Stand Children’s Services closing two residential villages - 15 May 2018
Stand Children's Services is to close its Children’s Villages at Otaki and Roxburgh.
The organisation will continue to operate its Intensive Family Wraparound services in the central and southern regions, but will stop providing the residential trauma focused treatment programme at the end of June 2018.
Stand Chief Executive Dr Fiona Inkpen says all children and families currently working with Stand will continue to receive the Intensive Family Wraparound Service.
“I want to reassure our children and families that Stand is not going anywhere. The villages are one aspect of the services we provide and while it is immensely sad to close these two, our priority remains supporting children and families to be safe, healthy and functioning well.”
Stand’s Children’s Villages provide a unique treatment service for children aged 5 to 12 who need support to recover from trauma.
Dr Inkpen says Stand hasn’t had a funding increase since 2009 and has been meeting operating shortfalls from its own reserves. Financial pressures increased last year following salary increases for the organisation’s staff.
“Pay rises were a priority for us to retain our specialist staff who support some of the country’s most vulnerable children and families, but had been among the lowest paid in the sector.
“Our people deserve recognition for their work, and we needed to recruit and keep quality staff who make a real difference in children’s lives.”
“Stand has been able to top-up Government funding for many years with prudent financial management and the sale of unused land.
“Unfortunately our reserves are now used up and we have made the difficult decision after consulting with staff and the PSA to close two of our villages. Our hope is this will be a temporary measure and we will be working with Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education to rebuild services in both regions,” says Dr Inkpen.
For the 2017/18 financial year, Stand and Oranga Tamariki split the operating costs caused by the increase 50/50, however Stand will need $3 million extra, an increase of 18 per cent, to cover the pay rises, compensate for 9 years of inflation, and added costs such as Kiwisaver, to keep the villages open.
Minister for Children Tracey Martin told Stand the Government recognised the value of the organisation and its work, but the funding required could not be secured at this time because of restrictions on the Government budget.
If the proposal to close proceeds, 63 jobs will be lost across both regions and 380 children a year will miss out on the Children’s Village trauma treatment programme.
“We believe there is no alternative trauma focused treatment service for these children. Our future focus on rebuilding our service in these regions is to ensure that children who have experienced significant childhood adversity are able to receive the help they really need,” says Dr Inkpen.
“We will be offering redundancy, or where there are vacancies, staff can apply to transfer. Oranga Tamariki have also offered to identify employment opportunities for staff to consider.
“We have spoken to our people today. Those affected understand the situation, and are being courageous in working to keep supporting children. There main concern is for the children and they are deeply sad that the work they do cannot continue. Naturally they are anxious about their own futures as well.
“Stand has evidence showing its services significantly improves the safety and wellbeing of children and we are one of the most cost effective in the sector. There is a real and important need for this treatment. We are not going away.”
ENDS
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Dr Fiona Inkpen - 04 472 0101, nationaloffice@standforchildren.org.nz
About Stand Children’s Services Tu Maia Whanau
Stand is a proven and respected nationwide provider of a range of specialist services including intensive family wraparound, therapeutic social work, family therapy and childhood focused trauma treatment.
Stand works with children and families to break the cycle of harm so children and families are safe, can recover from past trauma, reconnect with each other, and create a positive future together.
There are currently seven Children’s Villages across the country: Whangarei, Auckland, Rotorua, Gisborne, Otaki, Christchurch and Roxburgh.
Stand also provide Family Therapy Services in the Midland, Central and Christchurch Regions; Kidzacool respite services in school holidays to grandparents raising grandchildren and kin carers; and Social Worker in Schools Services in Christchurch, Northland and Gisborne.
A recent independent assessment of Stand’s services, conducted by TDB Advisory, shows that Stand is working with the children most in need, and that its services are making a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable children. The report can be found at https://www.tdb.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Stand-for-Children-Social-Investment-Review-Feb-17.pdf
More information on Stand Children's Services can be found at www.standforchildren.org.nz
Media Coverage
6th April - Otago Daily Times - Roxburgh children's camp may be closed
6th April - New Zealand Herald - Proposal to close two children's villages
6th April - TV3 Newshub - Story on issue (YouTube video)
7th April - Otago Daily Times - PM will investigate Otago child camp closure
11th April - New Zealand Herald - Children's villages to close, jobs to go in Otaki and Roxburgh
13th April - Otago Daily Times - Mayor hopes for talks on children's village
26th April - Otago Daily Times - Mayor rejects minister's claim
May - Otaki Mail - Closure of Stand Children's Village in Otaki
1st May - Otago Daily Times - Mayors’ group contacts PM over Roxburgh village closing
9th May - Otago Daily Times - 'Gutting' decision as at-risk kids' service denied funding
9th May - Checkpoint with John Campbell - Interview with Dr Inkpen
10th May - Otago Daily Times - Nats weigh in over Roxburgh health camp bailout
11th May - Otago Daily Times - Over 100 gather to fight closure of children's village
11th May - RadioNZ - Ardern confirms no new funding for children's shelters
12th May - Otago Daily Times - Government under fire for letting village close
14th May - Otago Daily Times - Not too late to keep promise
15th May - Otago Daily Times - Closure of Roxburgh children's village confirmed
15th May - Stuff.co.nz - Two vulnerable children's residential villages to close
15th May - Hansard via Scoop.co.nz - Text for question 9 as above
15th May - Radio New Zealand - Funding shortfall forces children's villages to close
16th May - The Southland Times - 'Sad Day' as villages to help vulnerable children close
16th May - Parliment TV - Speech by Jacqui Dean (National, Waitaki)
17th May - Otago Daily Times - Efforts to reinstate lost residential children's service
18th May - NewstalkZB - Discussions on Stand
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2018.05.18-09.45.00-S.mp3
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2018.05.18-10.00.00-S.mp3
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2018.05.18-10.15.00-S.mp3
18th May - Otago Daily Times - Children's village attendee's mother 'gutted' by its closure
19th May - Otago Daily Times - Providing a safe place for children
21st May - TVNZ - Families devastated about closure of support villages for kids with emotional trauma
22nd May - Otago Daily Times - Mayor, agencies still fighting to save children's village
23rd May - Kapiti News - Otaki Health Camp Closes
23rd May - Otago Daily Times -Agencies, mayor meet over village
23rd May - 'E-mob' to flood PM with pleas over children's village
23rd May - The Southland Times - Children's village not a disposable asset
26th May - Otago Daily Times - Children’s village questions answered
29th May - Otago Daily Times - 'E-mob' to be presented to PM today
30th May - Otago Daily Times - Mayor keeps eye on village email crusade
23rd June - Otago Daily Times - Some services remain at children’s village
30th June - Otago Daily Times - Stand village closure ‘national shame’
2nd July - The Press -Final farewell to Roxburgh children's residential village
3rd July - Otago Daily Times - Community gathers to farewell children's village
19th July - Stuff.co.nz - Mother leads protest against lack of funding for kids trauma camps
Stand Children’s Services consulting staff on closing two residential villages - 5 April 2018
Roxburgh Village
Stand Children's Services is proposing to close its Children’s Villages at Otaki and Roxburgh.
The organisation would continue to operate its Intensive Family Wraparound services in the central and
southern regions, but would stop providing the residential trauma focused treatment programme at the end of
June 2018.
Stand Chief Executive Dr Fiona Inkpen says all children and families currently working with Stand would
continue to receive the Intensive Family Wraparound Service.
“I want to reassure our children and families that Stand is not going anywhere. The villages are one aspect of
the services we provide and while it would be very sad to close these two, our priority remains supporting
children and families to be safe, healthy and functioning well.”
Stand’s Children’s Villages provide a unique treatment service for children aged 5 to 12 who need support to
recover from trauma.
Dr Inkpen says Stand hasn’t had a funding increase since 2009 and has been meeting operating shortfalls from
its own reserves. Financial pressures increased last year following salary increases for the organisation’s staff.
“Pay rises were a priority for us to retain our specialist staff who support some of the country’s most vulnerable
children and families, but who’ve been among the lowest paid in the sector.
“Our people deserve recognition for their work, and we needed to recruit and keep quality staff who make a
real difference to these children’s lives.”
“Stand has been able to top-up Government funding for many years with prudent financial management and
the sale of unused land.
“Unfortunately our reserves are now used up and we have made the difficult decision to consult with staff and
the PSA about closing two of our villages. Our hope is this will be a temporary measure and we will be working
with Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education to rebuild services in both regions,” says Dr Inkpen.
For the 2017/18 financial year, Stand and Oranga Tamariki split the operating costs caused by the increase
50/50, however Stand would need $3 million extra, an increase of 18 per cent, to cover the pay rises,
compensate for 9 years of inflation, and added costs such as Kiwisaver, to keep the villages open.
Otaki Village
Minister for Children Tracey Martin told Stand the Government recognised the value of the organisation and its
work, but the funding required could not be secured at this time because of restrictions on the Government
budget.
If the proposal to close proceeds, 63 jobs will be lost across both regions and 380 children a year will miss out
on the Children’s Village trauma treatment programme.
“We believe there is no alternative trauma focused treatment service for these children. Our future focus on
rebuilding our service in these regions is to ensure they are able to receive the help they really need,” says Dr
Inkpen.
“If the proposal proceeds, we would be offering redundancy, or where there are vacancies, staff could apply to
transfer. Oranga Tamariki have also offered to identify employment opportunities for staff to consider.
“We have spoken to our people over the last two days. They understand the situation, and are being
courageous in working to keep supporting children. They now have time to consider the information and
respond. I will then consider their feedback and responses before making a final decision.
“Stand has evidence showing its services significantly improve the safety and wellbeing of children and we are
one of the most cost effective in the sector. There is a real and important need for this treatment. We are not
going away.”