Experiences of Care in Aotearoa 2022/2023 - Appendices

Agency commitments from 2021/2022 and 2020/2021

Each year we ask agencies about their compliance with the NCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary
and the progress they are making with self-monitoring. This year, we are looking at what agencies said they would do and what they have done over the last 3 years. For some initiatives, it may be too soon to see an impact on compliance with the NCS Regulations or the experiences of tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary
and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary
, however we will continue to report on any progress.

Oranga Tamariki

Findings by Monitor

Response from Oranga Progress with actions Improvement on findings
  Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary
Planned actions
(Not started, In progress, Progress not known, Complete) (Unknown, No Change, Improvement shown)
2020/2021 Gaps in monitored agency data limits our ability to fully understand how they are meeting their obligations under the NCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary
.
  • Strengthen case file analysis

Complete

Improvement shown

  • Caregiver Information System (CGIS) to be implemented early 2022

Complete

Improvement planned for future reporting periods

  • Launch new whānau
    Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary
    survey

Discontinued

No change

  • Explore replacement of CYRAS

Not started

No change

  • Utilise Social Wellbeing Agency’s Data Exchange

Complete

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Self-monitoring of compliance with NCS Regulations needs to improve, so we can understand the quality of care and how to improve.
  • Full role out of Whiti

Complete

Improvement shown

  • Use information from self-monitoring to implement policy and practice change

In progress

No change

  • Continue to develop self-monitoring measures

In progress

Improvement shown

2021/2022 Oranga Tamariki is yet to fulfil the regulatory requirement to self-monitor its compliance with the National Care Standards Regulations.

  • Confirm self-monitoring framework, approach and model

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Establish baselines and targets for measure identified

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Develop reporting of foundational measures at each assurance level

In progress

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Tamariki and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary
do not know and understand their rights.

  • Strengthen feedback and complaints system

In progress

No change

  • Create new resources with VOYCE [Manaaki Kōrero project]

In progress

No change

  • Update “My Rights My Voice” resource

Complete

No change

  • Mandate that rangatahi provided with grievance form after being searched or admitted to secure

Progress not known

No change

  • Appoint a National Quality Lead, Residential Quality Leads, National Training Coordinator, Residential Training Leads and Kaiwhakaako (cultural advisor within residence)

In progress

No change

  • Implement priority areas from Te Tohu o te Ora

In progress

No change

2021/2022 To support tamariki and rangatahi to express their opinions, be involved in decisions, and share concerns, they need to know their rights.

  • Consider research insights and recommendations from rainbow and takatāpui rangatahi in care

In progress

No change

  • Release Te Tohu o te Ora results early 2023

Complete

No change

  • Establish another Youth Advisory Group

Complete

No change

  • Establish an ‘Advisor Rangatahi Voices’

Complete

No change

  • Increase accessibility to information on rights

In progress

No change

2020/2021 Connections with whānau and culture are important for tamariki and rangatahi Māori in care.

  • Further development of Te Toka Tūmoana (indigenous and bicultural principled framework)

In progress

No change

  • Update All About Me Plan policy to include emphasis on whānau searching

Complete

improvement shown

  • With Whānau Care, recruit and support caregivers in partnership with iwi
    TribeView the full glossary
    and kaupapa Māori providers

In progress

No change

  • Development of Te Hāpai Ō, Māori cultural capability programme

Complete

improvement shown

2021/2022 When staff lack cultural competence, relationships between Oranga Tamariki, whānau and other organisations can be negatively impacted.

  • Te Hāpai Ō baseline report to be completed in early 2023

In progress

No change

  • Te Hāpai Ō resources available on MyLearn

Complete

No change

  • Second intake of Tū Māia

Complete

improvement shown

  • Refinement of Tū Māia (cultural capability programme) training resources

In progress

No change

  • Commence Te Reo Māori strategy in 2023/24 financial year

Not started (Deferred)

No change

2020/2021 Oranga Tamariki respond well when tamariki and rangatahi enter care; practices weaken during their time in care.

  • Visit frequency changed to meet needs of tamariki

Complete

No change

  • Introduce “Tamariki in Care Clinics” (before June 2022)

Complete

No change

  • Facilitation of practice sessions by Practice Leaders that focus on NCS Regulations

Complete

No change

2020/2021 Caregivers need more support.

  • Monitor caregivers’ participation in ‘Prepare to Care’ programme

Complete

No change

  • Identify number of caregivers who have participated in trauma-informed learning/support programmes

Complete

No change

  • Conduct case file review to improve support to caregivers

In progress

No change

  • Reform the system of financial assistance and support for caregivers

In progress

No change

2021/2022 Caregivers continue to tell us that they need more support.

  • Continue to listen to caregivers’ voices about their experiences

In progress

No change

  • Explore unfulfilled support themes reported

In progress

No change

2020/2021 Agency support of health needs, especially mental health needs, is variable.

  • Case file analysis to capture diagnosis type to provide greater insight into disability needs for tamariki and rangatahi in care

Complete

No change

  • Establish inter-agency governance group across residences

In progress

No change

2021/2022 The prevalence of disability among tamariki and rangatahi  in care is not well understood.

  • Improve disability data prevalence measurement

In progress

No change

  • Examine experiences of tamariki and rangatahi in care receiving Disability Support Services

In progress

No change

  • Six-to-eighteen month focus on disability data improvements

In progress

No change

  • Disability Advisory Group provide advice on Disability Strategy

In progress

No change

2021/2022 Lack of availability and access to mental health services continues to be a barrier.

  • Will work with other children’s agencies through OTAP to improve access to services to meet identified need

In progress

No change

2020/2021 Agencies not communicating and working together effectively is a common barrier to achieving outcomes.

  • Action Plan to be published early 2022

Complete

No change

  • Ngā Tini Whetū (collaboration between Oranga Tamariki, Te Puni Kōkiri, ACC and Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to develop and implement a new whānau-centred early-intervention prototype

In progress

No change

  • Develop new schedule in MoU between Oranga Tamariki, Police, Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand

Complete

No change

2021/2022 Connections between Oranga Tamariki, health and education providers and communities remain splintered.

  • Work with the Regional Public Service Commissioners to drive support and engagement in OTAP

In progress

No change

  • Progress next set of in-depth assessments and provide agency responses

In progress

No change

2021/2022 For social workers to successfully perform their role they need to be able to spend more time with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, caregivers and communities.

  • Development of an organisational demand and allocation model, implemented in 2022/23 financial year

In progress

No change

  • Office of the Chief Social Worker will focus on better understanding social worker capacity, caseload complexity and workload management

In progress

No change

  • Streamline core processes and tasks to prioritise social workers time with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and caregivers

In progress

No change

  • Development of a supervision strategy

In progress

No change

  • Invest further in supervisors’ ability to support social work practice

In progress

No change

2021/2022 Oranga Tamariki are not always assessing caregivers and their households before tamariki and rangatahi are placed with them.

  • Determine why assessment and approval is not occurring

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Office of the Chief Social Worker to implement practice guidance around provisional approval

Not started

No change

Open Home Foundation
Findings by Monitor Response from Open Home foundation Progress on commitments Improvement
  Delivered and planned actions (Complete, In progress, On-going, Not started) (Improvement shown, No change, Unknown)

2020/2021 Gaps in monitored agency data limits our ability to fully understand how they are meeting their obligations under the NCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary
.

  • Improvements made to OSCAR (Case Management System) to increase scope and support ease of reporting

In progress

Improvement shown

2021/2022 No finding specific to Open Home Foundation.

  • Continued to refine self-monitoring and data capturing in OSCAR

In progress

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Self-monitoring of compliance with NCS Regulations needs to improve, so we can understand the quality of care and how to improve.

  • Continued to develop ‘Better Off’ survey data

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Hold fortnightly forums to upskill social workers on NCS requirements

In progress

Improvement shown

2021/2022 No finding specific to OHF

  • Utilise ‘Better Off’ survey data for continuous improvement

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Continue to hold internal practice forums with a focus on the NCS Regulations

In progress

Improvement shown

2021/2022 For social workers to successfully perform their role they need to be able to spend more time with tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary
, rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary
, whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary
, caregivers and communities.

  • Twelve month focus on increasing visits to tamariki, rangatahi, whānau carers and foster parents 

In progress

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Connections with whānau and culture are important for tamariki and rangatahi Māori in care.

  • Te Roopu Māori kaimahi are supporting kaimahi to support tamariki and rangatahi Māori to be better connected to their whānau, hapū
    Sub-tribeView the full glossary
    and Iwi
    TribeView the full glossary

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Changes to be made in OSCAR to reflect work in te ao Māori
    The Māori worldView the full glossary

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Grow relationships with iwi/Māori organisations

Progress not known

No change

2021/2022 When staff lack cultural competence, relationships between Oranga Tamariki, whānau and other organisations can be negatively impacted.

  • Trialled a cultural plan based on Te Aho Takitoru framework to meet cultural needs of tamariki and rangatahi

Complete

Improvement shown

  • Increased focus on connecting tamariki and rangatahi with their whānau and where they come from

In progress

Improvement shown

2021/2021 Tamariki and rangatahi do not know and understand their rights.

  • Roll out a communication tool that will give tamariki and rangatahi an extra way to express their views

Complete

Improvement shown

2021/2022 To support tamariki and rangatahi to express their opinions, be involved in decisions, and share concerns, they need to know their rights.

  • Increase use of Mind of my Own app to engage tamariki and rangatahi in conversations and planning about them

In progress

Improvement shown

  • Focus on tamariki having child-friendly plans

In progress

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Caregivers need more support.

  • Caregivers receive on-going supervision and visits from their social workers

In progress/ongoing

Improvement shown

  • Foster Parent Support Plan developed based on needs of tamariki and rangatahi

In progress/ongoing

Improvement shown

  • Continue to provide Foster Parents with induction training, and introduction to trauma informed practice and additional online training

In progress/ongoing

Improvement shown

2021/2022 The prevalence of disability among tamariki in care is not well understood.

  • Disability advisors are active in their input into plans for disabled tamariki and rangatahi, and/or those with high needs

In progress/ongoing

Improvement shown

Barnardos
Findings by Monitor Response from Barnardos Progress on commitments Improvement
  Delivered and planned actions (Complete, In progress, On-going Not started) (Improvement shown, Some improvement shown, No change, Unknown)

2020/2021 Gaps in monitored agency data limits our ability to fully understand how they are meeting their obligations under the NCS Regulations
(National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 View the full glossary
.

  • Develop a self-monitoring tool

Complete

Improvement shown

  • Utilise self-audit tool

In progress/ongoing

Improvement shown

  • Staff engage in regular ‘quick learn’ sessions with a focus on consistent recording and assessment best practice

Complete/ongoing

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Self-monitoring of compliance with NCS Regulations needs to improve, so we can understand the quality of care and how to improve.

  • Barnardos reports to be fully compliant with the NCS Regulations

Complete

Improvement shown

2020/2021 Tamariki
Children (plural) aged 0-13 yearsView the full glossary
and rangatahi
Young person aged 14 – 21 years of ageView the full glossary
do not know and understand their rights.

2021/2022 To support tamariki and rangatahi to express their opinions, be involved in decisions, and share concerns, they need to know their rights.

  • Barnardos have provided examples of the tamariki in their care expressing their views and being enabled to make day-to-day decisions about their lives

Complete

 

2020/2021 Connections with whānau
Whānau refers to people who are biologically linked or share whakapapa. For the Monitor’s monitoring purposes, whānau includes parents, whānau members living with tamariki at the point they have come into care View the full glossary
and culture are important for tamariki and rangatahi Māori in care.

Barnardos have no tamariki or rangatahi Māori in their care, however, it continues to upskill the cultural competence of its workforce.

   
  • Kaimahi attend regular training

In progress/ongoing

 

2021/2022 When staff lack cultural competence, relationships between Oranga Tamariki, whānau and other organisations can be negatively impacted.

  • Strengthen connections with local iwi
    TribeView the full glossary
    to enable whanaungatanga with the foster care team and caregivers

In progress

 
  • Practice guidance is under development as part of strategic plan

In progress

 

2020/2021 Caregivers need more support.

  • Caregivers’ needs are identified and support through the Maiatanga plan

In progress/ongoing

 

2021/2022 Caregivers continue to tell us that they need more support.

     

2020/2021 Agency support of health needs, especially mental health needs, is variable.

  • Develop a financial template to ensure tamariki do not experience funding barriers to accessing services

Complete

Improvement shown

2021/2022 Lack of availability and access to mental health services continues to be a barrier.

  • Both tamariki in the care of Barnardos have their needs met and receive timely access to services

Complete

 

2020/2021 Agencies not communicating and working together effectively is a common barrier to achieving outcomes.

  • Barnardos report a good relationship with other services, including health and education providers

Complete

 

2021/2022 For social workers to successfully perform their role they need to be able to spend more time with tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, caregivers and communities.

  • Barnardos report that the rangatahi in their care have regular contact with their social workers

Complete