Background
The New Directions programme of work grew out of a need for Child Youth and Family to improve performance and capability to achieve better outcomes for children, young people and their families. This focus on outcomes has been incorporated into a number of projects including:
 implementing a strength-based outcomes-focussed approach to social work practice;
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developing and implementing comprehensive youth justice services;
 a Care Services Strategy;
 developing and implementing a comprehensive social work workforce planning strategy;
 strengthening our public education role;
 reviewing and designing quality assurance and monitoring systems for both direct and indirect services to ensure they drive the new outcome focused and strengths-based approach
 designing and implementing cohesive performance measures (outcomes and outputs) for CYF
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designing and implementing organisational systems to drive the new outcomes focussed and strengths-based approach.
Each project has endeavoured to identify desired outcomes, and to identify the intervention logic between activities and outcomes. Accordingly the need to identify an overarching framework to provide direction for the work of different projects has emerged. This background paper sets out this emerging framework, identifying:
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The overall outcome for children young people and families being sought by Child Youth and Family;
 Outcomes to which the activities undertaken by Child Youth and Family are directed for each output class;
 Outcomes statements for each output class in relation to the outcome domains identified with reference to the principles contained in the
Children Young Persons and their Families Act;
Under development are performance indicators for each of the outcome statement for each output class. It should be noted that these indicators should be regarded as “proxy” indicators, and will be refined progressively over time.

Starting Point
The starting point for the outcomes framework is the legislative environment regulating the work of Child Youth and Family. The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 includes as part of its Long Title, the following objective:
“To advance the well-being of families and the wellbeing of children and young persons as members of Families, whanau, hapu, iwi and family groups.”
Part 1 of the Act sets out General Objects, Principles and Duties, while s.13 sets out principles in relation to Care and Protection and s.208 sets out principles in relation to Youth Justice.
The general principles set out in Part 1 include the following:
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that families/whanau should participate in decisions regarding children and young people (CYP), and that their views should be taken into account;
 that the relationship between a CYP and their family/whanau should be maintained and strengthened wherever possible;
 that decisions should take into account the welfare of the CYP and the stability of their family/whanau.
In relation to Care and Protection, and subject to Part 1 of the Act, the following additional principles apply:
 That CYP should be protected from harm, their rights upheld and their welfare promoted;
 That the primary role in caring for and protecting a CYP lies with their family. This means that families should be supported and assisted to do this if needed and that statutory intervention into family life should be the minimum necessary to ensure safety and protection;
 That it is desirable for CYP to live with their family/whanau;
 That where a CYP is in need of care and protection, support and assistance should be given to enable this to happen within their own family/whanau;
 That CYP should be removed form their family/whanau only if there is a serious risk of harm;
 That where a CYP is removed form their family/whanau, they should be returned and protected from harm. Where this can not happen immediately they should live in a family-like setting in the same locality and in a way that their links with their family/whanau are strengthened, and in a way in which their sense of continuity and personal and cultural identity is maintained.

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That where a CYP cannot live with their own family/whanau, priority should be placed on them living with a family who is a member of their hapu or iwi, or the same tribal, racial, ethnic or cultural background, and in the same locality.
In relation to Youth Justice, and subject to Part 1 of the Act, the following additional principles apply:
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That measures for dealing with offending by CYP should be designed to strengthen their family/whanau, and to foster the family/whanau’s ability to develop their own means of dealing with offending by the CYP;
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That a CYP who commits an offence should be kept in the community so far as that is practicable and consonant with the need to ensure the safety of the public;
 That sanctions imposed upon a CYP who commits an offence should take the form most likely to maintain and promote the development of the CYP within their family/whanau, and be the least restrictive form that is appropriate in the circumstances;
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That measures for dealing with offending by CYP should have due regard to the victims of that offending.
The principles of the Act can be summarised as involving the achievement of wellbeing and improved life outcomes for children, young people and families in six areas, or “domains”. These domains, and definitions of the outcomes they are seeking to achieve, are set out below.
Domain Definition
Wellbeing
Safety
Wellbeing is the achievement of positive life outcomes in most or all of the following areas:
 Education or employment
 Physical health
 Mental health
 Emotional well-being
 Cultural and spiritual identity

Attitudes
 Social interaction and peer relationships
 Community involvement
Protection from physical, emotional or cultural harm, and also ensuring the conditions which are necessary for the physical, emotional and cultural development of the child or young person.
In the case of youth justice, safety also involves reducing the risk of harm to the community, including the need for young

Family
Functioning offenders to be accountable for their actions.
The capacity of a family/whanau to provide an environment in which children and young people can thrive and contribute positively to their community. This includes capabilities such as:
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attachment between parents and children
 ability to provide material, emotional, cultural and spiritual nurturing
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ability to exercise appropriate authority and control, through appropriately managing all CYP behaviour.
Cultural and spiritual identity
Ensuring that the child or young person is positively aware of, and draws strength from, his/her culture and spiritual identity.
Permanence and stability
Client
Satisfaction
Creating continuity of identity in the life of a child or young person as an important factor in building strength and promoting well-being.
Ensuring that as far as is possible, the wishes, aspirations and sense of time of the child or young person, are respected, and that he/she understands and consents to decisions regarding their treatment. Similarly, family/whanau are satisfied with their level of participation in decision-making and their treatment by social work staff.
Achieving outcomes for children young people and families
The principles of the Act lead to the overall desired outcomes for the
Department of Child Youth and Family Services as being
Achieving the well-being of families, and the well-being and safety of children and young persons as members of families, whanau, hapu, iwi and family groups in New Zealand.
This logically leads to the following outcomes for each of the output classes within which Government is purchasing services from the Department:
D1 Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing: The objective of achieving and/or maintaining the well-being and safety of children and young people is addressed in all strategic and operational policies and procedures.
D2 Development and Funding of Community Services: Communities are strong and able to support the safety and well-being of children, young people and families, through strategies to support and fund local programmes and service which enhance the lives of children young people and families.

D3 Prevention Services: All New Zealanders are aware of their responsibility to act to keep children and young people safe.
D4 Care and Protection Services: Reducing the occurrence and recurrence of harm, and assisting families to achieve well-being.
D5 Youth Justice Services: Reducing the rate and severity of re-offending by children and young people.
D6 Adoption Services: People who are adopted have an integrated sense of self.
Work is continuing on developing the intervention logic between outputs and outcomes, outcome statements for outcome domains within each output class, and measurement indicators.