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February 2019
Welcome

Welcome to our newsletter update on the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) pilot. In this update you’ll find the following:
Tēnā koutou

2019 is shaping up to be another busy year for us all. We are working closely with the Joint Venture Business Unit as we continue to shape the future state for responding to Family Violence, Sexual Violence and Violence within Whānau in New Zealand.

As I reflected on 2018 and the collaboration that the Integrated Safety Response has achieved, I think that we can all be very proud of the work that we have done. We have been evaluated for a second time with the results of that evaluation forthcoming (see also the Evaluation Update below). It is heartening to see that we are heading in the right direction. The work we do in the integrated response space has provided invaluable information about family violence in New Zealand and the power of helping victims, perpetrators of violence, their families and whānau through collaboration.

In September 2018 as part of the collaborative response, the New Zealand government set up the Joint Venture Business Unit (JVBU). Its purpose is to enable a strategic overview of prevention, early intervention, crisis response and support for long-term recovery in respect of Family Violence, Sexual Violence and Violence within Whānau. The JVBU is also undertaking an integrated budget process for the 2019/20 financial year in relation to family violence and sexual violence. As a key partner to the JVBU, we are working closely with the JVBU on a national strategy and action plan to end family violence, including how the work we are doing in the integrated response arena will inform future practice across New Zealand.

Whilst we work across government on the collaborative response, our focus within the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) is the 75,500 individuals and 31,381 family safety plans that we have in the Family Safety System (the ISR case management system). Our commitment remains to ensuring the immediate safety of victims and children, and to ensure perpetrators referred through the ISR system are connected with an appropriate service to assist in preventing further violence.

I sincerely thank you for the work you do and wish you, your families and whānau a safe and happy 2019.


Ngā manaakitanga
Acting Superintendent Bronwyn Marshall
Evaluation Update

The evaluation is progressing well with draft findings from five components (impact of ISR on reported repeat family harm victimisation and offending, kaupapa Māori evaluation, 12-week ISR case review, online survey and ISR policy review paper) presented to the ISR National Project board and the ISR research reference group in the last quarter. Two final components will be completed early this year (a Cost Benefit Analysis and fieldwork to follow-up issues raised in the online survey) before a draft final report is completed in April. Findings to date suggest the model is on the right path with strong support from those in the ISR communities, and can develop further through building on learnings and identified areas for improvement.

For more information or any questions please contact:
Dr Elaine Mossman (Independent evaluator): elaine@elainemossman.nz
Update from the Sector – Christchurch

In September ISR funded a symposium via the Canterbury Family Violence Collaborative. The symposium was titled: Engaging for Change: Working with perpetrators of Family Harm and their whānau.  There was a fantastic response with approx. 220 people attending the day. Participants heard from ‘lived experience’ key note speaker Jeremy Eparaima, as well hearing some of the latest research into perpetrator engagement and change from Dr Michael Roguski.  Elective sessions were held in the afternoon with a particular focus on practice. Electives included: Working with Children who experience family harm, working with Youth ‘offenders’, and engaging whole of whānau when the choice is made to stay together. An Evaluation of the day had 45% of participants stating that the Symposium was “informative and relevant to my work” with a further 47% stating that the symposium was “not only informative but enhancing”. The next Symposium is scheduled for February.

ISR has also had several visitors to the site over the last quarter - Nicky Wagner MP, Hon. Louise Upston and Hon. Mark Mitchell visited ISR in September 2018. They observed the Safety Assessment Meeting (SAM) in action and were extremely impressed by the multi-agency information sharing and the family safety planning that occurred. Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Board visited ISR in October and Dr Kim McGregor, Chief Victims Advisor visited in November. Visitors were interested in understanding the learnings as the pilot has evolved and the supports available to perpetrators, in particular the 0800HEYBRO initiative and the work of the navigators in the custody suite.
Update from the Sector – Waikato

Waikato ISR are initiating a trial dual deployment model between Te Whakaruruhau (Waikato Women’s Refuge) crisis team and the Police Family Harm Team as a way of initiating engagement sooner for whānau affected by family violence episodes. The aim is for the team to more effectively engage with whānau within a short time following the initial Police attendance of a family harm call out.

ISR have presented to numerous groups and agencies of late. As a result of one presentation the Waikato Secondary Schools Principals’ collective has formed a Working Group to work more closely with youth effected by family violence. Family Planning Waikato, and Waikato DHB Primary Health care team were also presented to. Engagement with the DHB has resulted in work being undertaken around primary health care professionals and their ability to immediately identify and refer people to appropriate services. It is through interactions such as these that ISR can assist with collaboration and appropriate interventions in the community.

The Waikato ISR also had a visit from White Ribbon Ambassador David White. David spoke to the ISR team about his journey, his work and how his family has suffered from the ultimate act of family violence – the murder of his daughter some 9 years ago. Visits like this provide education for the ISR staff and also remind the team of the ‘why’ behind the pilot.
Making a Difference case study – Christchurch

This story comes from Stopping Violence Services Christchurch (SVS):

A Whanau Support Worker (Pasifika) was assigned to work with a mother and son. The son is 18 years old and his behaviour had been going downhill for a few months before mum phoned Police.

The WSW’s focus was to work with the mother and son to support the son to realise the impact of his behaviour and recognise how challenging it was becoming for his Mum.

The WSW worked with the family for some time and with support, coaching and sessions on core beliefs and early warning signs, he has made some real positive changes in his abusive behaviour over the last few months.

Just recently the WSW received some very positive feedback from the mother of this young man around how happy her son is – he is no longer affiliated with gang activity and has stopped smoking cannabis. The outcome now is that he has a new job and is working full time. His relationship and his interactions with his mum have changed and they are now in a good place. She cannot believe how well her son is doing with his life and is now making good choices.

This young man now wants to share the positive things that have been happening with him and the goal now for him is to become a great role model for other teenage boys to help them become non-violent and non-abusive towards others.
Making a Difference case study – Waikato

“Q” was in prison for family harm offending in relation to his child and partner. The SAM table discussed his prison release and a safety plan was created.

His partner “J” had ongoing contact with local Police and disclosed that “Q” was aware of their current whereabouts – mainly where their child was going to school.

ISR tasked the Ministry of Education to ensure the school had a safety plan in place for the child and they advised that the principal believed “J” was in a new relationship with someone. Corrections and Police also received information indicating that “J” was planning to take the children to see “Q” on the day of his release.

The plan was brought back to the SAM table for review to consider escalation to HIGH risk of harm due to concerns for the child and for “J”.

Oranga Tamariki have custody of the child, however “J” had care. Corrections and OT continued to monitor the situation with the view that should the contact between “Q” and “J” continue, Oranga Tamariki would act promptly to enhance the safety of the child. Agency information suggested that “J” was acting in fear of “Q”, therefore was not entirely forthcoming to Police.

The plan was escalated to HIGH risk and discussed in the Intensive Case Management meeting (ICM). While the plan was being discussed in ICM, “Q” was noted to be instantly breaching the protection order by contacting “J”.

In ICM, the Corrections representative viewed “Q’s” electronic monitoring on a live feed. Police were able to coordinate the dispatch of vehicles during this live feed to arrest him.

“Q” was arrested and held in custody. Police placed a priority alert on the address where the children were residing. OT and Corrections continue to monitor this situation.

This action highlights the importance of interagency collaboration and what can be achieved when agencies meet and share information to make families and whānau safe.

Safer Sooner – Work on future systems for case management

In the September 2018 ISR newsletter, we provided an overview of the GovTech Accelerator programme. A team representing the Integrated Safety Response programme participated in GovTech to deep dive into problems and opportunities in family violence safety planning and service provision. This project is now currently called Safer Sooner.

To maintain momentum from the GovTech accelerator, the team applied for the Digital Government Partnership Innovation Fund and was awarded funding. In the spirit of the innovation fund, a prototyping process will be run which will allow the team to learn and refine the technology.

The Safer Soon project will have a board (members are currently being proposed) and a Tech Advisory group. The Tech Advisory group has been assembled to give some assurance and support for future technology and vendor selection, and to highlight new and innovative technologies that could add value to the project. So far, the Tech Advisory includes the New Zealand Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft, the New Zealand Chief Technology Officer of Xero, the Principal Architect of Amazon Web Services, and the Managing Director of Axenic, a New Zealand based Governance, Risk, and Compliance firm who provide state of the art information security and privacy advice.

The Safer Sooner project team continues to connect with other programmes that intersect with its work, Non-Governmental Organisations and Government agencies as the prototype develops.

The intention is to develop the prototype quickly and pilot it.The project team is also considering options for consultation as the project develops.

Please contact simon.hill@police.govt.nz for any questions or to get involved.

ISR training Update

Introduction to reporting

ISR induction training for staff is continuing to be embedded in sites. At the end of 2018, there were 378 active users in the ISR training site, and of these 174 people have completed all the modules, and an additional 86 people have started working through them. ISR induction workshops were also being scheduled and delivered each month in each site. The ISR National Team are considering options to seek user feedback on the training in order to make improvements to the user experience.

CareerForce, the Industry Training Organisation and NZQA accredited, has now trained assessors from ISR in Waikato and Christchurch for the Diploma in Health and Wellness (Family Violence, Sexual Violence and Violence within Whānau). It also provides CareerForce assessors to support ISR. To date there are 15 registrations to complete the diploma.

A new version of Guidance on Risk Assessment and Management has now been completed and released, and the next review is scheduled to be completed by 31 March 2019.

What next?

Guidance on isk assessment and Management front cover

As Budget 2019 decisions are made regarding ISR and potential new training audiences, planning is underway for the next phase of training design and development. The focus is on having the best training possible by the end of June 2019. Likely topics include:

  • Reporting
  • Working with Families and Whānau
  • Leadership and management

The review of ISR Guidelines - People and the Process has now been completed and its next version is being planned. Thank you to all those who provided feedback and recommendations on this important document.
Family Safety System Update

Whāngaia Ngā Pa Harakeke sites, Waitemata, Auckland City and Bay of Plenty will be on-boarded so that they can use FSS from the beginning of March 2019.

Performance testing was completed on the Family Safety System (FSS) at the end of 2018. Following this, recommendations were provided to help improve the performance of FSS.

The immediate recommendations have been implemented and are proving to be successful.

The final recommendations will be scoped for implementation at a later date. We are also currently working on ensuring robust processes should an outage of FSS occur.

Contributions, questions or feedback

We will look to produce the next newsletter around June/July 2019. If you have any contributions, questions or feedback, please email ISR@police.govt.nz.

Contact:

isr@police.govt.nz
www.police.govt.nz/integratedsafetyresponse
Integrated Safety Response logo