Whaikaha is running online engagement forums to gain input from disability support providers, disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and whānau and about the design of two proposed new quality improvement services.

The services aim to increase the focus on the voice, good lives and human rights of disabled people, while also reducing the risks and occurrences of neglect and abuse in services. Note that the implementation of these services is dependent on funding. The proposed services are:

1. A disabled person-led peer monitoring service: This service would provide a way for disabled people’s voice to be heard, initially focused on those disabled adults most at risk and who would have the most difficulty exiting an unsafe situation. The service would employ/contract disabled people and whānau who would visit disabled people who may be at risk, talk with them to find out if they are ok and take action if they are unsafe.

2. An intensive quality improvement advisory service for providers: The advisory service will assist providers who need to improve their support of disabled people who are considered most at risk, or who wish to develop their service in line with the principles of Enabling Good Lives. The advisory service would assist providers to improve what they do, building leadership and collaboration within their work.


Joining a Zoom forum - for disabled people and family networks

There are two upcoming community Zoom open forums. These forums will have NZSL interpreters.

Wed 24 May 10.30am – 12.00 noon
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82753072272?pwd=b1RNQ3B4Q1NDeENGRWNOVVZYUk0vUT09
Meeting ID: 827 5307 2272
Passcode: 001446

Thurs 25 May 11.45am – 1.00pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86875964689?pwd=Q1B0d21NbXI4Qk9zZEZoRmR6N3V6UT09
Meeting ID: 868 7596 4689
Passcode: 489429

Questions to be covered in the Zoom forum

  1. What are the most important things to pay attention to for peer monitoring to be successful?
  2. What do providers need help with so they are better at supporting disabled people to live their good life?
  3. What are the top 3-4 priorities we should focus on in the peer monitoring service design?
  4. Idea for names instead of ‘peer monitors’?

Note that these forums will be focused on input into the design of these services. There will be opportunities later in 2023 to provide input into the wider work to develop a transformed quality framework and quality mechanisms.

Discussions about other matters, such as funding or contracts, will not be covered in these service design forums.

Joining a Zoom forum - for disability support providers

There are also two upcoming Zoom forums for disability support providers. For key questions that will be covered in the provider forums and Zoom links see - How can disability support providers give their input?

Giving direct feedback

You are also welcome to email your feedback directly to Sue and Kate at: sue.sherrard010@whaikaha.govt.nz

Who is working on the project?

Whaikaha has contracted Sue Sherrard and Kate Cosgriff to lead the service design project.  Sue is a disabled leader based in Auckland and Kate is based in Tauranga. Both Sue and Kate have extensive experience in the disability sector, including Enabling Good Lives.

The disability community partner for the project is the Whaikaha Insights Alliance. Their membership is tripartite, that is tāngata Whaikaha Māori me ō rātou whānau, disabled people and families and Whaikaha staff.

For more information see Engagement forums: Growing voice and safety