National Support Work Summit, September 07
"... participants devoured the updated results of the most recent Platform workforce survey and the key quantitative results were displayed in large banners around the room."
This event was built in partnership with Platform, Te Pou and the Ministry of Health. One hundred and twenty support workers form the far north, the deep south and all points in between gathered at the National Dance and Drama School in Wellington. Participants included educators, DHB funders, the ITO Careerforce, NGO managers and leaders, union representatives and workforce centre representatives.
Opening speakers - Marion Blake (Platform ), Alana Ruakere-Mack ( Ministry of Health ) and Arawhetu Peretini (CE, Te Pou) - brought to the summit a personal reflection on the contribution of support work through the ages, internationally and in our most intimate settings - our homes.
Early in the summit, participants devoured the updated results of the most recent Platform workforce survey and the key quantitative results were displayed in large banners around the room; copies if the report were also made available.
The report is an important snapshot of the NGO workforce and the contribution of support workers across the key support roles of community support work, residential support work and the employment facilitator and emerging peer support work roles within the sector.
Conference with a difference
The summit was a conference with a difference, its core designed on our 60 Most Significant Change Interviews, which were conducted by trained and selected support workers. These action researchers interviewed other support workers, service users and tangata whaiora, family field workers, family members and managers in a range of settings across the country. The interviews created a treasure trove of stories capturing the essence of the difference that support work and support workers make every day.
Day One
Participants used the stories as a basis for identifying the key outcomes of support work, the critical challenges and significant areas for improvement to move support work forward.
Key Outcomes
A workforce that is valued and recognized within the sector and one that maintains connection to the essence of the connection and relationship with service users and tangata whaiora.
Challenges
Maintaining the human-ness of the support profession
Recognition and valuing of the support role
Service users and tangata whaiora as colleagues
Evolving roles of support
Key Provocative Questions
- What would happen if funding for mental health support work was dropped in favour of other models of service delivery?
- What if the money went with the person, not the service?
- How do you attract the younger generation to consider work in the mental health sector, knowing that the average age is 44.6 years?
- Can peer support and mental health support workers work collaboratively?
- What is a career pathway and who should develop it?
Day Two
This was about action planning for the future, and the key areas identified by the participants were:
- Professionalisation
- Looking at qualifications
- CSW being part of an interdisciplinary team
- Training and professional development
- Whanau empowerment.
Energized and inspired
Overall, it is fair to say, participants had a very good time; they were energized by the event and already have a set of proceedings from the action phase of the summit. The next steps are to use the stories and the analysis of the stories and action phase to craft a report to inspire action for the ongoing development of this dynamic and growing workforce within the mental health and addiction sector.
Maree Maddock
For further information please contact Maree on 027 242 0644
Page last updated: 13 May 2008