Adaptability

Adaptability is changing what we do to meet rangatahi needs and finding new solutions when something isn’t working.

We need to be predictable and consistent, but also flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of rangatahi.

 

Thanks to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for funding the research that created these resources (MAUX2006).

This work by J. Sanders, R. Munford, J. Webster, J. Mercier, D. Abbott & L. Liebenberg is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Adaptable kaimahi:

  • Take rangatahi experiences and views seriously,
  • Adapt to fit each rangatahi, particularly their culture, beliefs and values,
  • Explore with rangatahi a range of solutions,
  • Understand that they may not always be the best person to help and support rangatahi to get the very best support,
  •  Work with other kaimahi to make the best solutions happen,
  •  Look outside the box for unique solutions that fit.

To explore this element in more depth go to the PARTH in practice reflection sheet.

 

"Adaptability" orientated rangatahi voices

Jordan's voice

Jordan describes wanting specific support but being unable to get it.

Shannon's voice

Shannon talks about the motivation kaimahi provided her with.

Ata's voice

Ata talks about a teacher who shows he understands.

All Adaptability voices

Read Wiremu's story on the importance of having flexibility to adapt to rangatahi needs.

Kaimahi stories have come from the youthsay partners. Te Aroha Noa Community Services, INNOV8, Dingwall Launch Programme, VIBE, Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring Services (TYMS), Reconnect Family Services, Kapiti Youth Support (KYS) and other kaimahi shared these stories from their mahi. They have been anonymised to protect identities. A big thank you to the organisations and kaimahi who have generously shared their wisdom and experience.

Changes take time. They happen in different ways and at different points for rangatahi.

Therefore, we passionately advocate in our service for flexible time frames to suit the individual needs of each rangatahi.

We do this by actively thinking about what each rangatahi needs, thinking about their gender, culture, history, spiritual values, family structure, social and economic needs.

Being able to adapt to each rangatahi helps us keep our passion because we know we can respond to their needs as we learn of them and as things change. We can respond to individual rangatahi passions.

This flexibility sustains our passion because we are able to try different things. We are not stuck in this box where we repeat the same processes over and over again. We have the ability to try almost anything.

Read more

Ange shares how she has used reflection cards in her mahi.

Kaimahi stories have come from the youthsay partners. Te Aroha Noa Community Services, INNOV8, Dingwall Launch Programme, VIBE, Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring Services (TYMS), Reconnect Family Services, Kapiti Youth Support (KYS) and other kaimahi shared these stories from their mahi. They have been anonymised to protect identities. A big thank you to the organisations and kaimahi who have generously shared their wisdom and experience.

The reflection cards have worked really well with a rangatahi I worked with who had foetal alcohol syndrome as she was able to identify how she felt in situations.

There are questions that you can ask rangatahi to support this. The rangatahi is able to connect visually with how they’re feeling.

It creates a relationship with rangatahi and means our practice is adaptable, as if she identifies that anger is an issue we can discuss and work with this.

We also act transparently by me picking cards also which then helps create a relationship.

Read more

Adaptability indicators

You know you are being Adaptable when you:

  • Don’t push the rangatahi into a box to fit the service or force them to participate in something.
  • Give choice where you can and an opportunity to be in control where it’s ok to do so.
  • Find ways for the rangatahi to do the things they have to and be honest and firm about what’s not
    negotiable but try and make it work for them and be creative.
  • Admit if you’re struggling, stuck or finding things challenging. This is normal and if you’re not willing
    to get help and change you can’t expect a rangatahi to. Remember you are a role model.
  • Go on training, learn new things and take ownership of your development. Adapt the learning to each situation. You may even share with rangatahi that you will be trying some new things.

Adaptability reflection cards

This work by J. Sanders, R. Munford, J. Webster, J. Mercier, D. Abbott & L. Liebenberg is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. 
This site was created as part of a research programme (MAUX2006) funded by MBIE. We thank them for their support.

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