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Child Youth and Family (CYF) says it was involved with the family of a Dunedin toddler right up until she was allegedly murdered by her mother.
The 22-month-old girl was killed in her St Kilda home last month and police have charged her 26-year-old mother with murder. The mother has name suppression.
CYF southern region director John Henderson said today the agency had ongoing involvement with the family of the toddler and was actively working with them at the time of her death.
"All of the people who played a role in this baby's life will wonder, in the face of such a tragedy, whether there was more that we could have done," Mr Henderson said.
He said the police investigation prevented CYF from going into detail about its dealings with the family, but that support was provided.
"What I do know and can confirm, is that in every instance we've been made aware of concerns, we ensured that there were appropriate community supports in place, in this case from a local community organisation.
"As is always our practice in circumstances such as these we are fully reviewing our involvement."
Mr Henderson said CYF had recently accompanied the toddler and her twin sister on a visit to a doctor for a check up.
He said the wider family would continue to get support from CYF and other agencies and that ensuring the wellbeing of the dead toddler's siblings would be a priority.
The dead toddler is understood to have at one stage been living among 14 wider family members in a three bedroom Caversham house.
- NZPA
