Gráinne's update - February 2018

Kia ora koutou

Is it really February already? So much has happened this year there is no doubt 2018 is going to be a busy one! 

First things first, Children’s Day is coming up on 4 March and the theme is ‘Put tamariki first’. What does this mean to you? 

For me, it means a range of things. As a mum it’s a chance to reflect on whether I put my own children first, and how I could do that better; as a Chief Executive it’s a chance to reflect on where I’m spending my time and whether I’m keeping tamariki at the centre every day.

At the core of helping kids in our care thrive more is our new Practice Framework. Earlier this month it was officially launched and it’s now our new way of working. We’ll introduce it to the new great social workers we recruit this year.

Our mission to create more loving places continues this year and we’ll get to work with some of our additional funding to improve the availability of care placements for kids in emergency situations.

Working with partners across New Zealand is helping us build stronger services for our tamariki. An example of this is our supported living programme pilot with Lifewise in Auckland. And in Alexandra, we’re expanding our services to meet population increases and enable more collaborative work in the Central Otago.
 

Children depend on adults to care for them and it’s our responsibility to do our very best for them.

Recently the Government announced the establishment of the inquiry into historical abuse in state care and we recognise the importance of this work. We’ll work closely with the inquiry and take the opportunity to learn from the past.

We’re excited about the news that our Prime Minister will have a pēpi! Children are at the centre of our work, but more than that they are our future!

I’m looking forward to getting out and about for Children’s Day and celebrating tamariki with New Zealand. Have a look at the events near you.

Ngā mihi

Gráinne