Temp Solutions began 6 years ago in response to the need for consumer participation as described in the NZ Mental Health Sector Standard 9 –
consumers are involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation at every level of the mental health service to ensure services are responsive to the needs of individuals
Kites, a community development agency that exists to incubate ideas that can become active social change, hosted Temp Solutions as they looked at ways to make consumer participation into a sustainable social business.
Temp Solutions used this as an opportunity to create a specialist temping agency, that could offer people recovering from mental illness, a different way to engage in the workforce. With start up funding from the Ministry of Social Development they were given the challenge of becoming financially self sufficient.
Sustainability in the current environment is a big ask for small innovative programmes. As the recession has impacted on employment and the focus of the Government shifts back to the ‘newly unemployed’ Temp Solutions is closing its door this week.
Manager Leo McIntyre says there have been some major achievements.
Leo McIntyre
“Winning a gold award Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Service Achievement Awards in 2007 was important but knowing that people who used Temp Solutions have had a positive experience and many now have jobs in the mental heath sector, has been our greatest success.”
Temp Solutions’ story is one of our time as it demonstrates the paradox of the call for innovation in mental health in an environment where commercial success is also required.
Thanks to Temp Solutions and to Kites for giving life to a bold idea.
