Sent to Parliamentary Social Services Select Committee 15th August 2006
Whilst at present the above organisation is not in a position to submit a formal submission it recently called a meeting of providers’ of disability services to address the issues facing Auckland Disability Providers.
Many of the issues raised were relevant to the Terms of Reference itemised by the Social Services Committee.
The Auckland Disability providers’ Network would like to submit this document which resulted from that forum and request at the time of hearing oral submissions they are given the opportunity to make a full submission.
Judith Lunny, Co-ordinator.
Further Information on Parliament website: Inquiry into the quality and care of services provision for disabled people and how they might be improved
Submission to the Select Committee on Caring for the disabled.
Executive Summary
The overriding perception is that the focus of the last 5 years of the Ministry of Health -DSD has been on research which has cost a lot of money with little perceived benefit to the sector, limited public release of documents, and little visible progress (see Number 6 page 4)
The sector has concentrated on certification, audits, and keeping up with bureaucratic changes and requests. The ministry is to be commended for its efforts to raise the standards within services. However whilst recognising the importance of providers’ meeting best practice, this has been at the expense of the quality of life for consumers.
The cumulative effect of issues raised increases the risk of returning to institutions (community institutions). The forum felt there is little appreciation and understanding of the needs of people with disabilities and their families displayed by government departments and agencies. The New Zealand Disability Strategy is well known within disability sector but there is little or no knowledge outside the sector even within government departments that are required to report annually against the Objectives
The ADPN would like to stress that the aim of this work is to co-operate fully and work with the Ministry of Health -DSD on the issues presented.
Every effort has been made to relate the document to the objectives in the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the Ministry of Health NZDS Implementation Work Plan 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006.
Issues Identified by the Forum
Family and Children.
The need for early intervention, whole of life support, access to appropriate services and care, and referral was highlighted. Transition programmes needed to be addressed and services flexible enough to include the whole spectrum of disabilities.
Quality of Services
Great concern was expressed at the quality of support and care where the client has little choice or control of what happens to them when, where, and how. By working together with the Ministry the ADPN would hope to improve the monitoring service that would result in consistency of service and continuity of pilot programmes that are successful.
Funding
The shortfall in funding from a variety of sources requires full accountability back to each source. which is comsuming huge amounts of providers time. Often managers reporting good work being done masks the real situation.
Advocacy
This service is not funded by the Ministry and usually relates to quality of service not access to service which can leave the disabled person in a vulnerable or dangerous position.
Leadership by disabled persons needs to be fostered.
Other concerns expressed were related to Respite and Home Care availability and flexibility, NASC effectiveness, transition, MOH information distribution, MoH contracts, the relevance of the ODI and its work on the NZDS, the role of DHB’s and the more practical day to day issues e.g. vulnerability of consumers.
Proposals for discussions
The purpose of this project is for the ADPN and the ministry to work together to address some of the issues/challenges raised. The following are some of the suggested points for discussion.
- Looking at how the 2006/07 budget money was allocated
- Stronger link is required between Ministers and their Ministries
- Working collaboratively with all contracted service providers to ensure all contract specifications are met
- MoH-DSD consultations
- MoH-DSD reports are commissioned, but rarely made public.
- Research vs pragmatics?
- Information -Better interaction between agencies giving a wrap around service to the individual or family.
