Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives

Not just about crisis and
intervention – it’s about a
holistic approach, has to be
not just modelled around
<strong>the</strong> deficit.
4.3.7 The relationship between individual wellbeing and <strong>the</strong> wellbeing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
whānau as a whole also raised questions about potential conflicts <strong>of</strong>
interest. Family group conferences sometimes flounder because <strong>the</strong>
interests <strong>of</strong> a child are seen to be at odds with <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family.
The same might be said for respecting <strong>the</strong> confidentiality <strong>of</strong> a daughter who
had become pregnant and did not wish family members to be informed.
Feedback received by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> advised against conceptualising
Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> as an approach which disregarded <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> individuals,
but to develop it as a model that enabled both individual need and <strong>the</strong>
collective need to co-exist. Taking into account immediate safety needs,
for example, would not be inconsistent with a staged intervention process
that recognised more urgent individual needs but also addressed wider
whānau development. The aim should be to convert every whānau crisis
into an opportunity for whānau enablement.
4.3.8 A related matter was also raised in connection with <strong>the</strong> roles <strong>of</strong> Whānau
<strong>Ora</strong> practitioners. Because whānau may have various needs that require
multiple levels <strong>of</strong> expertise, it is unreasonable to expect that a single
practitioner would be able to cover all contingencies. Three o<strong>the</strong>r practice
alternatives were presented to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong>. One option favoured a team
approach so that a wide range <strong>of</strong> skills within <strong>the</strong> same provider organisation
were available to assist whānau while one member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> team took overall
responsibility. A second option was for a network <strong>of</strong> providers who could
<strong>of</strong>fer a comprehensive service between <strong>the</strong>m while agreeing that one
practitioner would assume a lead role. The third option was for a practitioner
who had expertise in counselling whānau and a wide knowledge <strong>of</strong> local
services. The practitioner would act as a broker, ensuring that whānau had
access to <strong>the</strong> most appropriate service and experienced <strong>the</strong> best possible
outcomes. If, for example, whānau were seeking a particular type <strong>of</strong>
education for <strong>the</strong>ir children, <strong>the</strong> broker would negotiate entry into <strong>the</strong> school
that could deliver <strong>the</strong> desired result.
4.3.9 The <strong>Taskforce</strong> agrees that many practitioners have been using a
Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> practice model for a number <strong>of</strong> years, although without
receiving adequate recognition for this. It is clear that a Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>
approach will require major changes in contractual arrangements
and accountability schedules. It is also apparent to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> that,
if Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> provider organisations are to effect real change, <strong>the</strong>y
will need to <strong>of</strong>fer a comprehensive range <strong>of</strong> services, ei<strong>the</strong>r alone or in
association with o<strong>the</strong>r providers, and must be responsive to individual
whānau members as well as <strong>the</strong> whānau as a whole. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>
<strong>Taskforce</strong> supports <strong>the</strong> option <strong>of</strong> service brokering so that whānau
can have greater choice around those services and amenities that
will assist <strong>the</strong>m to realise <strong>the</strong>ir own aspirations.
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