Part 5: Addressing capacity issues

5.1
In this Part, we discuss:

• how capacity constraints affect responses to family violence and sexual violence; and
• the need for collective action to address these constraints and improve responses to family violence and sexual violence.

5.2
We wanted to assess how Te Puna Aonui agencies are working together and with tangata whenua and community partners to understand what capacity is needed to provide responses that meet people's needs.

5.3
We expected Te Puna Aonui agencies to be working with other Te Puna Aonui agencies, tangata whenua, and community partners to:

• determine the availability and type of responses throughout New Zealand; and
• understand the capacity available throughout New Zealand to respond in ways that meet people's needs.

Summary of findings

5.4
The capacity of the family violence and sexual violence system to respond effectively is constrained. There are pressures on the workforce in all parts of the system, and they affect the ability to respond to family violence and sexual violence.

5.5
Individual agencies are carrying out work to address some capacity constraints. However, this has resulted in competition between agencies and community-level organisations for staff in such crucial areas as mental health, counselling for addictions, and social work. This is leaving some parts of the system less well served than others.

5.6
Collective action by Te Puna Aonui is needed to understand where capacity is most pressured and how agencies can work with community partners to address that pressure.

Capacity constraints are affecting the ability to respond to family violence and sexual violence

Te Puna Aonui agencies are taking steps to understand the system's current capacity

5.7
Having the capacity to respond to incidents of family violence and sexual violence is a critical component of improving the system. Understanding demand and the current capacity of the system is a first step to ensuring that it has, and will sustain, the capacity it needs.

5.8
We saw Te Puna Aonui agencies working individually to understand the demand for the responses that they offer. Some individual agencies are focusing on creating links between initiatives, but it was not always possible to see strong links between work happening in separate agencies.

5.9
Some local initiatives are also working to understand the demand for responses. The South Auckland Wellbeing Board and the Integrated Safety Response Canterbury are carrying out work to understand trends in demand to improve their responses.

5.10
The Ministry of Social Development is leading work to map family violence and sexual violence responses throughout the country. This work also involves ACC, Oranga Tamariki, the Police, and Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health.

5.11
We also saw that the Police and Oranga Tamariki have developed an awareness of unmet need as a result of the evaluation and research from some local initiatives. In response to the unmet need, they created a targeted "Flexi-fund". This provides time-bound support for children involved in cases of family violence.

5.12
We found that, at a national level, ACC is increasing its understanding of system-wide capacity issues through its work to evolve the integrated service for sensitive claims. This work is considering how it can better meet demand for sexual violence support and treatment.

5.13
We also saw the Ministry of Justice, Ara Poutama Department of Corrections, and the Ministry of Social Development working together to understand the range of responses that would assist people going through the court system.

Capacity issues are affecting local initiatives

5.14
Capacity constraints are affecting the ability of agency staff and community partners to engage regularly in local initiatives. We saw in the Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke Waitematā and Te Kura initiatives that consistent involvement of staff from Te Puna Aonui agencies and community partners is not always possible.

5.15
Staff from Te Puna Aonui agencies told us that they want to spend more time at local offices to provide cross-agency support to people affected by violence, but do not have the capacity to do so.

5.16
It was clear to us that community partners appreciate opportunities to work with Te Puna Aonui agencies and other community partners. However, some community partners are struggling to engage consistently.

5.17
Locally based initiatives respond to instances of violence that are notified to the Police. This can be a significant drain on community resources and represents only one part of the demand that community partners address. Many people experiencing violence approach community-based organisations directly.

5.18
Community partners have to balance their commitment to local initiatives with their work to help those who come to them through different channels. This is a particular problem for local initiatives, such as Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke Waitematā and Te Kura, that do not provide additional funding to those involved. Some told us that they feel overwhelmed by the volume of work coming through the system.

5.19
Absence of community partners or irregular attendance at SAM tables affects the ability of those involved to respond in the best ways available in a community. Absence from governance meetings makes it difficult to create trust and understanding between Te Puna Aonui agencies, tangata whenua, and community partners.

5.20
The Ministry of Social Development provided funding to support the involvement of tangata whenua and community partners at SAM tables (see paragraph 4.25). This funding addressed the capacity issue to some extent but not entirely.

Mental health, counselling for addictions, and social work support resources are of particular concern throughout the system

5.21
People we spoke to in Te Puna Aonui agencies and in the community often commented on a lack of capacity in mental health, counselling for addictions, and social work. Waiting times for those seeking these services can be months.

5.22
We could not get a clear picture of the extent of this issue. However, it was clear to us that organisations working to address family violence and sexual violence feel these capacity constraints unevenly. Agencies and community partners are competing for scarce resources. As a result, some parts of the system are less well served than others.

5.23
For example, we heard how community organisations can struggle to attract those qualified to offer mental health and addiction support because Te Puna Aonui agencies could afford to pay more. We also heard that some Te Puna Aonui agencies have lost staff to other Te Puna Aonui agencies that are able to pay more for specialist skills.

5.24
As a result, what kind of support is available, when it is available, and who it is available to are inconsistent. Those wanting to access support through community organisations or through particular parts of the system can struggle to get support when they need it.

Collective action to address capacity constraints is needed

5.25
Those working to respond to family violence and sexual violence are clearly committed to their work. However, the capacity of the family violence and sexual violence response system is fragile. Meeting demand for responses too often depends on the goodwill and dedication of staff at Te Puna Aonui agencies and community partners who go the extra mile to deliver.

5.26
Competition between Te Puna Aonui agencies and with community partners for staff in crucial areas such as mental health, counselling for addictions, and social work affects the ability of all parts of the system to respond appropriately and promptly.

5.27
Addressing these capacity constraints will not be straightforward. We recognise that some of the remedies will be long term and involve work on issues other than family violence and sexual violence. As ACC noted, capacity issues in the mental health sector are an issue not only within New Zealand but globally.

5.28
We also recognise that some important changes are already under way. For example, in Budget 2019, the Government invested $1.9 billion in mental health and well-being initiatives throughout the government. Kia Manawanui Aotearoa, a 10-year cross-government strategy to transform mental well-being for New Zealanders, was released in 2021.

5.29
We were also told that Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health set up a cross-agency group to address capacity issues in the mental health and addiction workforce.

5.30
Te Puna Aonui agencies need to work better with each other and with community partners to understand the most pressing constraints and how they can work together to address them.

5.31
Te Puna Aonui agencies also need to work with tangata whenua and community partners to prioritise this work when the next Te Aorerekura action plan is discussed. Without adequate resources, it is difficult to see how they will achieve their outcomes.