Kia Ora Ake contracts set no minimum qualification for non-clinical workers

In brief

• Kia Ora Ake receives about $12 million annually, with roughly three-quarters of its funded provider workforce in non-clinical roles.
  • Non-clinical frontline roles have no contractual minimum qualification or prescribed frequency of supervision by a registered clinician. Consent forms do not distinguish clinical from non-clinical delivery.
    • Health NZ says families receive role information, training is available, and clinical support and supervision are available when required.
      • Kia Ora Ake deals with cases of suicidal ideation, trauma, and self-harm.Health NZ has confirmed there is no contractual minimum qualification for non-clinical frontline workers in Kia Ora Ake, the school wellbeing programme receiving about $12 million a year.Contracts also do not specify how often those workers must receive supervision from a registered clinician. A clinician is not required onsite for every individual or targeted group support session.The disclosures come in a 16 September OIA response following Centrist’s earlier reporting on incomplete outcome data and a verified professional source’s concerns about non-clinical workers supporting children presenting with serious mental-health and safeguarding issues.Non-clinical staffing across eight regions Kia Ora Ake operates across more than 180 Counties Manukau schools and educational settings. About three-quarters of its funded provider workforce is non-clinical. The staffing model extends beyond Counties Manukau. Kia Ora Ake is part of the wider Mana Ake programme, operating across eight regions. Health NZ says workforce mixes vary, but non-clinical staff predominate overall, with clinical staff making up “around 30 per cent of the workforce on average”.Health NZ says a Level 4 Community Support Worker qualification is “encouraged”, along with experience working with children and families.The agency lists training available to workers, including responding to abuse disclosures, trauma-informed care and safeguarding.The professional source quoted in Centrist’s earlier report, whose identity and background Centrist has verified, described the response as “shocking”.“They know the level of capability required or they would not offer ‘workshops’,” the source said.Consent covers the serviceThe response also confirms the consent form does not distinguish between clinical and non-clinical delivery. Families consent to participation in the service, rather than to particular staff delivering it.Health NZ says families receive information about the service and its roles during initial engagement.Providers monitor risk escalationThe agency describes Kia Ora Ake as an early-intervention and prevention service.“Clinical support and supervision is always available to staff when required,” the response says.When risks emerge, staff must escalate concerns internally and notify the school. Providers are responsible for monitoring their employees’ escalation of risk, with Health NZ clinical liaison staff available for support.Health NZ now says the national evaluation, including Counties Manukau, will be available before the end of 2026.Re-published from the Centrist with permissionOriginal article at The Centrist