What is the culturally appropriate assessment model?

The culturally appropriate assessment model (CAAM) provides a framework for assessors when completing an interRAI Home Care assessment for Māori. It incorporates principles of, but is not limited to, tikanga, whakawhānaungatanga, and maanakitanga.

In 2020 the Ministry of Health and Technical Advisory Services (TAS) – which interRAI was part of, jointly commissioned a service design review to identify and evaluate future opportunities for interRAI Services. Details of the service design can be found in the documents below.

Read the service design executive summary and the full report below.

Service design report - summary version (PDF)

CAAM report and recommendations

From that review, it was determined by the then Director General of Health Ashleigh Bloomfield that building a culturally appropriate assessment model should be prioritised.

In 2022 interRAI Services commissioned the Francis Group (now Deloitte) to carry out the project to develop a culturally appropriate assessment model.

There were seven recommendations from the CAAM project. interRAI Services have focused on the recommendations that best sit within its business capabilities:

• Recommendation 2. Additional testing of the prototype model, and
• Recommendation 5. Governance which were both more clearly aligned with interRAI’s work programme and remit.

interRAI Services formed an internal project group and developed a training package, with external and subject matter expert input including Te Aka Whai Ora. The project steering group, members of whom include the Senior Advisor Whānau Voice, Te Aka Whai Ora staff, regional Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) managers, the Chief Executive of NASCA and interRAI staff, had input into the development of the survey/feedback forms for both participants and NASC assessors.

interRAI Services approached all NASCs, with five districts agreeing to participate. They selected assessors to be educated and supported in the use of the CAAM framework.

Where are we up to?

The participating NASCs have continued to commit their time and energy to this pilot but referral numbers have been lower than predicted. This has resulted in an extension of the project to the end of September 2024. A viable number of participant survey results are required to be able to form recommendations for future use of the tool. To date the feedback from participating kaumātua has been overwhelmingly positive.

What’s next?

The CAAM is designed to support assessors outside of kaupapa Māori services to engage as Tangata Tiriti. At the end of the pilot phase, interRAI Services will collate participant surveys (kaumātua, whānau, assessors) and arrange hui (kaumātua, whānau, NASC team leads/managers) to inform the final report as to the CAAM’s utility and suitability in the community and any changes required to the education of the CAAM. interRAI Services will share this with the Ageing Well Team, Health New Zealand and NASCA, so decisions regarding a national roll out can be made.