apply under the Ministry's expert witness policy Pricing policy for expert witnesses

42

Are participants able to be interviewed remotely/face to face on weekends, or after hours, at a Corrections facility/ Probation office if appropriate?

Yes, this is to be mutually agreed between the approved report writer and the participant, and any other agency/organisation involved. This needs to be organised by the report writer.

43

1. Will you require diagnosis of SUDS according to the DSM-5 criteria? And if so, how comprehensive do you require this to be (such as diagnostics of the last 12 months substance use)?

2. Will you require other sources to be used to inform (apart from the tangata whaiora themselves) such as medical records for example?

3. Will you require treatment options to be researched such as services in the region of the tangata whaiora and what their availability is?

1. This is not an requirement. Approved AOD report writers may exercise their clinical discretion within their scope of practice. 

2. Approved AOD report writers will continue to exercise their professional discretion in determining what information is appropriate to include in the report, based on their expertise.

3. We expect approved AOD report writers to be aware of what services are available in their region. It is not a requirement to make treatment recommendations or referrals for every report, or to establish what beds or facilities are available. Approved AOD report writers will continue to exercise their professional discretion in determining what information is appropriate to include in an AOD report, based on their expertise.

44

In response to some of my questions about what should and what should not be included in an AOD report, you have indicated that "the approved report writer may include brief information about the offender’s mental health history (and traumatic brain injury) as relevant." 

1. That's good to know. Do you intend to include that in the Guidelines to the Report template so that reports writers are fully aware of this relevant information.

You also write: "The AOD report template is to help ensure the report remains focused on AOD-relevant information."

And: "The expectation is that background information included in the AOD report is directly relevant to alcohol and other drug issues, rather than broader contextual information typically provided under section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002."

AOD assessments are ordered under section 25 of the Sentencing Act. Section 8(i) of the Act explicitly states that the court "must take into account the offender’s personal, family, whanau, community, and cultural background in imposing a sentence or other means of dealing with the offender with a partly or wholly rehabilitative purpose."

2. AOD reports have nothing to do with section 27. Can you please explain what information you are referring to by "broader contextual information typically provided under section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002." This is very vague. 

1. The AOD report template guidelines have been published and are to be used by the Approved AOD report writer at their own professional discretion. 

2. During consultation, it was noted that in some instances AOD reports also contained more general section 27 Sentencing Act 2002 material. This is not an appropriate use of AOD reports. The reference to section 27 in the guidance to the background section of the template is there to reinforce that AOD reports should remain focused on background information that is directly relevant to the tangata whaiora’s current and past usage of alcohol and other drugs rather than the broader scope outlined in section 27. That is the full extent of the relevance of section 27 to this project. We have also provided clarification on the content required in the background section in item 26 of the Procurement questions and answers and do not have further information to share on this.  

45

I am emailing in respect of the new AOD report template. Will the template be circulated to stakeholders for consultation? When will the template be available to stakeholders?

The Ministry consulted with members of the judiciary, DAPAANZ and lawyers on the AOD report template in 2025. The AOD report template is available now on the Ministry's website: Information for AOD report writers

46

1. Is it expected that the Approved Report Writer also make referral to AOD residential (or other AOD treatment services) as part of this process?  Especially when considering that the treatment plan section of the Assessment stipulates “the treatment options which are available, for example, the name/ location of treatment facility and availability of spaces. confirmation that the treatment options have been discussed with the participant and their feedback (if any).” And taking this into consideration often you need to make a referral to see if a client will be accepted (and thus confirm in the report that treatment option is available to them) especially considering how the residential programmes need a full comprehensive assessment including all offending history etc in order for them to decide. 

2. If referrals to residential services are made is it possible to claim additional hours/fee? especially given that a full comprehensive assessment is needed for this, and that many more hours of admin and case management are often needed to facilitate this
 
3. Can an organisation or charity register under the AOD report writers service (and then also register its AOD clinicians so that they are approved) but invoice as an organisation (and pay its clinician an agreed portion of the $900, aka subcontracting in that respect)?

4) Is the report writers service designed to also cater to those clients seeking EM bail to residential AOD treatment (prior to sentencing), or is the focus more on providing information and treatment options for final sentencing?

1. It is not expected that report writers make referrals as part of reports requested through the panel and paid for by courts, legal aid or the Public Defence Service. 
 
2. The approved report writer is not required to make the referral, so no additional costs can be claimed for this. 

3. Each report writer must submit their own application to join the service. If you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, please complete a separate application (RFA) form for each proposed report writer. Submitting invoices in the organisation's name is acceptable. 

4. The Approved AOD Report Writers Service is used at the offender's sentencing stage for AOD reports ordered and requested under section 25 of the Sentencing Act 2002.

47

I have a couple of questions please in relation to the new AOD report writers service:

1. Is it expected that the Approved Report Writer also make referral to AOD residential (or other AOD treatment services) as part of this process? Especially when considering that the treatment plan section of the Assessment stipulates “the treatment options which are available, for example, the name/ location of treatment facility and availability of spaces. confirmation that the treatment options have been discussed with the participant and their feedback (if any).”  And taking this into consideration often you need to make a referral to residential to actually see if a client will be accepted (and thus confirm in the report that treatment option is available to them), as given the offending history etc of many clients it is very much case by case basis for acceptance by residential programmes and so you often have to make the referral (complete with criminal history and mental health history etc) to be able to confirm that can be the treatment plan for that client. 

2. If referrals to residential services are made is it possible to claim additional hours/fee? especially given that a full comprehensive assessment is needed for this, and that many more hours of admin and case management are often needed to facilitate this? 

1. It is not expected that report writers make referrals as part of reports requested through the panel and paid for by courts, legal aid or the Public Defence Service. 
 
2. The approved report writer is not required to make the referral, so no additional costs can be claimed for this.

48

The templates I use are significantly more comprehensive than the one referenced. I utilise both the national Te Ariari o te Oranga AOD assessment framework and the current court report template. These approaches capture not only the clinical aspects of substance use but also provide a holistic overview of the client’s background, functioning, and context. As you will appreciate, this requires a substantial amount of time to complete thoroughly and responsibly.

There are different arrangements throughout the country for supporting court participants where AOD is a factor in their offending. The changes we are making relate to AOD sentencing reports requested through the panel and paid for by courts, legal aid, or PDS. More in depth assessment and treatment may be provided as part of the sentence, or may be part of a local arrangement that is not funded by the court or legal aid lawyers or PDS.