The text below consists of the answers given by Anne Tolley (Minister of Social Development) to the written questions of Jacinda Ardern MP. We leave it to you to judge the adequacy of the answers. Feel free to comment using the comment box below.
Question: Will social workers have an opportunity to have input into the review of Child Youth and Family being undertaken by the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel, if so when?
Portfolio: Social Development
Minister: Hon Anne Tolley
Date Lodged:16/04/2015
Answer Text: The Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel has been given a wide-ranging brief which enables it to review all aspects of Child, Youth and Family operations in order to ensure that the agency delivers the best possible results for vulnerable children and their families in the decades ahead. Appointments to the Expert Panel were led by the State Services Commission and together the Panel members have significant public sector experience and a strong understanding of tikanga Maori and the child protection environment. Throughout the review process Panel members will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties can also submit their views on the modernisation on the modernisation of Child, Youth and Family directly to the Expert Panel.
Date Received:29/04/2015
Question: Will the high level business case being provided to the Minister by the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel by 30 July 2015 be a consultation document?
Portfolio: Social Development
Minister: Hon Anne Tolley
Date Lodged:16/04/2015
Answer Text: The nature of the programme level business case is subject to confirmation following discussion between myself as Minister for Social Development and the Chair of the Expert Panel.
Date Received:29/04/2015
Question: Will there be an opportunity for the public to make submissions on the review of Child Youth and Family being undertaken by the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel?
Portfolio: Social Development
Minister: Hon Anne Tolley
Date Lodged:16/04/2015
Answer Text: The Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel has been given a wide-ranging brief which enables it to review all aspects of Child, Youth and Family operations in order to ensure that the agency delivers the best possible results for vulnerable children and their families in the decades ahead. Appointments to the Expert Panel were led by the State Services Commission and together the Panel members have significant public sector experience and a strong understanding of tikanga Maori and the child protection environment. Throughout the review process Panel members will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties can also submit their views on the modernisation on the modernisation of Child, Youth and Family directly to the Expert Panel.
Date Received:29/04/2015
Question: Why does the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel for the review of Child Youth and Family not include any registered social workers?
Portfolio: Social Development
Minister: Hon Anne Tolley
Date Lodged:16/04/2015
Answer Text: The Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel has been given a wide-ranging brief which enables it to review all aspects of Child, Youth and Family operations in order to ensure that the agency delivers the best possible results for vulnerable children and their families in the decades ahead. Appointments to the Expert Panel were led by the State Services Commission and together the Panel members have significant public sector experience and a strong understanding of tikanga Maori and the child protection environment. Throughout the review process Panel members will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties can also submit their views on the modernisation on the modernisation of Child, Youth and Family directly to the Expert Panel. This is also my response to written parliamentary questions 4364 and 4366 (2015).
Date Received:29/04/2015
Question: Did the Minister consult any Social Worker representative bodies in drafting the Terms of Reference for the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel?
Portfolio: Social Development
Minister: Hon Anne Tolley
Date Lodged:16/04/2015
Answer Text: The Terms of Reference for the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel reflect consideration of both the Chief Social Workers Workload Review and the Child, Youth and Family Modernisation Strategy. Significant input was received from the social work profession with regard to these reviews and close consultation with social worker representative bodies was undertaken. The Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel will have the opportunity to draw on findings of these reviews in preparation of their business case.
Date Received:29/04/2015
5 replies on “Democracy in action?: The Minister answers questions on the CYF review”
In her response Minister Tolley states “close consultation with social worker representative bodies was undertaken”. I am not aware of any consultation with ANZASW in relation to the Terms of Reference. I wonder which ‘representative bodies’ were consulted.
There were discussion with the Chief Social Worker, Paul Nixon, when the Workload Caseload Review was released in May 2014.
“Significant input was received from the social work profession with regard to these reviews and close consultation with social worker representative bodies was undertaken.”
They were?
So, not ANZASW…I wonder which other representative bodies were closely consulted with…maybe I missed something. Enlighten us please, all those other bodies which represent SWs in NZ?
Please could Minister Tolley come out from behind the rhetoric?
By “modernising strategy” “business case” does Minister Tolley mean privatisation of CYF and dumping these services onto community and social service in the NGO sector with reduction in resources (more bang for less buck)?