50 Key Thinkers - Resources

50 Key Thinkers Forum

Resources

The 50 Key Thinkers Forum aims to encourage fresh thinking about social service delivery in New Zealand. As a thought starter, we’ve collected some Families Commission research on innovative social service delivery below. We’ll also be adding other resources – both from our own research, and the research of others in the sector – as the Forum grows nearer.

	Report of the 50 Key Thinkers Forum It is time to accelerate thinking about the social services and support sector. New Zealand must be future-oriented. The Government needs assurance that public investments in support and services will yield the highest possible returns – for children, for their parents and for all of society.
	Paths of Victory Victory Village (Victory Primary School and Victory Community Health Centre) – A case study This case study research project explores the innovative practices and outcomes associated with the convergence of health, education, social and community development goals at Victory Village.
	Social Services in Masterton The views of family and whānau This report responds to the Minister of Social Development’s request for a snapshot of all the social service providers in the Masterton area, how families know about them and which services they do, and do not, rely on when they need help.
	The Spinafex Effect Developing a theory of change for communities The report provides a brief overview of a two-year process of reflection, critique and practice development, and highlights some of the key practice learning from this project. It also provides some suggestions about the ways in which other family/whānau and community organisations could develop their own theories of change by reflecting on their practice to become more intentional about the work they do.
	Submission on the Welfare Working Group options paper The Families Commission strongly supports the work of the Welfare Working Group. While the system successfully works to provide much need assistance for the majority of beneficiaries, we are, nevertheless, firmly of the view that the benefit system needs to be significantly improved.
	Whānau Yesterday, today, tomorrow A new report, soon to be released by the Families Commission, highlights stories of inspirational whānau. Whānau Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow draws on Māori knowledge, cultural practices and methods to research stories of whānau success. Informed by the integrated nature of Māori knowledge, this paper addresses social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of whānau development.
	Whānau Strategic Framework 2009-2012 The Families Commission’s (Kōmihana ā Whānau) Whānau Strategic Framework 2009–2012 stems from consultation and engagement with whānau and key Māori stakeholders in the latter half of the 2008–2009 year. It sets the stage for a sustained commitment to engage with whānau and advance whānau ora for the next three years.
	Definitions of Whānau A review of selected literature The purpose of this review is to inform the Families Commission’s Whānau Strategic Framework 2009–2012. Selected literature has been reviewed which examines definitions of whānau and which considers applications of the construct of whānau ora.
	Whānau Taketake Māori Recessions and Māori resilience This report promotes an understanding of the impact that recessions have on Māori that can only be understood in the full context of history, cultural values and practices. The report uses examples of resilience to demonstrate the value of investing in Māori economic, social and cultural development in order to return the mana of the iwi to the iwi, of the hapü to the hapū, of the whānau to the whānau and the individual to the individual representing the multitudes who have preceded them.
	National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches Assessing Program Implementation The RAND Corporation describes itself as ‘a non-profit institution that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis’. They focus on a range of issues such as health, education, national security, international affairs, law and business, the environment.
	Radical Redesign Project Papers The Australian Centre for Social Innovation The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) is looking to identify and bring together and support social innovation (from individuals to community groups, companies to government). Currently they are working on a number of major projects: Bold ideas, Better Lives Challenge Social Innovator Dialogues, Ageing in Society, Family by Family (a new model of family-to-family support, developed with 100 South Australian families).
	Ahead of the Game Blueprint for Reform of Australian Government Administration The Blueprint for Reform of Australian Government Administration has recommended a number of reforms for the future of government services in Australia.
	Better Practice Guide Australian National Audit Office The Australian National Audit Office has published a number of Better Practice Guides - one on innovation in the public sector has a range of case studies. In particular, see the 'Concept Office' and "Place-based Services".
	Family and Society Demos Demos is an independent UK think tank which undertakes research into the fields of power, politics and society. In 2010 Demos research focus was 'Family and Society', focusing on how public policy can be better designed to give people and families more power over their lives.
	Resilient Nation Demos We live in a brittle society. Over 80 per cent of Britons live in urban areas relying on dense networks of public and private sector organisations to provide them with essential services. But our everyday lives and the national infrastructure work in a fragile union, vulnerable to even the smallest disturbances in the network. And both are part of a global ecosystem that is damaged and unpredictable.
	Civic Streets Demos Just one week prior to the 2010 election, all three party leaders appeared at the Citizens UK convention to espouse their support for citizen action. The parties have all, rhetorically at least, endorsed the need for greater voluntarism and collective endeavour – the Conservative Party went further by making their conception of the ‘Big Society’ central to their campaign. But what does the ‘Big Society’ mean for struggling communities in need of regeneration? Can we learn lessons from places and communities that have come together and have trailblazed this approach?
	Getting more for less: efficiency in the public sector Demos For the next decade the most urgent question facing government will be how public services can meet people's needs, while costing less. This pamphlet argues that the route to public sector efficiency is to focus on effectiveness. Effective services are personalised--driven by people's needs, they take aim at the cause of problems rather than the consequences, and they are delivered collaboratively. Services driven by these principles result in better outcomes for citizens, a better quality of service, and happier staff. They also save money because getting things right the first time always works out cheaper. As we face the tightest public finances in a generation, this pamphlet shows that getting more for less is possible and offers policy makers practical guidance on how to do it.
	Towards Agile Government Demos In Demos' report Towards Agile Government, based on research in Australia with the Victorian State Services Authority, we set out to explore, refine, and test some of these new themes. We found something which is part normative, part reality: the agile government. Agile government means public services which respond to citizens' needs in the short term, adapt their structures and services to address medium term trends, and shape needs in the long run. It conjures up the image of an acrobat – flexible, quick and nimble, all the while maintaining balance. Here we present some of the best practice from Victoria, and highlight key barriers and opportunities for future direction.
	At your service: navigating the future market in health and social care Demos Personal budgets in health and social care are giving disabled and older people unprecedented control over the services they use. Within the next five years, 1.5 million people could be using personal budgets to commission and manage their own support, drastically changing health and social care provision. This means great uncertainty for both local authorities and service providers, which will need to respond to unfamiliar demands.
	The economy, environment and opportunities for New Zealand A futures resource The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) has undertaken work on Futures thinking. This report summarises an international scan of sustainable and has primarily been prepared for the government sector but it is likely to be of strong interest to the business sector. They also have an Oxygen group of promising young scientists; this links to those who appear most socially focused Margaret-Kilvington Dr Charles Royal
	Survival: the ongoing challenge of having to deliver more with less A report on the annual NZ Not for Profit Survey
	Transforming early years Developing better, lower cost models for families The Transforming Early Years programme is run by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in six localities across England. Its aim is to develop and implement alternative, lower cost support for families with young children.
	What role can child and family services play in enhancing opportunities for parents and families Exploring the concepts of social exclusion and social inclusion This Practice Sheet draws upon research to provide practitioners and policy-makers with ideas about how the concept of social inclusion can be used to plan and deliver child and family services in ways that enhance opportunities for parents and families.