The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children - Ministry of Social ...

Q&AImproving service delivery:Question and answer submissionsHow could early education centres and schools be betterused as sites for the delivery of a wider range of services?A small number of submissions answered this question. Many submissionssuggested that schools or ECEs could be hubs that have other services,such as health and social services, co-located with them. There was moderatesupport overall for social workers in schools, and some support for schools and ECEs being theproviders of information about other services. Other suggestions were using universal servicesas the entry point, making changes to Child, Youth and Family to improve services, improvingcontract and funding arrangements, and more resourcing of Crown agencies.Schools: The majority of submissions said that education sites could be used as the hub for thedelivery of general practitioner, Plunket and other clinical and social services. These submissionstalked about having services such as a nurse or social worker based in the school itself,while others talked about having GP surgeries, Plunket rooms, and Work and Income officeson school sites.Community groups should branch out from schools, this way involving parents, childrenand the wider community under an umbrella where health, employment and educationservices are clearly visible and approachable and all ages in society can be involved.(general public)School based CYFS liaison and social workers, comparable to Resource Teachers:Learning and Behaviour cluster Services. (frontline worker)These places must become community centres for many activities and services.(frontline worker)A small minority of submissions expressed opposition to the idea, citing lack of space, lack ofteacher time, and the risk of excluding families whose children did not attend that particularschool or ECE.It should be remembered that schools are meant to educate, not solve all the communitysocial problems. (NGO)Social workers in schools: This was suggested by a large minority of submissions.Put social workers into early childhood centres and schools. (general public)Education providers: A large minority of submissions made the suggestion that educationproviders should be used as sources of information about other services.What services could be better connected and how?Very few submissions answered this question. The majority of submissions called forgovernment social sector agencies and NGOs to be better connected to each other,and a large minority argued for health services and schools to be better connected also.CYF, public health nurses, WINZ etc. Having chances for staff to meet each other based inthe community and liaise with community development workers. (frontline worker)164 Make Child-Centred Practice Changes