Oranga Tamariki鈥檚 Executive team visited in December. They observed the SAM table in action and met with the Oranga Tamariki ISR Team and ISR Director. The feedback was positive in relation to the SAM table function and the work of the Oranga Tamariki team alongside other multi-agency partners. The visit also provided an opportunity for the Executive Team to consider future opportunities ahead of any potential national roll-out.
ISR Sector training took place during December and January. Again, participant feedback was positive in terms of consistent messaging and clear direction on both the purpose of the pilot and the positions funded under ISR. This was also an opportunity to take a partnered approach by obtaining feedback and input from the providers on the proposed ISR training package which will support consistent learning across the sector.
 Our new Specialist Practice Leader is Alloena Taie (pictured right), who comes to us with cross-sector experience. Alloena works in one of our Kaupapa M膩ori service providers - Te Puna Oranga. This is a newly-established position and is fundamental to achieving true partnerships with our NGO sector. Alloena鈥檚 role is to support and develop cross-sector practice and collaboration.
December was an opportunity for our multi-agency partners to engage with our families and help make their Christmas a little bit brighter. It was also an opportunity to talk about preventing family harm during the Christmas period. The Police Family Protection Team, along with partner agencies, delivered food hampers and toys to 20 of our most vulnerable families. Two of our ISR team dressed up and joined agencies to spread some cheer and hand out donated gifts to children who were in hospital, a number of whom have been exposed to family harm. sponsored a Christmas party for the Cholmondeley Children鈥檚 home. Youth workers, alongside Police and the ISR Director played games, cooked a BBQ and played dress-up with 10 vulnerable children, a number of whom were on current ISR plans. A visit from a very special guest bearing gifts for each child topped off the party.
A good news story from one of our NGO partners who work with children
Approximately two years ago, Barnardos attempted engagement with a family with no success. The family make-up is a mother with her three children, her partner, and a child they have had together. The children are aged from two to six-years-old. Several other agencies have attempted to work with the family, but have met with resistance. Family harm continued in the home and Oranga Tamariki had become involved. In August 2017, Barnardos was tasked from ISR to engage with the family. There was a great deal of reluctance from the family to allow a home visit to discuss family harm and the wider situation - in order to start a dialogue around how support could be offered. It appeared there was some shame around acknowledging there was violence in their home. Eventually, a home visit was arranged, although there was still an unwillingness to have a transparent discussion around what was going on for the family. An offer of safety planning sessions with the two older children seemed to be a very confronting thought for the family and there were to be no conversations with the children without their mother present. A brief targeted piece of work with the parents around some parenting strategies and communication tools was also offered. A letter was sent to the parents outlining the support offered and then a follow-up phone call took place two weeks later. After a lot of thinking time, the parents agreed to safety planning with the children. The safety planning has taken place which has allowed Barnardos to begin hearing the voice of the children.
Since then, there鈥檚 been a positive progression:
- Agreement to parenting sessions. They identified and acknowledged they need help to manage the behaviour of their children due to observed behaviours.
- While the dad only took part in two of the three sessions, as he struggled to engage with the material used, he still demonstrated a readiness to change and they have learned about parenting styles.
- Dialogue about the causes of the children鈥檚 behaviour which will lead on to the impact family harm has on children.
- While discussion occurred around the struggle they have with their children, both parents have been able to identify strengths in their children.
- Mum has opted to work more intensively with Barnardos around positive parenting strategies, general emotional and physical support to encourage her overall wellbeing.
- The children have participated and are aware of how to keep themselves safe.
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