Those wishing to make a submission must confine their submissions to the issues and points contained in the terms of reference.

Submitters may make a submission on one or all of the points/issues contained in the terms of reference.

The terms of reference are as follows:

1.  Current service provision arrangements for people with a disability and future directions (including home based, residential, vocational and community).

• Historical changes in provision of care
• Has New Zealand achieved appropriate models of care and choice, what changes are desirable including issues of continuum of care - what's working successfully and why?
• The right of those with a disability to live a life of independence and freedom (what are barriers and how can they be overcome?)

2.  The way National Standards of care are determined, implemented and monitored, and any lessons learned from historical complaints and systemic failure.

• That monitoring is carried out in the most effective way to ensure quality of care and support of individual disabled people and how best outcome is measured
• Is the certification process a meaningful way of ensuring service quality?
• That the current understanding of quality, as determined by the Standards, are appropriate to the function of supporting valued lives for disabled people. (Can the current auditing methods be improved?)
• Contemporary issues relating to provider organisations that have caused public concern

 

3.  The advocacy and/or complaints process for clients, and their families, residents and the public.

• Is there a need for improved advocacy mechanisms - particularly for the most vulnerable?
• Is there a need for improved complaints mechanisms?

 4.  The level of accountability, funding, information sharing, transparency and collaboration between relevant Ministries, community agencies and providers.

• That there is clear accountability and understanding between the various government agencies and providers of disability services
• How responsive, effective and efficient are the current contracting arrangements, and how can they be improved?
• Are the government departments working in tune with the practical application of the New Zealand Disability Strategy?
• Office of Disability issues

 5.  The quality of training, career structure and workplace conditions of the disability workforce

• Framework qualifications
• Workforce planning
• The level of availability of academic teaching, training, theory and learning in New Zealand

 6.  An assessment of the extent to which the New Zealand Disability Strategy is central to the wellbeing, rights and care of disabled people.

Please forward two copies of your submission by Friday, 25 August 2006.

If you wish to appear before the committee, state this clearly with your submission, providing a contact name and daytime phone number.  Submissions to select committees generally become public.  Please contact the committee secretariat before sending information of a private or personal nature.