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Power to Care is 10 years old. The service grew out of my position as social worker
for the Elder Abuse Service in Christchurch.
I became aware that the Protection of Personal and Property Rights
Act (PPPR Act) provided for those who because of age illness or disability were
unable to fully manage their own personal and/or financial affairs.
The resources provided by the Act such as Guardianship, Property Management, Personal
Orders, and Enduring Powers of Attorney were under utilised in the practice areas
that it was designed for. The Act is a protective mechanism for
vulnerable people.
I have always had an interest in the relationship between social work and the various
legislations that govern it. That led me to commercialise the provisions of the
Act and provide a unique service for the protection of vulnerable people.
When I left University my first social work position was on the West Coast of the
South Island in a geographical location of Greymouth to Haast including Jacksons
Bay. In those days the statutory organisation was The Department of Social Welfare
and my responsibilities were child protection, fostering and adoption, community
development, youth justice, and maintenance of children in care.
I returned to Christchurch in 1990 and continued to work in the field of child protection
as a statutory social worker. Next, I joined Methodist Child and Family Services
and developed a residential social work programme for families for six years.
Following that, I worked as the social worker for the Elder Abuse Service and that
led me into my private practice.
Amongst that, I completed my post graduate qualification and became a field work
teacher for the University of Canterbury Social Work Department, completed a training
course in clinical supervision, and became a member of the Professional Association.
During my tenure with the Elder Abuse Service I wrote and presented a practice paper
at a Sydney Conference and provided professional training throughout New Zealand
in relation to the PPPR Act.
My years of working in the area of Child Protection have translated well into the
Care and Protection of Adults and their property.
The practice began as a home based business. Within the first year I moved to a
one-room rented office and within the next year the demand for our services was
so high that we purchased a house and converted the entire building into the offices
we have now.
Power to Care underwent a Judicial Review in 2002. A Family Court Judge and two
senior lawyers were appointed to fully review our service. As we have been scrutinised
at the highest level, our clients can be assured of our expertise, professionalism
and the transparency of our services at all levels.
Power to Care is still growing and in the financial year to 31/03/06 the volume
of work almost doubled from the previous year.
My other passion is horse trekking which takes me to many wonderful places that
provide inspiration for all aspects of my life. I thought that the speed with which
this little newborn foal has learned to stand up is a good analogy of the speed
at which Power to Care has grown, and the pictures also reflect that learning and
growth can be awkward sometimes, but perseverance produces results.
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