Mandated agencies and bodies are the government departments or entities who have been delegated authority, power and responsibility, under law, relating to specific functions within the child protection and care systems. These include, for example, the ministry with overall responsibility for child welfare/protection/care, the departments and personnel who are authorised to approve admission into alternative care, the officials who sit on the gatekeeping panel or who conduct inspections of residential care centres, and the accredited social workers who respond to child welfare or protection concerns.
