12 June 2024
Daniel Harding
[email address].
Tēnā koe Daniel
Thank you for your email, received on 16 April 2024, to Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for
Children (Oranga Tamariki) requesting information on all external care services
contracted by Oranga Tamariki. Your request has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act).
The Oranga Tamariki vision is that the mana of disabled people and their champions is
upheld by meeting their needs, upholding their rights, and supporting their hopes and
dreams. Over the last two years we have worked alongside tāngata whaikaha who have
lived experience of care and protection and/or youth justice services and those who
support them to develop an Oranga Tamariki disability strategy. The strategy has been
approved by Te Riu, our leadership team, and we are now focussing on implemention.
You can view the full strategy found on our Oranga Tamariki website
here.
I have addressed each of your questions below.
[…] I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act 1982.
Specifically, I am seeking a comprehensive list of external care services contracted
or outsourced by Oranga Tamariki for children in their care. This includes services
provided under fee-for-service arrangements, contracts, or any other form of
contractual arrangement between Oranga Tamariki and external providers. Scope
of information: I am interested in obtaining information on services that offer, but are
not limited to:
•
Disability care
•
Complex high-needs care
•
Low-needs care
•
Care homes.
•
Residential homes
•
Any other long-term or short-term care and staying arrangements
Details requested:
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The names of all external care providers contracted by Oranga Tamariki including
their regional locations.
The types of care services provided by each contracted provider, specifying whether
they offer disability care, complex high-needs, low-needs care, care homes,
residential homes, or other types of care.
Please find attached as Appendix One, Oranga Tamariki list of external care providers
for financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25, including their regional locations. Please note,
the specific offers for each provider is located under the
type of care.
The number of children associated with each care provider.
This information is not recorded centrally, and collating it would involve reviewing the case
file of every tamariki or rangatahi in care. As such, we are refusing this part of your request
under section 18(f) of the Act, as the requested information cannot be made available
without substantial collation or research.
The duration and nature of the contractual arrangements between Oranga Tamariki
and each care provider, including any relevant terms and conditions.
Information on contractual arrangements between Oranga Tamariki and each care
provider is commercially sensitive, therefore we are refusing this part of your request
under section 9(2)(b)(ii) that the withholding of the information is necessary to protect
information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably
to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of
the information.
If these care providers are subject to the newly introduced national rate card
implemented by Oranga Tamariki for services rendered with an effective date of 22
January 2024.
Oranga Tamariki is moving Fee for Service arrangements to Outcome Agreements. This
change is intended to improve outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi by providing clarity of
funding, consistency, and service expectations for providers as well as clarity around the
role of Oranga Tamariki. You will find further information on Oranga Tamariki Fee for
Service arrangemen
ts here.
Oranga Tamariki may make the information contained in this letter available to the public
by publishing this on our website with your personal details removed.
I trust you find this information useful. Should you have any concerns with this response,
I would encourage you to raise them with Oranga Tamariki. Alternatively, you are advised
of your right to also raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Information
about this is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by contacting them on 0800
802 602.
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Nāku noa, nā
Darrin Haimona
Deputy Chief Executive, Māori Partnerships and Communities
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