In our Kōrero Pumau series, ‘Conversations from the Heart’, we chatted with social worker Leanne White from Barnardos Intensive Response service about her personal journey and how it influenced her to work in the social services industry.

The phone rings a couple of times before it’s answered with a confident “Hello, Leanne White speaking”. From her tone of voice, it is clear this is going to be a deep and meaningful conversation.

Leanne kicks off the conversation by describing how the service is whānau-led and how, as a kaimahi, she empowers and encourages whānau through many life obstacles.

Leanne explains: “The purpose of the Barnardos Intensive Response service is to give whānau who are struggling the opportunity to lead their own paths with our guidance and to ensure they reach their full potential and live successful lives.”

As a Intensive Response kaimahi, Leanne works with multiple whānau in the region who might need support to repair trust between partners or help with budgeting, she ensures the safety of tamariki and supports the whole whānau to accomplish goals.

Learnings from the past

Her drive to work with whānau, stemmed from her own experiences growing up: “My past experiences have allowed me to apply what I have learnt personally and professionally in the field, with a huge focus on the whole whānau.”

Leanne grew up in a household where one of her parents struggled with their own battles and received external support. Despite this being an improvement for the parent, Leanne and her whānau did not receive any support for the ramifications that took place in the family home. Years later, Leanne is working in this role, where she ensures that tamariki and the whole whānau feel encouraged throughout any difficulties life throws at them.

“When I work with whānau who are going through really difficult times, I can relate to their situation and understand where their frustration and need come from. I personally know why it’s important to have services like Intensive Response in our communities,” says Leanne.

Breaking the cycle

Leanne is determined to overcome the barriers that whānau continue to face such as feelings of being let down by experts and their own families, and rebuild the trust where it was lost between whānau and workers. Her ways of working include prioritising the needs of whānau and their tamariki by placing them at the centre of her work and being by their side through the challenges and successes they face.

“These families want to make changes in their lives, but they haven’t had the support surrounding them to remind them that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to – and that’s where we make a real difference and it’s a privilege to be part of their journey,” explains Leanne.

Intensive Response Service

Leanne is one of two kaimahi from Barnardos working in the Intensive Response service in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Intensive Response brings together local Iwi, Oranga Tamariki, Kaupapa Māori services, and community organisations to offer a seamless and partnered approach to identifying and support whānau in need of intensive response. Its vision is that with better support, more tamariki and whānau can thrive together, reducing the risk of harm on whānau and tamariki children.

Then and now: how lived experiences led to social work