Our recommendations

We recommend that Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children:

1. prepare and implement a clear strategy for procuring services from, and managing contracts with, social service providers;
2. engage with the social services sector to prepare and implement a standard process for contracting rounds, including consistent time frames for when it will make decisions about Outcome Agreements and notify providers;
3. ensure that, in future contracting rounds:
   • recommendations are informed by a detailed analysis of the likely effect on children, young people, and the sustainability of the social services sector; and
   • it records this analysis clearly in relevant decision-making documents; and
4. urgently improve its contract management practice, including by:
   • linking performance measures to outcomes;
   • taking a consistent, predictable approach to performance monitoring and reconciliation;
   • routinely paying on time for services that have been provided;
   • anticipating and planning for the end of contracts to ensure a smooth transition;
   • communicating with providers in an open and transparent manner; and
   • taking commitments it has made to te Tiriti o Waitangi partners into account in managing contracts.