Disability Support Services Review
Following on from Chris Bunny’s letter of 29 October we’re getting in touch to arrange a time to meet with you about Recommendations Five and Six of the Independent Review.
The purpose of this round of engagement and consultation is to ask some targeted questions, listen, seek your feedback and share the policy pathway forward.
Would you be available to meet with us on either of these dates?
• 20 November at 1-2 pm
• 19 November at 3.30-4.30 pm
In Chris’ letter, he mentioned we’ve published a survey, open until 22 November. We’d love to get your feedback and encourage you to share it: https://consultations.msd.govt.nz/
Here’s an example of the types of questions we’re asking:
Recommendation Five
Allocation updating the assessment and allocation settings for individuals based on level of need.
• When you had your needs assessment done (or for the person you support), did the assessment do a good job of establishing the support required?
• What can be done to improve assessments to establish the support required?
• Is it clear what the process of reassessment of services and needs is, and how it works?
• What could be done to make it easier to understand?
Recommendation Six
Establishing criteria for access to flexible funding and reviewing the flexible funding guidelines to improve clarity and consistency.
• What things need to be worked through in setting eligibility for flexible funding?
• Are there situations where you can only access what you need through flexible funding, support that would otherwise be unavailable?
• Are you clear what flexible funding can be used for?
• What suggestions do you have to make flexible funding simpler?
• Are the purchasing rules and guidelines clear and easy to understand?
We’ll also be asking some questions about the longer-term future and sustainability of DSS and welcome your input and feedback.
We want to acknowledge many of you have given feedback throughout the year on disability support services, and we want to thank you for that.
This initial survey will help us develop policy options to come back to you early next year. And after that, the Government will make decisions.
This next survey will build on what you have already told us, and we’ll publish a summary of feedback and submissions received on our website in December.