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September 2018
Welcome

Welcome to our newsletter update on the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilot. In this update you’ll find the following:
Outcomes reporting

We’ve obtained key information on Family Harm and Violence as a result of the ISR pilot. This comes from continuous reporting, measures being undertaken as part of the Phase II Evaluation and work on a deep dive into a number of cases over a 12-week period.

The key statistics so far are:

  • Pilot covers 850,000 people
  • 65,000 individuals in the ISR database
  • 25,653 family safety plans
  • 39% of people have more than one episode of family harm
  • 63% of the ‘high risk’ victims sampled reported a complete cessation of abuse post ISR
  • Victims self-reported a reduction in harm
  • Victims self-reported fear at exit had significantly reduced
  • Independent Victim Specialists rated that 79% of High Risk Victims had improved coping skills at exit
  • 66% of ‘predominant aggressors’ had no further reported family harm episodes or subsequent episodes were less frequent and/or less serious
  • 46% of perpetrators who engaged commenced interventions

The deep dive work is currently being validated as part of the ISR Phase II Evaluation. Also see the Evaluation Update below.

Evaluation Update

The evaluators are working closely with the ISR pilot sites. This includes interviewing families and whānau to enable their voices and stories to be highlighted. An online survey is capturing the input of all those involved in ISR delivery.

Key questions for this evaluation are:

  • Is the ISR model effective?
  • Does it represent a good return on investment?
  • What are the distinct features of ISR and the conditions required for it to work optimally?
  • Have there been improvements since the last evaluation and what other improvements could be made?

A number of inter-related evaluation projects are in progress to answer these questions.

  • Re-offending and re-victimisation analysis – statistical analysis is underway of a sample of family harm referrals in ISR sites compared to a matched control group.

  • Kaupapa Māori evaluation – local kaupapa Māori evaluators have been contracted to evaluate the responsiveness of ISR to Māori. Interviews with whānau, providers and Iwi are currently underway. Findings from both sites will be synthesised into one report.

  • 12-week case review – a review of a sample of more than 100 ISR cases is almost complete. This project aims to capture and summarise qualitative data on who goes through ISR, and who receives what type of support and services during a 12-week period.

  • Case studies involving 10-16 families and whānau – these case studies will enable the stories of families’ journey through 12 weeks of ISR to be presented alongside the summarised 12-week review data. These are to be completed before the end of August.

  • Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) – Wellington-based experts have been commissioned to complete the costings of the ISR pilot and review and develop a methodology for a CBA of ISR (the full CBA to be completed later in the year).

  • ISR policy review work – the first draft of a report has been completed clarifying the aims and scopes of ISR, identifying its distinct features and what conditions are required for it to work optimally.

  • Online survey – an online survey of those involved with the delivery of ISR is due to be sent out mid-August to enable all those involved in ISR to have their say. Questions aim to understand what ISR is achieving and gauge any progress made since the last evaluation. This will be followed up by further in-depth fieldwork later in the year.

Draft results for most components of the evaluation will be ready to inform advice to Ministers by 30 September 2018.
GovTech Accelerator – Work on future systems for case management

A GovTech accelerator is an annual 12-week programme designed to coach teams through rapid design and prototyping of innovative solutions to problems in government. Selected teams are given the tools they need to dive into their areas, understand the stakeholders and problems, and identify real solutions.

‘Safety Planning’ is one of 12 projects in the GovTech Accelerator programme (selected from much wider list) and high on the scale of importance. More on GovTech and these projects can be found .

The ‘Safety Planning’ project is led from the Multi Agency Team on Family Violence Sexual Violence. The primary focus of the Lightning Lab GovTech project is on integrated practices, with the goal of delivering services that prevent further harm and support people to be safer sooner.

As the Integrated Safety Response pilot becomes more mature and potentially scales up, there’s awareness that the current Family Safety System - FSS (previously known as the Case Management System) may not be able to keep up with the business - both in capacity and functionality. The FSS could potentially be used by more than just ISR and a larger group, including NGOs.

Work on the ‘Safety Planning’ project through the GovTech Accelerator allows those working in the Multi Agency Team to rapidly discover stakeholder needs, define conceptual solution designs and prototype a better solution. This is an experiment in start-up methodologies and emerging tech in an accelerator supported by entrepreneurs.

GovTech boot camp ran from 13 - 17 August and was an intense week of coaching in the accelerator delivery methodologies for the team. The team, from Police, the Integrated Safety Response and Non-Governmental organisations (Vibe and Women’s Refuge), have also started work defining the problem we are seeking to address & have outlined the programme key dates going forward with demonstrations of developments planned for November this year.
Update from the Sector – Christchurch

Engagement with Family Harm Perpetrators

On 31 July, a six-month pilot was launched in Christchurch in partnership with He Waka Tapu and Police, focused on engagement with family harm perpetrators who come through the Christchurch Central Custody Unit.

Under the pilot partnership with He Waka Tapu, a ‘Navigator’ will be available in the Christchurch Central Custody Unit as part of a perpetrator outreach service following a family harm episode.  The Navigator will begin an engagement process with a view to developing an immediate safety plan as well as longer term engagement, intervention and planning.

He Waka Tapu has been active in the Canterbury community for more than 20 years, working with men to prevent family harm and build whānau wellbeing, alongside alcohol and drug education, harm reduction and health services.

“We are all about giving people hope, and helping them plant the right seed so they can see a future for themselves,” says He Waka Tapu founder Daryl Gregory.

“He Waka Tapu is fundamentally about helping people sail towards their destination and the vision they want to create – hence the use of ‘Navigator’ for the people we have working alongside our clientele.”

He Waka Tapu Chief Executive Officer Jackie Burrows adds “Being the difference for whanau is important. Having the ability to connect with whanau at a time that matters can be all that’s required to make a change and this is what we like about this partnership”.

Visit from Minister Nash to ISR Christchurch

Minister Nash visited the Christchurch pilot site on 10 August 2018, providing an opportunity to showcase the multi-agency response model and how it works in practice.

The Minister observed the Safety Assessment Meetings (SAM) and saw how these operated. The Christchurch site believes this engagement will enable other key partner Ministers to see the value of ISR work and observe the impact that the multi-agency response is having in the communities it serves.

Christchurch welcomes further visits from other key Ministerial partners to showcase further insight into how ISR operates.
Update from the sector – Waikato

Te Whakaruruhau “Partnering for Whanau Symposium”

This was a forum held on 19-20 July 2018. The forum consisted of participants from across the Family Violence sector; including representatives from government departments, community partners to those agencies, non-profit community organisations, family violence experts and specialists, members of the judiciary and legal communities, Iwi, reformed perpetrators and survivors of Domestic Violence and trauma.

The forum was hosted by Te Whakaruruhau and was opened by Parliamentary Under-Secretary Jan Logie.

The symposium included presentations from current research projects and other Family Violence experts including Kaupapa Māori organisations.

Presenters included Darrin Haimona (MNZM), Maree Tukuino (Te Puni Kokiri), Eugene Ryder (former gang member), Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora and Professor Ngahuia Te Awekotuku as well as Waikato ISR Specialist Practice Lead Rolinda Karapu.

The forum, sponsored by Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga, E Tu Whānau and Te Puni Kokiri was a huge success with excellent discussion and networking from all involved.

Health Board discusses FV approach

Waikato ISR recently presented ISR to the Waikato DHB Board of Trustees. The intent was to strategically focus the DHB on primary health care prevention initiatives that ISR are involved with and to socialise the collaborative family violence approach the Waikato DHB are partnered with.

The presentation explained the evolution of ISR; the coalitions and partnerships within Waikato and the short, intermediate and long-term outcomes being achieved.

The DHB role in a multi sectional response (such as ISR) was explored and key non-fatal and fatal impacts on health were discussed.
Making a Difference case study - Christchurch

This story reflects true multi-agency collaboration. Eight agencies were heavily involved in the Family Safety plan to achieve safety for the victim and support to the perpetrator:

This woman married her partner after moving away from her country of origin. Shortly after the marriage, her partner became abusive. Following the assaults he would become sad to the point of becoming suicidal. ISR became aware of the client after she was seriously assaulted leading to hospitalisation. She had suffered multiple injuries, had ongoing health issues and was heavily medicated.

Safety planning took place as a high-risk case with the risk somewhat mitigated by the perpetrator working away during the week. The client was invested in getting help for her husband’s mental health, believing he wasn’t getting the support he needed.

Both the Perpetrator Outreach worker (POS) and Independent Victim Specialist (IVS) worked closely with the couple, meeting with them together and separately. Unfortunately, there was little engagement by her partner. Appointments were subsequently made with Mental Health however these were not attended.

The couple became homeless despite having support from Work and Income on multiple occasions to assist with unpaid rent. Food vouchers were provided on a regular basis. There continued to be several low-level reported episodes of family harm and the POS and IVS responded accordingly. The woman was isolated and had very little whānau support in New Zealand.

After a further serious episode where the client was seriously injured, she made the decision to return to her country of origin and whānau supports. Plans were put in place to help her relocate within the week, supported by the IVS maintaining daily face-to-face contact and POS in similar contact with the perpetrator. The POS worker was able to share information and monitor his mental health during this time.

Professional meetings were held and another collaborative partner was able to help the client stay in temporary accommodation. Meanwhile an application for a one-way airfare was approved. Safe transport from the safe house to the airport for the IVS and the client was arranged.

Make safe, keep safe, stay safe was achieved through excellent engagement by POS and IVS together with support from multiple agencies to progress the relocation plan quickly. Throughout, the POS maintained contact with the perpetrator around his mental health needs and provided support to him.
Making a Difference case study – Waikato

A current Intensive Case Management high risk plan involves a couple who have an extensive history of family violence where the male demonstrates extreme aggression and violence toward his partner and continually exposes children to family harm.

The couple have had nine Family Harm episodes in 2018 with progressive escalation in frequency and harm to the point where other whānau have expressed their concern that the primary aggressor would kill his partner or one of his family members. A BUPA alarm has been installed in the property to help the victim and her children feel more secure in their home.

Through interventions with community agencies, both parties have attended counselling and anger management courses as well as engaging extensively with multiple agencies to gain the skills to de-escalate situations and manage their reactions toward each other.

The parties have worked from non-reporting to developing safety plans for them both and following through with calls to Police and agency workers when episdoes occur. This has resulted in the male reporting to Police for verbal arguments only and following strategies developed and discussed in HAIP programmes. The BUPA alarm has since been removed from the property as the victim felt it was not needed any more.

This multi-agency collaboration has given the whānau a wrap-around service where they feel supported enough to work through their problems together. This has been achieved with the help of a Police Family Harm team member who has ongoing contact and engagement, and has built a relationship with the parties.

ISR training Update

ISR training is live and running smoothly. 396 active users are registered on the ISR training site to complete the ISR elearning modules. Of these:

  • 111 people have completed all the modules, and an additional 77 people have started working through them
  • 18 people have also completed the Family Harm course.

The ISR induction workshop has also been piloted in Waikato and Christchurch. These interactive workshops were co-facilitated by the Specialist Practice Lead and an ISR coordinator. Initial feedback has been positive.

  • “Very interactive with a chance for people to ask questions and clarify. The facilitators were very knowledgeable and responsive.
  • Very concise information and great to get together with other agencies to network regarding the work we do with whānau.”

has also started identifying assessors to help the 90 ISR practitioners registered to complete the Diploma in Health and Wellness (Family Violence, Sexual Violence and Violence within Whānau).

What next?

  • Updating and improving the training resources. For example, producing a new animation “What is an integrated response?” to describe what ISR is and how it makes a difference for families.
  • Scoping new training on how practitioners ‘Work with Families and Whānau’ within the ISR process.
  • Updating the People and the Process - ISR guidelines, and Guidance on Risk Assessment and Management.

    ISAR training resources
FSS Update

Family Safety System (FSS)

Training modules are being developed for inclusion into the Learning Management System.

The FSS Quick Reference Guide is also being updated to include the new Support Services process.
Contributions, questions or feedback

We will look to produce the next newsletter around November/December 2018. If you have any contributions, questions or feedback, please email ISR@police.govt.nz.

Contact:

isr@police.govt.nz
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