Care providers in the dark as Oranga Tamariki drags heels
Saturday, 29 June 2024
Hundreds of contracts with Oranga Tamariki come to an end on Sunday, with concerns it could have a “devastating” impact on those working with vulnerable children.
The contracts ending range from counselling, youth programmes, support for vulnerable families, to sexual violence prevention programmes and support for young people leaving care.
The Post understands many of theproviders are still in the dark as to whether their contracts will be renewed.
It follows a meeting this week which confirmed Oranga Tamariki would slash 419 roles.
Oranga Tamariki would not comment on specific funding queries, but Darrin Haimona, deputy chief executive (Māori Partnerships and Communities), said that after Budget 2024, it was reviewing all provider contracts.
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Nikki Hurst, executive officer of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, which represents about 280 organisations nationally, said everyone was “looking for clarity and unfortunately, that's not what we're getting from Oranga Tamariki at the moment”.
The entire sector was watching to see what happened next, Hurst said.
“They are absolutely the front line. These are the people who, when there's a tragedy in the community, show up for children.”
Hurst said work with children relied on secure relationships.
“Any services will be concerned to take on new relationships with children in this period if they’re not feeling confident that they're able to continue those relationships.”
Hurst described the providers as not-for-profit organisations “that everyone turns to for help when they need it”.
“We want to be that help. But we also don't want to do harm by starting relationships that then have to cease because the organisation has to downsize or close.”
Chief executive Belinda Himiona of Social Service Providers, which represents community-based providers, called the level of uncertainty unusual and “very disruptive” for the sector.
“Some of our providers, who are extremely distressed, have worked with Oranga Tamariki and other government agencies … for many years, and so they have a record of delivery and of focusing on children and families, and they’re very, very worried.
“It is creating enormous stress.
“The impact of not providing those services is troubling. It's not clear … how the needs of children are being taken into account, if we are reviewing those services, and potentially discontinuing some of them.”
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour said ”anyone whose contracts are ending and they haven't heard, will continue as normal until they have heard, so no funding will stop“.
“But there's just a process that Oranga Tamariki is going through right now.”
Chhour said they could not disrupt frontline work, “but what we have to make sure of, is that we're getting those contracts right”.
Savings from the Budget outlined $30 million a year from Oranga Tamariki’s contracting service costs. Budget documents said the money would be “drawn from under-utilised services and fee-for-service arrangements, which will be replaced by more efficient and consistent formal arrangements”.
“This initiative improves the efficiency of service delivery, with no reduction in frontline services”.
Chhour was aware Oranga Tamariki was trying to claw back funding.
“I actually support that, because every dollar needs to be going towards our young people. So if money isn't spent, it needs to come back so that we can put it towards our young people.”
Labour Party spokesperson for children Willow-Jean Prime said the $30m decrease “is going to have a devastating impact for those providers who are working with our most vulnerable children on the frontline”.
“Several weeks ago, community service providers were anxious to hear about whether they would have contracts and funding beyond the 30th of June, whether they were going to be able to keep the lights on, keep their organisations going and provide services to the children.
“As of this week, many of them still do not know the future. And some are hearing that the contracts have changed, that they are losing funding.
“They have uncertainty around whether they will continue to get that funding continue to be able to employ staff to deliver those programmes to these children.”
Oranga Tamariki’s Haimona said there was over $500 million in contracted funding annually.
“Each year Oranga Tamariki reviews existing and outyear funding to providers with expiring contracts against the needs of children and young people. As part of this Oranga Tamariki makes decisions about the capacity required in the system for different types of services.
“We are in the process of contacting all providers about their individual situation where their Outcome Agreement expires, will be varied, or renewed.
“To reiterate we will not be having these negotiations publicly.”