Ministry chooses Cúram Software as CMS

Press Release
Ministry of Social Development

10 June 2004
For Immediate Release Media Statement

Ministry chooses Cúram Software in search for new Client Management System

The Ministry of Social Development has selected international software product company Cúram Software to proceed with a ‘Proof of Concept’ as part of the Ministry’s search for an electronic client management system.

“While the technology is crucial, this project is about much more than just a new IT system. It is about people, processes and systems and the way we view and understand our clients. We want a system that will allow us to take into account all of a client’s circumstances so we can achieve better results for them and their families,” said Ray Smith, Deputy CE Work and Income.

The Ministry of Social Development sought expressions of interest in December last year from vendors who could provide a client management solution to enable Work and Income to improve the way it works with clients. Cúram was the stand out candidate on all requirements.

Work and Income’s IT system design is centred on product and payments that operate well in delivering benefits to clients. However, with recent innovations in human services technology there are now opportunities to explore a client-centric system that will:

- Support a more effective and efficient delivery of services with the flexibility to meet new changes over the next five years.
- Support the Ministry in improving its focus on the work and skill issues facing individual clients.
- Provide a single view of the client and the services they are receiving as well as providing a detailed record of all client and case manager interactions.
- Provide workflow functions to better guide staff in determining eligibility and entitlement.
- Automate basic processes to free up case managers’ time so they can provide more proactive assistance to jobseekers.
- Increase access by other organisations to selected information held by the Ministry.

“The Client Management System will also need to be easily updatable, secure, as well as reliable and cost effective,” said Ray Smith.

“Cúram Software was established in 1990 and has a singular focus on delivering software products to the social services sector. In fact Cúram Software does not operate in any other market and is regarded by analysts such as Gartner and Meta as well as leading social service agencies of the world as a global leader in the marketplace,” said John Hearne, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Cúram Software.

“Cúram, the Irish Gaelic word for "Care and Protection", was conceived based on experiences in the social services sector and it has been designed and built by social service professionals, many of whom have long and distinguished backgrounds in working for social service agencies around the globe.

“Cúram has been implemented in similar social service environments as New Zealand and we are excited about the potential benefits it can deliver to Work and Income staff and clients.

“Cúram Software is very pleased and excited to have been chosen by the Ministry for this important initiative. We believe by working together we can deliver on the objectives the Ministry has outlined for the project. We look forward to actively participating in the Proof of Concept and achieving success,” said John Hearne.

“The Ministry will now go out to tender to select a Systems Integrator to assist in carrying out a Proof of Concept with Cúram Software, in order to determine the best way forward. After the completion of the Proof of Concept a decision will be made on implementation” said Ray Smith.

The Ministry expects that the preferred client management solution would run alongside and complement the Ministry’s existing critical business systems that continue to operate well. The key functional and technical capabilities within the Cúram Framework may also provide strategic alternatives for these critical business systems in the future (see MSD Critical Business Systems Transformation Strategy).

ENDS

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