A network of agencies (and NGOs) agree to a specific work programme to provide wrap-around services to a shared group.

The basics

  • When to use this tool

    • Resources/services cannot be easily separated and aggregated to one agency
    • A wide range of services need to be tailored to unpredictable and/or highly individualised need
    • A small number of cases can be clearly identified and clients lack capability to navigate services
    • There is existing capability and resources in the system and the ability to nurture/invest in this
    • Where there is effective local entrepreneurial leadership
  • How to agree goals/outcomes

  • Governance model required

    • Practitioners involved work with individual/family to determine action plan
    • Regular meetings to check on mutual commitments, update action plan 
    • Network administrator with responsibility for coordinating action, service brokerage, and reporting progress
  • Ministerial relationships required

    • Usual separate ministerial relationships through agencies or
    • Place-based ministerial portfolio (if required)
  • Incentives required

    • Professional values and intrinsic motivation
    • Mutual commitments (made by practitioners and individual/family)
    • May combine with co-location to improve information sharing
    • May need to consider new solutions for privacy/information-sharing (test and learn)
  • How to manage the funding

    • Network administrator and/or service broker funded by board (test and learn) or 
    • Individualised budgets 

Case study: Integrated Safety Response to family violence and sexual violence

Integrated Safety Response (ISR) brings together practitioners and professionals from the full range of social, health and justice agencies, iwi and NGOs in a location to ensure the immediate safety of victims and children, and to work with perpetrators to prevent further violence. The operational delivery of ISR is hosted by Police as part of the broader Government work on family violence and sexual violence.

Key features of ISR include dedicated staff, funded specialist services for victims and perpetrators, daily risk assessment and triage, family safety plans, an electronic case management system and an intensive case management approach to collectively work with high-risk families.

It is a locally driven, continuous improvement model with national oversight to monitor and support delivery.

This approach works across:

  • governance: regular meetings of senior management from the locality to ensure resources are prioritised effectively.
  • operations: frequent meetings across operational management to ensure the practice is working
  • practice: daily problem-solving, case prioritisation and coordination of protection and support efforts around individuals.

Funding for the initiative is through a multi-category appropriation within Vote Social Development. 

Integrated Safety Response (ISR) —| New Zealand Police