File picture. Source: istock.com

Oranga Tamariki say the well-being of a six-year-old in its care is its "priority" after the child tried to seriously self-harm at a Waikato school.

The Ministry for Children said the child was hospitalised last Thursday night after a "serious incident".

But the child’s mother has told 1 NEWS she was not informed of the event until more than 24 hours after it occurred.

She said she has questioned the Ministry about why it took so long for them to contact her and that she had a right to know sooner.

"On Friday, 24 hours after it happened, I got a call from the social worker who rang me and told me there had been an incident at school – they rang at 6pm on Friday night," she said.

"What if no one found my child? What if it was too late? How long would they have waited to contact me?" said the distressed mother, who cannot be named in order to keep the identity of the child safe.

She said she has not spoken to her son since the event and felt it was her right as a mother to have done so.

"I asked to go and be with my child or at least to speak to them," the mother said.

She said she was told by the Ministry that contact with the child would be limited while an assessment took place.

Oranga Tamariki said the social worker involved needed to gather further information before contacting the mother and said in a statement: "The child’s mother, who has regular access with the child, was being kept informed."

It added: "The mother is a natural guardian (ie as a natural parent). In this case guardianship rights are shared as the Ministry are additional guardians and the Family Court has also appointed the caregivers as additional guardians."

According to the mother, the child has been in the care of Oranga Tamariki since the end of 2014 but spent nine months back with her in 2017. After several incidents, she said, including a man breaking into their house and assaulting the mother, the child was returned to care.

Oranga Tamariki confirmed the child came into care in 2015. "There was a return home during 2017, however due to serious concerns this was not sustainable, and the current care arrangement has remained in place since then," it said.

The mother said she had been made aware last year that the child was having behavioural issues.

"When they brought up the behavioural issues at the planning meeting in December I asked if he was in counselling and they told me he didn't need it," the mother said.

"I told them my child was at risk and they failed my child and me," the mother said. "I told them this time - this is not my son, he needs help."

The Ministry says all children must receive routine medical care and receive specialist care including mental and psychological assessments if required. It also said it is "offering extra support to the child and their caregivers" and child and adolescent mental health professionals are involved.

The Ministry added: "Our focus must always be on the nature of the care being provided to the child or young person as well as their own behaviour especially where emotional distress, self-harm, suicide and/or drug and alcohol use is a concern."