39170 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

39170 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: What are the changes that are being made in some of Oranga Tamariki's care and protection sites that the Minister referred to in her interview on PMN on 24 June 2024?

Hon Karen Chhour: I am advised by Oranga Tamariki there have been several improvements made and planned for Oranga Tamariki Residences. Following the release of the independent external rapid review of Oranga Tamariki secure residences in September 2023, a work programme was confirmed that responds to the findings of the report. The key areas of the work programme include: • developing a strategy for residences; • a focus on recruiting the best people for residential work; • improved onboarding of staff; • ensuring new staff receive comprehensive induction and ‘ready for work’ assessments; • additional training for key roles, including leaders in residences; • strengthening and maintaining residences infrastructure; • improving the physical environment for children so that it is more ‘child friendly’, and • progressing development and implementation of the operating model through the organisational change process which is underway in Oranga Tamariki.