Improved Child, Youth and Family complaints process

The Ministry is introducing a new, improved Child, Youth and Family complaints process from the end of July 2008.

The improved process has two steps. The first step is a review and assessment, by Child, Youth and Family.  The second step is a review by a Chief Executive Advisory Panel.  The Advisory Panel is designed to provide an additional avenue of independent review for people who are not satisfied with the initial review.

The Advisory Panel will sit within the Ministry, but outside Child, Youth and Family and is comprised of an independent chair and two independent panel members.

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

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

Druis Barrett. Ms Barrett has 15 years experience in policy and operational service delivery to Ma-ori communities, in particular in the area of Ma-ori 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 Ma-ori Employment and Training Commission and is a past National President of the Ma-ori 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).