Communities to benefit from new guidance to manage welfare services in emergencies

Improvements are being made to how welfare services are coordinated and delivered to communities when there is an emergency. The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management has just released a new guideline governing how, when and where welfare services should be delivered in emergencies.

Clarified arrangements for all organisations and improved methods of working together as set out in the guideline will enable more coordinated provision of welfare services. Individuals, families, whānau, and communities will benefit from these arrangements in an emergency, when they most need support.

The Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management assumes overall responsibility for the leadership and coordination of welfare services in an emergency from the Ministry of Social Development from 1 December.

The guideline is available here and includes arrangements for the registration of people’s details, needs assessment, an inquiry process, care and protection services for children and young people, psychosocial support, household goods and services, shelter and accommodation, financial assistance and animal welfare.

The Director’s Guideline for Welfare Services in an Emergency has been developed with Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, welfare services agencies and other agencies. The guideline is an important resource for planning for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.

The media release in relation to the Guideline is available here.

 

Published: Nov 5, 2015, 4:54 PM