Chief Executive's Review
A review by the Chief Executive is the second step in the CYF formal complaints process.
If your complaint has been considered by Child, Youth and Family and you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can apply to the Ministry of Social Development for a review of your complaint by the Chief Executive.
The review of the complaint is undertaken by the Chief Executive's Advisory Panel. The Panel provides advice to the Chief Executive who then makes the final decision. The Panel is made up of three people who do not work for Child, Youth and Family and have not been involved in the case.
You can apply for a CE review by writing to:
The National Manager
Review Secretariat
Ministry of Social Development
P.O. Box 1556
Wellington
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Chief Executive's Review
There are other organisations outside of the Ministry of Social Development you can choose to contact such as:
Call: +64 4 931 2650
Call: +64 4 471 1410
The Panel Members
Mel Smith (Panel Chair)
Mr Smith is one of the New Zealand Public Sector’s most experienced and respected former public servants bringing to the Panel an extensive understanding of the principles of natural justice. He has held senior positions as Chief Executive and Acting Chief Executive in several large and complex government departments including Department of Justice, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Policy, and the Government Superannuation Fund. He was appointed by Parliament as an Ombudsman from 2001 until December 2005 and again from December 2006 until December 2007. He was awarded a Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006.
Jacky Renouf
Ms Renouf brings to the Panel knowledge of the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989, statutory social work and associated social services. Her previous roles include convenor of the Ministerial Task Force on Social Welfare Services and leader of a Ministerial Task Team charged with initiating and consulting on the Children and Young Persons Bill (1988-1989). She was the Chief Executive of Relationship Services New Zealand and before this a Regional Manager for the Children and Young Persons Service (1981 – 1994). She has also held various senior roles in the Department of Social Welfare. She has been a member of the Central Regional Ethics Committee and is a Benefit Review Committee Community Representative.
Druis Barrett
Ms Barrett has 15 years experience in policy and operational service delivery to Māori communities, in particular in the area of Māori health. At a national level she has had an advisory role to two Ministers of Health, served on the Gisborne Cervical Screening enquiry, was a Commissioner to the Māori Employment and Training Commission and is a past National President of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. In 1990 she received the Queen Elizabeth Special Award for services to the Maori Community and in 2001 was awarded the Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit. She is currently on the Maori Reference Group for the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families, the Family Services National Advisory Council (FSNAC), and the Family Outcomes Strategic Group (FOSG).
