1 ANN WALKER PhD (Public Policy) Victoria University of Wellington RESEARCH ON INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD OF CHILD PROTECTION RESEARCH ON INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD OF CHILD PROTECTION Awarded SPEaR Linkages Postgraduate Scholarship in

2 Outline of Presentation 1.Research aims and objectives 2.Case study – data collection 3.Choice of research design and research methodology, and relationship to theory 4.Research findings, and application to policy

3 Research Aims and Objectives To explore aspects of interagency collaboration including: the networks and networking process of interagency collaboration the networks and networking process of interagency collaboration the nature of the relationships between agencies using a social capital paradigm the nature of the relationships between agencies using a social capital paradigm factors that facilitate and impede interagency collaboration factors that facilitate and impede interagency collaboration

4 Case Study – Data Respondents – managers and frontline staff from government and community agencies at national office, regional management and service delivery levels involved in Strengthening Families at 4 sites in New Zealand 59 questionnaires 59 questionnaires 22 semi-focused interviews 22 semi-focused interviews

5 Research Design Ontology – constructivist Ontology – constructivist Epistemology – post-positivist, interpretive structuralist paradigm Epistemology – post-positivist, interpretive structuralist paradigm Human nature – combining determinism and voluntarism in a dialectical approach to the study of policy networks Human nature – combining determinism and voluntarism in a dialectical approach to the study of policy networks

6 Relationship between Theory and Research Inductive approach Inductive approach Modified ground theory Modified ground theory Multi-disciplinary: sociology, social policy, public policy, political science and social psychology Multi-disciplinary: sociology, social policy, public policy, political science and social psychology

7 Barriers to Collaboration Different organizational structures, systems, cultures, and values between government departments, and between government and community agencies Different organizational structures, systems, cultures, and values between government departments, and between government and community agencies Communication barriers Communication barriers Differences in status and perceived power Differences in status and perceived power Conflicting professional and organisational priorities Conflicting professional and organisational priorities Differences in the extent to which collaboration is perceived as mutually beneficial Differences in the extent to which collaboration is perceived as mutually beneficial

8 Factors for Successful Interagency Collaboration On-going interaction of individuals e.g. through involvement in different cross-sectoral initiatives On-going interaction of individuals e.g. through involvement in different cross-sectoral initiatives Relationships built on respect, trust, honesty and openness between the agencies Relationships built on respect, trust, honesty and openness between the agencies Agency reliability Agency reliability Effective local coordinator with the ‘right’ skills, knowledge, and personality Effective local coordinator with the ‘right’ skills, knowledge, and personality Sense of goodwill between the agencies, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for clients Sense of goodwill between the agencies, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for clients

9 “Once you’ve met the face, it’s really difficult to say no. It’s much easier to work collaboratively once you know who you’re talking to. It’s very easy to pick up the phone and say so and so, no I’m not interested and hang up. But once you’ve met face to face, and you really understand people, then it’s much more difficult to say no because you’re letting down a real person not just a telephone.”

10 Application of Research Findings to Policy Advancing the research methodology – statistical network analysis Advancing the research methodology – statistical network analysis Actively managing networks to improve effectiveness and efficiency Actively managing networks to improve effectiveness and efficiency Conducting regular evaluations of existing networks Conducting regular evaluations of existing networks