Purpose
The Tāne Whakapiripiri Care Support Model (CSM) is a two-year partnership between Oranga Tamariki, Barnardos NZ and Key Assets Foundation.
In 2018, Oranga Tamariki in Canterbury identified a group of young people in its care who had a very high level of need and a history of multiple failed placements.
Regional leadership determined that none of the placement options available in the region were a good fit with the group’s needs and were unlikely to have better outcomes than the placements already attempted.
Oranga Tamariki invited Barnardos and Key Assets, two non-government organisations providing services for young people, to participate in a co-design workshop. The resulting model was a specialist group home for up to three tamariki at a time. The aim was to stabilise tamariki and prepare them for a permanent placement, using support characterised by a therapeutic and traumainformed approach.
Methodology
The evaluation
Oranga Tamariki commissioned this small formative evaluation to support its understanding of the model implemented. The evaluation objectives were to:
- Assess what is working well, what isn’t working well, and why
- Understand the key project ‘success’ principles and processes
- Consider whether the CSM is suited to the needs and priorities of children and their families/whānau and Oranga Tamariki.
- Identify any early or emerging (project) outcomes, for example in relation to improved placement stability, stronger caregiving family/whānau relationships, and increased skills and resilience.
The evaluation collected data through interviews with tamariki, whānau, Oranga Tamariki staff, Barnardos staff, Key Assets staff and other stakeholders.
Key Results
Key findings of the model include:
- All stakeholders were very supportive of the co-design process used to develop the model. There was consensus that the model was a good fit for the need of the targeted tamariki in Canterbury and that the need remains.
- The model has evolved significantly. Much of the adaptation has been driven by the shift in focus to tamariki with a pathway to returning to whānau, which has become part of the selection process.
- The Oversight Committee has been a strength of the model, bringing together stakeholders from all partners in governance and management.
- Iwi were invited in to be a key part of the co-design process which set the foundation for continuing engagement.
- The selection process has brought tamariki fitting the target group to Tāne Whakapiripiri and the need to allow time for a planned introduction to the house has been recognised by all stakeholders.