More effective social services

The Government asked the Commission to investigate how to improve outcomes for New Zealanders from social services funded or otherwise supported by the Government. This includes how agencies identify the needs of people who use the services, how they choose organisations to provide the services, and how the contracts between agencies and organisations work.

Social services include health care, social care, education and training, employment services and community services. They also include the services targeted to those whose health, age, socioeconomic or other circumstances means that they have greater needs than others in society.

The inquiry examined how commissioning and purchasing influence the quality and effectiveness of social services, and suggests ways to improve these practices to achieve better outcomes for New Zealanders. Read our brief here.

The Commission observed that many social services continue to be funded and run in much the same way over decades, with little evaluation of their impact or cost-effectiveness. We also saw a flow of new initiatives that attract much media and political attention but has little impact on New Zealand’s most disadvantaged.

The Commission found that a new approach is required that puts the needs of people and their families at the centre of decision-making. This will require a shift in thinking and structures. 

Early intervention is a central theme of the Commission’s report. We believe that better use of data and analytics will help the government target those most in need early.

There are also case studies on employment services, Whānau Ora, services for people with disabilities, and home-based support for older people - see key documents below.