Statement of Intent 2006 - Chief Executive's Overview
At the Ministry of Social Development, our work is central to the Government’s priorities of economic transformation, families – young and old, and national identity.
This Statement of Intent sets out the Ministry’s strategies that contribute to these priorities. We have already made a significant contribution to economic transformation by increasing labour market participation through sustainable employment. We are working in partnership with industry to address skill shortages and increase productivity in the workplace and are also supporting students to attain high standards of knowledge and skills. Regionally, we will continue to help co-ordinate and support local government to undertake the long term council community planning process. Our own regional planning is focused on doing all we can to ensure that New Zealand has a healthy society and is internationally competitive. Our communities are part of our national identity and much of the Ministry’s work is geared towards supporting and encouraging all New Zealanders to own and contribute to their community.
Strong, healthy families - young and old are vital to the future of our country. The Ministry has a core responsibility to support and sustain family structures. Healthy, confident children are our future. Their safety and success is a bottom line goal of the Ministry. Families that need help or information should have access to services that help address whatever barriers or issues prevent them from achieving their potential. Early intervention is a fundamental aspect of our approach as this ensures we deal with issues early in life, or early in the life of the problem. Working across government to reduce violence within families will continue to be a key goal for the Ministry.
Our role with children and families has expanded. The merger of the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services enables a combined response to the issues facing at risk children and families that is supported by policy and backed by an integrated research and evaluation programme that tells us what works and what doesn’t. The merger also enables us to bring together Child, Youth and Family’s statutory services alongside Family and Community Service’s preventative services.
Leadership across the social sector will be a key focus for the next three years. To achieve the Government’s vision that all families - young and old, have the support and choices they need to be secure and be able to reach their full potential, government agencies need to work together. We will continue to work with other agencies in the social sector to ensure that we are all moving in the same direction. Our social development leadership role underpins everything we do, and is a vital part of us helping the Government to achieve its priorities.
While social development leadership and our merger with Child, Youth and Family will be a big focus for the coming year, we still need to get on with our day-to-day business of getting New Zealanders into jobs and training, paying full and correct entitlements and benefits, supporting families and communities, strengthening early intervention, and providing research and evaluation for good decisions around social investment.
Over the next three years, we will continue to implement Working for Families, and further develop the Government’s programme of social assistance reform. We will continue to expand and improve early intervention services for families, and lead interagency work to reduce and prevent family violence. In Child, Youth and Family, we will improve our management of demand for services, and continue to improve our capability to deliver high quality and effective youth justice services.
The coming year will be a busy time for the Ministry as we work to achieve the Government’s priorities and leverage off the opportunities that the merger with Child, Youth and Family presents. As a Ministry we move forward into 2006/2007 with confidence.
Peter Hughes
Chief Executive
