Strategy and Governance
The HCN Unit was established to help implement the High and Complex Needs Interagency Strategy.
On this page:
The High and Complex Needs Interagency Strategy
The Interagency Strategy (2001) was agreed by the Ministers of Health, Education and Social Development (including Child, Youth and Family Services) provides the strategic framework for agencies to work together to support children and young people with high and complex needs.
The Strategy's vision and goals
The Interagency Strategy addresses the needs of children and young people with high and complex needs. At a national level, the HCN Unit supports collaboration with resources and advice.
The vision is to improve outcomes for young people with high and complex needs through effective interagency collaboration by:
- fostering collaboration between agencies
- improving the effectiveness of interventions
- building agency capability.
Strategy Governance Protocol
A Governance Protocol agreed by the Ministries of Health, Education and Social Development sets out how the Strategy will be governed, including:
- governance and management roles
- responsibility of each agency and Child, Youth and Family as host agency
- dispute resolution.
Strategy implementation
The Strategy is implemented on a day-to-day basis by:
- Child, Youth and Family (including Care and Protection and Youth Justice)
- Ministry of Education - usually Special Education
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
- Disability needs assessment service coordination organisations.
At a local level, there is an Interagency Management Group to provide leadership for interagency working.
