A care plan for a girl suspected of committing suicide under the protection of Child, Youth and Family was inadequate, an inquest has been told.
A hearing began in Auckland on Wednesday into the death of 12-year-old Krystal, whose surname is suppressed to protect her siblings, in September 2008.
The girl was placed in the care of Child, Youth and Family after a parent was arrested on drug charges.
The service's Northland regional manager, Marion Heeney, said the care plan a CYF social worker gave Krystal's final foster family fell below standard practice.
Ms Heeney said there would have been more intervention and support if it had more information about the girl's history and if her psychological state had been made clear to the foster family.
The Barnadoes foster mother said the plan was the worst she had received in her nine years as a foster parent.
Since Krystal's death, the service and Barnadoes have made changes to ensure more appropriate information is passed on to carers.
Coroner Morag McDowell reserved her findings.
