Consultation with Ministry staff begins

The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki will focus on five core services – prevention, intensive intervention, care support services, transition support and a youth justice service aimed at preventing offending and reoffending.

Besides the proposed organisational structures, the consultation document also outlines the transfer of MSD positions to the new agency.The transfer covers people in Child, Youth and Family, the Children’s Teams and people from various MSD teams.

“It’s important to note that the changes from Child, Youth and Family to the new agency are focussed on having fewer management layers, to ensure that leaders are closer to the children and young people they serve. It also gives the staff on the ground easier and more direct access to senior leaders,” Mrs Moss said. 

No frontline staff are impacted in either Ministry.

Mr Boyle said, “Aside from the roles transferring to the new ministry, MSD  will have very similar staff numbers as it has now. The Ministry of Social Development also has the opportunity to build on good work in innovating and expanding the way services are delivered, to which clients, through what channels and in how we make investment decisions.

“In the future both agencies will work together, not just in the establishment phase but as our operating models develop. This transformation provides an opportunity to design two organisations at the same time, to deliver the best outcomes for all clients the agencies have in common, by being fully aligned.”

The new agency is likely to add more staff to those transferring from MSD, as it changes the way it delivers services to vulnerable children, and builds an organisation that can bring about the radical change in support for vulnerable children that the Government and New Zealanders are demanding.

Mrs Moss said, “For the new agency to deliver on its mandate, a range of functions and positions currently within MSD will transfer to the new agency. The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki will also begin to build and develop some of the new capabilities it needs as it transforms services over the next four to five years.

Both leaders are keen for staff to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

Mr Boyle said, “Through the consultation, we will ask staff to give feedback on the proposed structural changes – we want staff to have their say and share their insights. This is a genuine opportunity for our people to help shape both agencies.

“We acknowledge that these changes are significant, and while there are opportunities for staff as well as challenges, there will naturally be uncertainty for some.

“This is to be expected, and we will offer every support possible to staff. However, we need to keep at the front of our minds that in creating the new agency, we need to put in place the best possible structure to ensure the wellbeing of children is valued above all else.”

The consultation runs for two weeks with the resulting organisational structures confirmed in early December.