Your organisation has probably received information from MSD on the requirement to hand over your clients’ personal information or lose funding. SSPA does not accept that MSD needs clients’ personal details to ensure services are meeting clients’ needs. It is an imposition on organisations built on the promise of confidentiality. We are particularly concerned that it will deter people from seeking the help they need. We also doubt MSD’s assurances that its information systems are secure.

Early this afternoon SSPA chair Shane Murdoch and I attended the select committee hearing to present the SSPA submission on the the Children, Young Persons and their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Bill. The Bill proposes the most far-reaching changes to child care and protection since CYF was set up in 1999 so this was a very important submission.

A reminder that 21 March is World Social Work Day – a day to celebrate our social workers, whether it’s with a morning tea or a get-together to talk about lives turned around, thanks to a social worker.

I have met with the Privacy Commissioner, who is conducting an inquiry into MSD’s proposed contract requirement that providers share identifiable data on clients. There has been a large response to their survey – thanks to those of you who responded.