The Disability Services Directorate undertook a project (the ‘Quality and Safety Project’) in 2003-2004 to identify quality and safety issues in the provision of disability support services with a view to making recommendations to Government on a policy and purchasing framework for these services.
The aim of the project was to ensure service user and workforce quality and safety issues were identified and that planning for future disability support services and the workforce providing these services would address these issues and meet the needs and aspirations of the disability sector.
A series of four surveys from service provider (parts 1 and 2), worker and service user perspectives were undertaken by Auckland University, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and ACC. The findings of these surveys were used to inform the recommendations of the Quality and Safety Project.
Disability Support Services in NZ: Part 1, Service Provider Survey
Date of publication: May 2004
A survey of disability support service providers was undertaken in 2003. The 'Disability Support Services in NZ: Part 1, Service Provider Survey' report provides both numerical and descriptive information on the disability support workforce (currently working for contracted providers within Vote Health and Vote ACC). As the survey identified other issues worthy of investigation, it was followed up by further research (refer Part 2 Service Provider Survey below).
Disability Support Services in NZ: Part 2, Service Provider Survey
Date of publication: September 2004
The second piece of research looking at issues from a provider perspective used a combination of focus groups, interviews and self-completed questionnaires to examine issues arising from the first survey of providers in more depth. The 'Disability Support Services in NZ: Part 2, Provider Survey' report presents and discusses the findings from this research.
Disability Support Services in NZ: Workforce Survey
Date of publication: August 2004
Disability support workers’ perspectives on quality and safety issues in disability support service provision and factors contributing to these issues are examined in the 'Disability Support Services in NZ: Workforce Survey' report. Workers’ views were surveyed through a combination of computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) and face-to face interviews.
Disability Support Services in NZ: Service User Survey
Date of publication: September 2004
The final piece of research looked at service users’ perspectives on quality and safety. The 'Disability Support Services in NZ: Service User Survey' report provides a profile of people accessing disability support services and findings on service users’ perspectives on quality and safety issues in disability support service provision and factors contributing to these issues. These perspectives were gained through a series of focus groups, hui and fono.