Being a Welfare Guardian
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We need people who really want to make a difference in the life of a vulnerable adult who through intellectual, mental or physical impairment is unable to make decisions for themselves. Too many people have no-one to care for them.
Welfare Guardians Canterbury recruits, approves and trains volunteers to apply to be court-appointed Welfare Guardians for people who have been assessed as being unable to make, or communicate decisions relating to their health and welfare. Click HERE to access a Welfare Guardian Application Form. Common reasons that a Welfare Guardian is appointed are because the person has dementia or long-term brain injury and there are no suitable local relatives or friends able to apply to become their Welfare Guardian. The Trust aims to match up the new volunteer with an assigned person from our waiting list aligning where possible with their cultural background and interests.
The Family Court appoints Welfare Guardians, usually for an initial 3-year term. The Trust helps the volunteers with the application and paperwork.
Once appointed by the Family Court, the Welfare Guardian is the only person legally able to make decisions about the day-to-day care and welfare of their assigned. These may include decisions about non-urgent medical treatments, accommodation and any day-to-day matters that the person would normally make for themselves but lack the capacity to do so. Welfare Guardians have no authority over the property or assets of the person they are appointed for, their powers are legally limited to care and welfare decisions. Click HERE to access the Subject Person Referral Form.
Welfare Guardians Canterbury recruits, approves and trains volunteers to apply to be court-appointed Welfare Guardians for people who have been assessed as being unable to make, or communicate decisions relating to their health and welfare. Click HERE to access a Welfare Guardian Application Form. Common reasons that a Welfare Guardian is appointed are because the person has dementia or long-term brain injury and there are no suitable local relatives or friends able to apply to become their Welfare Guardian. The Trust aims to match up the new volunteer with an assigned person from our waiting list aligning where possible with their cultural background and interests.
The Family Court appoints Welfare Guardians, usually for an initial 3-year term. The Trust helps the volunteers with the application and paperwork.
Once appointed by the Family Court, the Welfare Guardian is the only person legally able to make decisions about the day-to-day care and welfare of their assigned. These may include decisions about non-urgent medical treatments, accommodation and any day-to-day matters that the person would normally make for themselves but lack the capacity to do so. Welfare Guardians have no authority over the property or assets of the person they are appointed for, their powers are legally limited to care and welfare decisions. Click HERE to access the Subject Person Referral Form.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does a Welfare Guardianship last?
Welfare Guardianship appointments are usually initially for three years, and re-appointments can be for up to five years.
- How do I contact Welfare Guardians Canterbury?
Our email address is info@welfareguardianscanterbury.nz and our phone number is 020 4189 3045. Please note that we are a very small volunteer charity and we make take time to get back to you.
- What is a Subject Person?
This is a legal term is used to describe a person for whom an application is made under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act (1988) (PPPR Act) who wholly lacks the capacity to make or to communicate decisions relating to any particular aspect or particular aspects of the personal care and welfare.
-How often do I have to visit?
Most of our volunteers will visit once or twice a month but it is up to each volunteer.
- Can I go on holiday? Yes, we ask that the Trust Coordinator and the Care Facility manager are informed.
- Who looks after the money? A subject person’s financial affairs are often managed by a third party organisation such as Perpetual Guardians, or Public Trust. The Family Court may also appoint a family member or a friend as Property Manager.
- Am I a companion to my assigned person? While we support a friendly sociable relationship with your subject person, the statutory role appointed by the Family Court is to provide health and welfare decisions for the subject person.
- Will I be able to communicate with my assigned person? Usually a level of communication is possible. In some cases the subject person is non-verbal.
- Is Welfare Guardians Canterbury voluntary? Yes, all roles within the Trust are unpaid and voluntary.
- Can I get a donation tax credit? Yes, the Trust is a registered charitable Trust and has donee status with IRD
- How else can I support the Trust? There are number of casual volunteer functions available, these can be assisting the set up for an event or talk, or making our leaflets available at libraries and other outlets. - Do you have a job description of the Welfare Guardian role? Yes. Click HERE to access the volunteer Welfare Guardian position description.
- Can I go on holiday? Yes, we ask that the Trust Coordinator and the Care Facility manager are informed.
- Who looks after the money? A subject person’s financial affairs are often managed by a third party organisation such as Perpetual Guardians, or Public Trust. The Family Court may also appoint a family member or a friend as Property Manager.
- Am I a companion to my assigned person? While we support a friendly sociable relationship with your subject person, the statutory role appointed by the Family Court is to provide health and welfare decisions for the subject person.
- Will I be able to communicate with my assigned person? Usually a level of communication is possible. In some cases the subject person is non-verbal.
- Is Welfare Guardians Canterbury voluntary? Yes, all roles within the Trust are unpaid and voluntary.
- Can I get a donation tax credit? Yes, the Trust is a registered charitable Trust and has donee status with IRD
- How else can I support the Trust? There are number of casual volunteer functions available, these can be assisting the set up for an event or talk, or making our leaflets available at libraries and other outlets. - Do you have a job description of the Welfare Guardian role? Yes. Click HERE to access the volunteer Welfare Guardian position description.