Kurt Lorenzen
[FYI request #16338 email]
Tēnā koe Kurt Lorenzen
On 7 August 2021, you emailed the Ministry of Health (MoH) requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
•
Provide all relevant information around the 1.9 billion dollars earmarked for Mental
Health NZ. Including, money spent on paid consultants.
On 30 August 2021, MoH transferred your questions to the Ministry of Social Development
(the Ministry) in part, because the information is also held by our agency.
The $1.9 billion was provided across agencies to implement initiatives to assist with the
Wellbeing of New Zealanders of which $138.9 million was provided to Vote Social
Development administered by the Ministry to implement the initiatives.
Regarding your request, please find below a spreadsheet detailing the financial amounts
for the mental wellbeing initiatives being led by the Ministry which were listed in the
Wellbeing Budget 2019. The spreadsheet shows the figures received by the Ministry that
have either been spent in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 financial years or have been
forecast to be spent in the current and next financial year.
Table One: Overview of Budget 2019 mental wellbeing package: The Ministry’s
initiatives as at end of October 2020
Funding allocated ($m) per financial year
Funding spent as at end October 2020 ($m)
Initiative
19/20
20/21
21/22
22/23
Total
19/20
20/21
21/22
22/23
Total
Disabled People and People
with Health Conditions:
Improving Employment and
Wider Wellbeing Outcomes
9.739
10.467
3.063
3.063
26.332
7.126
3.591
N/a
N/a
10.717
Oranga Mahi
6.676
7.404
0
0
14.080
4.063
2.403
N/a
N/a
6.466
Disability Employment Services
and Support Funds
3.063
3.063
3.063
3.063
12.252
3.063
1.188
N/a
N/a
4.251
Housing Support Products:
Expansion to Help More People
Access and Maintain Tenancies
5.1
4.6
4.6
4.6
18.9
s18(f)
s18(f)
N/a
N/a
s18(f)
Maintaining and Strengthening
the Housing First Programme
as a Response to Ending
Homelessness
0.1
0.6
0.9
1.3
2.9
0.1
0.6
N/a
N/a
0.7
Historic Claims
27.310
32.470
33.970
0.000
93.750
17.934
6.264
N/a
N/a
24.198
Disabled People and People with Health Conditions Improving Employment and
Wider Wellbeing Outcomes
This initiative aims to support an additional 2,600 disabled people and people with health
conditions, including those with mental health needs, to find and stay in meaningful
employment, increase their knowledge and skills, and improve their health and wider
wellbeing.
The funding for this initiative has provided additional capacity for the Ministry’s contracted
employment service, particularly for mental health support.
Disabled People and People with Health Conditions Improving Employment and Wider
Wellbeing Outcomes is an initiative which consists of two other initiatives, Oranga Mahi
and Disability Employment Services and Support Fund.
Oranga Mahi
Oranga Mahi is a cross-agency project delivered by the Ministry, in partnership with several
District Health Boards, that trials new ways of working with clients receiving a health-
related benefit. Oranga Mahi aims to better the experience of care for its participants, to
support them to improve their health and wellbeing, leading to sustainable social
outcomes.
The Ministry contracts six providers that assist with the Oranga Mahi initiative. Please see
Appendix A which shows the providers names, the contract names, a short description of
service provided to the Ministry, the contract value and the contract spend as at 31 March
2021.
It is important to note that some Oranga Mahi services were delayed due to the COVID-19
lockdown. There was a business continuity plan for current participants, but only if they
were able to access them virtually. Services that were impacted due to COVID-19 were the
following:
• Here Toitū (Canterbury and parts of Auckland) go-live changed from March 2020 to
August 2020
• Here Toitū Mid Central early response work was put on hold until late November
2020 and went live 21 June 2021
• REACH Westcoast was unable to be progressed, as no engagement or scoping for
this had begun prior to COVID.
Disability Employment Services and Support Fund
Employment Service
Please see below
Appendix B which shows the providers’ name, the contract name, a
short description of service provided to the Ministry, the contract value and the contract
spend up to July 2021.
These services are outcome based and the funding paid is based on the number clients
engaged each year and the milestones achieved by the provider for each client. Therefore,
the contract value represents the total amount the provider could claim if all clients achieve
all milestones available and payments are the actual result of clients being engaged and
actual milestones achieved for each.
Support Funds
Please see the table below that provides the details for the Support Funds service currently
administered by Workbridge on behalf of MSD. The contract value is made up of the
Support Funds and the administration fee paid to Workbridge.
Prior to Budget 2019, $4m a year was allocated to be made available to disabled people.
Demand from disabled people meant this funding amount was exceeded by around $2m
every year. As a result, funding had to be reprioritised from other areas to meet the
demand.
Budget 2019 made an additional $2m a year available to Support Funds baseline funding.
Provider
Contract
Contract
Funding
Name
Name
Description of Service
Contract
Value
Spend to 30
June 2021
Period
Help to meet the
additional costs disabled
people may face when
undertaking the same
Workbridge
Support
training or employment
14 July 2018
Incorporated Funds
as a person without a
to 30 June
disability. Support Funds
2022
is managed by
Workbridge on behalf of
MSD.
$27,690,733
$21,438,733
Housing Support Products: Expansion to Help More People Access and Maintain
Tenancies
The funding for this initiative has been broken up and spread throughout many different
parts of the Ministry. To identify which portions of funding have been allocated to which
areas of the Ministry, and which of those amounts have either been spent or have been
allocated to be spent constitutes as substantial collation and research. As such, this part
of your request is refused under section 18(f) of the Act. The greater public interest is in
the effective and efficient administration of the public service.
The Ministry has considered whether it would be able to respond to your request given
extra time, or the ability to charge for the information requested. The Ministry has
concluded that, in either case, its ability to undertake its work would still be prejudiced.
However, I can advise that the funding for this initiative has been spent on assessing and
reviewing eligibility for Public, Transitional and Emergency Housing and Income Related
Rent. The funding has also been put towards managing the Public Housing Register and
the provisions of products and services to help families with children who are living in
Emergency Housing accommodation and who have received, and remain eligible to receive,
Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants. These grants are paid in accordance with criteria
set out in, or in delegated legislations made under, the Social Security Act 2018.
Maintaining and Strengthening the Housing First Programme as a Response to
Ending Homelessness
The amounts received in relation to all five financial years have either been spent or have
been forecast to be spent by the Ministry over the current and following two financial years.
The money has been used and allocated as an increase in funding toward the
Accommodation Assistance, benefit expenditure in relation to the provision of social
housing.
Historic Claims
The $93.8 million dollar amount attributed to funding for responding to Historic claims of
abuse does not specifically relate to funding for mental health support. The Government
invested $93.8 million over three years to enable claimants of abuse in state care to have
a sense of justice, validation and empowerment, which increases staffing and supports
changes to the Historic Claims process that enables the Ministry to respond to and settle
more claims and provide appropriate support to claimants.
The Historic Claims initiative supports the priority of Supporting Mental Wellbeing, as
opposed to relating specifically to funding for mental health. The Historic Claims initiative
assists claimants to access counselling and link them in with other services where
necessary. Where ACC or community support options are not appropriate for the claimant
to access, Historic Claims can provide short-term funding for sessions whilst supporting
claimants to engage with more sustainable support.
The principles and purposes of the Act under which you made your request are:
• to create greater openness and transparency about the plans, work and activities
of the Government
• to increase the ability of the public to participate in the making and administration
of our laws and policies
• to lead to greater accountability in the conduct of public affairs.
This Ministry fully supports those principles and purposes. The Ministry therefore intends
to make the information contained in this letter and any attached documents available to
the wider public. The Ministry will do this by publishing this letter and attachments on the
Ministry of Social Development’s website. Your personal details will be deleted and the
Ministry will not publish any information that would identify you as the person who
requested the information.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[email address].
If you are not satisfied with this response regarding the Ministry’s mental wellbeing
initiatives, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
Kelvin Moffatt
General Manager
Service and Contracts Management
Appendix A: The provider names, contract name, description of service, contract value, contract spend to 31 March
2021 and the funding period.
Contract Spend
Provider Name
Contract Name
Description of Service
Funding Period Contract Value
to 31 March
2021
Realising Employment through Active Coordinated Health
Trial (REACH)- A 20-week programme supporting clients
Waikato District Health Board
REACH Trial
to set and achieve their goals using cognitive behavioural
12 October 2016
therapy techniques with the help of a Key Worker and
- 30 June 2021
$5,614,490.00
$3,656,031.06
Living Well Coach.
A 12-month service which works with people on benefit
who are managing their health condition or disability into
1 November
Pegasus Health
Here Toitū Trial
sustainable employment utilising a dedicated support
2019 - 30 June
$2,054,708.00
$1,273,396.00
team. This service is available in Christchurch and
2021
Auckland.
A Kaupapa Maori based integrated social and health
Northland District Health
Rākau Rangatira
intervention to increase opportunities of employment and
1 July 2017 to
Board
Programme
recovery of whānau with mild to moderate mental health
30 June 2021
$2,271,070.00
$1,956,570.00
and substance abuse challenges.
An up to 12-month free phone and online service which
Homecare Medical (General
connects people to a consistent, qualified counsellor who
1 July 2020 - 30
Partner) Limited
Puawaitanga
can support them to improve their emotional wellbeing
and help improve their ability to find or keep a job. (This is
June 2021
$902,000.00
$282,500
a fee for service)
A 12-month service which works with people on benefit
National Hauora Coalition
who are managing their health condition or disability into
1 November
Limited
Here Toitū Trial
sustainable employment utilising a dedicated support
2019 - 30 June
$998,368.00
$570,977.00
team. This service is available in Christchurch and
2021
Auckland.
A 12-month service which works with people on benefit
who are managing their health condition or disability into
1 November
Procare Network Limited
Here Toitū Trial
sustainable employment utilising a dedicated support
2019 - 30 June
$2,926,889.00
$1,618,228.24
team. This service is available in Christchurch and
2021
Auckland.
A 12-month service which works with people on benefit
who are managing their health condition or disability into
THINK Hauora
Here Toitū Trial
sustainable employment utilising a dedicated support
1 April 2021 – 30
team. This service is available in Christchurch and
June 2021
$1,200,000.00
Nil
Auckland.
Notes:
• Some initiatives were created before the 2019 wel being budget was announced. The 2019 budget has assisted with the initiatives to continue.
•
For those contracts that were initiated before July 2019, funding outside of budget 2019 was al ocated.
•
$2m of underspend in the budget 2019 funding has been requested to be transferred into F2021/22 and any further underspends on these contracts as
at 30 June 2021 wil be returned to the Crown.
Appendix B: The provider names, contract name, description of service, contract value, contract spend to July 2021
and the funding period.
Contract
Provider Name
Contract Name
Description of Service
Contract Value
Payments to
Start
Contract
July 2021
Date
End Date
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
APM Workcare Limited
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$4,202,265.00
$1,133,665.49
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Alpha Consultants Limited
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$502,128.64
$165,796.75
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Autism New Zealand
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Incorporated
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$617,709.96
$217,748.74
1-Jul-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
CCS Disability Action
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Incorporated
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$3,042,624.00
$362,675.50
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Career Moves Trust
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$2,029,961.00
$716,088.75
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Centre 401 Trust
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$461,651.41
$118,229.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
Choices New Zealand
Limited
Employment Service
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
$3,042,624.00
$837,309.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Comcare Charitable Trust
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,217,049.60
$538,403.98
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Community Connections
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Supported Living
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,217,659.03
$113,891.00
1-Jan-21
30-Jun-24
Charitable Trust
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Deaf Aotearoa Holdings
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Limited
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$2,259,578.88
$556,132.75
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Disability Resource Centre
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Hawkes Bay Trust
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,622,732.80
476,217.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Dunedin Community Care
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Trust
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$618,601.41
$94,754.00
1-Jan-21
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
EBAT Charitable Trust
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$502,129.00
$257,961.54
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Ember Services Limited
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$141,905.00
$3,620,999.38
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
Ember Services Limited
Employment Service
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
$8,882,978.25
$3,620,999.38
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Emerge Aotearoa Limited
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$2,028,416.00
$665,667.26
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
EmployNZ Limited
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$811,362.00
$231,515.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Enrich+
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,727,708.04
$103,712.00
1-Jan-21
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Focus Trust Incorporated
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,552,817.30
$479,609.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Geneva Healthcare Limited Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$5,625,265.60
$954,685.00
1-Jul-20
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Habit Rehabilitation
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Limited
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,607,424.00
$467,941.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Horowhenua Learning
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Centre Trust Board
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$878,725.12
$483,739.14
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
New Zealand Spinal Trust
Employment Service
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
(2018) that supports disabled people who
$300,000.00
$17,668.00
15-Feb-21
30-Jun-22
are work ready to gain paid employment and
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Pasifika Consulting Limited Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$2,888,131.40
1,023,329.63
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Poly-Emp Employment &
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Advisory Service
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$2,004,226.80
$859,225.60
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
SPAN Charitable Trust
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$981,836.00
$411,164.98
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
St Chad's Communication
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Centre
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$469,371.00
$258,874.73
15-Mar-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Tautoko Services
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$502,128.64
$96,279.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Te Whare Mahana Trust
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Board
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$376,596.48
$82,360.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
The Catapult Employment
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Services Trust Board
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,630,751.20
$622,051.42
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
The Stroke Foundation of
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
New Zealand Limited
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
$660,000.00
$0.00
1-Jul-21
30-Jun-24
are work ready to gain paid employment and
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
The Work Opportunities
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Trust
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,837,056.00
$820,166.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Transitioning Out Aotearoa
(2018) that supports disabled people who
(TOA) Trust
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$373,152.00
$107,119.19
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Village Community Trust
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,521,312.00
$583,784.79
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Wellington After-Care
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Association Incorporated
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$811,826.40
$204,478.90
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
West Auckland Living
(2018) that supports disabled people who
Skills Homes Trust Board
Employment Service
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$1,274,851.60
$575,937.00
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-22
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
A specialist Employment Service based on
the Employment Support Practice Guidelines
Workbridge Incorporated
Employment Service
(2018) that supports disabled people who
are work ready to gain paid employment and
$60,852,480.00
$22,365,417.84
1-Apr-19
30-Jun-24
provides ongoing support while they are
working.
Notes:
• This initiative was created before the 2019 wel being budget was announced.
•
The funding was used to al ow contracts to be increased by 1% al owing the various payment milestones to be proportionately increased and paid when
milestones were achieved.
• There have been changes to the providers of the service since April 2019 and several variations to agreement have been executed for various reasons.
Document Outline