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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem

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  • Sacha, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    The funniest thing is seeing them insist on using RBA (which is a wonderful methodology) when there is so little population data about disabled people to evaluate against, and so little engagement of community in contracting arrangements. Train wreck coming.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Rosemary, those are big topics and so many documents. But this is the first I have seen about a consultation process. Perhaps they hope nobody will respond and that will be taken as assent for everything they are planning.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    To be fair, it does look like they have 'involved' some disabled people, families and DPOs in the creation process. Wonder how they selected them?

    If you look at the 'data dictionary' document you will see the sort of limitations I mentioned - a series of yes/no datapoints based on whether or not a person received a particular service (eg: did a home support worker turn up on time), not whether the quality of their life has been improved in any way - because we do not collect that information yet.

    They have also defined the population they're measuring against as *all* disabled New Zealanders, when only about half of us use DSS services at all.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Rosemary, those are big topics and so many documents. But this is the first I have seen about a consultation process. Perhaps they hope nobody will respond and that will be taken as assent for everything they are planning.

    Just what I thought. I had intended to snuggle up with a hottie and finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest(again)...but I suppose...

    BUT...this is wearing me down...."Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3..."

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Sacha,

    To be fair, it does look like they have ‘involved’ some disabled people, families and DPOs in the creation process. Wonder how they selected them?

    How do we find out?

    My first impression (I have only skim read a few docs) is that they talked to clients of specific 'service providers'.

    Wouldn't it be great if someone reading this was one of those spoken to?

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    It's one of those things where asking random disabled people doesn't help. You need some relevant expertise beyond life experience to be able to contribute meaningfully.

    But the officials involved do not seem to have understood what was required either. Here's one example from the Tier One service specification that underpins all contracts:

    s4.3 Population outcomes

    "Disabled People in New Zealand are safe, healthy, have choice and control and are equal citizens".

    "Are EQUAL CITIZENS:
    • Are treated with dignity and respect
    • Are acknowledged and valued
    • Have a wide range of positive relationships with social and professional peers
    • Are welcomed in the community and are valued as equal and also diverse members
    • Are actively engaged as leaders and decision-makers
    • Are aware of and exercise rights and duties
    • Support and benefit from the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi."

    Think about how you could measure those things across disabled people. Then check how the MoH are going to do it:

    "Population Indicators
    • Access rate by Maori to DSS services
    • Access rate by Pacifika peoples to DSS Services
    • Access rate by Asian people to DSS Services."

    That's literally all there is under that one of the four strands. Wouldn't pass review in a stage one public policy or statistics class.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    I am starting with the "Outcomes Agreement"...

    Some very stern stuff...it would appear the dog is taking back control of it's tail.

    (Bearing in mind I am biased against service providers in general, and some in particular)

    The wording, especially around audits and monitoring, is very specific....almost as if in the past there has been issues with auditors actually accessing premises and clients.

    There is considerable mention made of 'double dipping'....charging the Purchaser twice for the same service etc...I wonder how much of that goes on?

    What I do like is the stipulation that staff and volunteers HAVE to have police checks and be vetted thoroughly.

    "5. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the organisation does not employ any person in a paid or voluntary capacity, including management committees, who has a conviction for crimes of violence against the person or dishonesty."

    And talking about management, the other output from the Mystery of Health DSS is the latest newsletter. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/disability-services/disability-support-services-newsletter

    Features a big howdedo to Te Roopu Taurima....

    A ‘zero harm’ culture is being fostered and implemented. It is the responsibility of Te Roopu’s managers to set the example and to model values of tika (the right way to do things), pono (honesty and integrity in all that we do) and aroha (the principle of expressing empathy, compassion and joy for others in all that we do).

    About bleeding time...

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    School in court again to challenge previous ruling it must accept aspie student back.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Govt’s social bonds programme officlal info page since 2013.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    add this ...http://nzinitiative.org.nz/site/nzinitiative/files/publications/publications-2015/Social%20Bonds%20-%20web.pdf

    Government benefits by transferring a variable
    degree of financial risk to the private sector.
    SIBs demonstrate which programmes work
    or don’t work, so that effective models can
    potentially be brought to scale.

    ƒ As an alternative to making charitable
    donations, SIBs allow investors to more directly
    improve social outcomes for favoured causes,
    and support advances in measuring successful
    models and building an evidence base, while
    earning a financial return for their involvement.

    ƒ Finally, service providers can hope to gain from
    enhanced delivery flexibility and broadened
    access to investor expertise and capital.

    Now, where's the bit about the benefits to NZ citizens who need to use the service?

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    And the Herald catches up.....http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11457938

    "Where we succeed, there are opportunities to help people fulfil their potential, a chance to break inter-generational cycles of dependency and, in the long term, potential savings for taxpayers.

    "So social bonds are a consistent fit with our wider social investment approach which aims to better understand both the drivers and risks of social dysfunction and where we can have the greatest impact in improving people's lives."

    So.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    And don't you just love it when the circle is completed....http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10644993

    the welfare working advisory group looking at the big driver of future costs: long-term invalids and sickness beneficiaries, a group he describes as "this big hard lump of long-term waste of human potential".

    English says the MSD is not set up to deal with them.

    Rather, it is set up to deal with "the easy stuff" - the unemployment and the domestic purposes benefits.

    "They do the easy stuff and they do it very well, but they don't worry about these guys. If they were ACC customers, we would be spending a lot of money on trying to move them. They cost a bit less on sickness and invalids [benefits], not a hell of a lot less, but we do nothing and we are actually doing nothing to reduce this very large long-term liability."

    Well, they're doing something now.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    one of the authors of that report for the right-wing NZ Initiative sings the praises of social bonds, after this claim.

    One of the greatest reforms the Government is expected to make this term was barely mentioned this budget. That is the reform related to social services.

    The Government needs to refocus the way the public sector funds and delivers social services. Under the current system, there is little accountability for either achieving outcomes or for ensuring cost effectiveness.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Sacha,

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    relevant and brilliantly delivered discussion (h/t Bronwyn Hayward)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    one of the authors of that report for the right-wing NZ Initiative sings the praises of social bonds, after this claim.

    House prices will no longer be an issue for the insanity defence lawyers out there, if a worst case scenario comes to pass.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    The Latest Strategic Plan from the Misery Of Health.

    https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/disability-support-services-strategic-plan-2014-2018

    Lies from the get go....

    "Disabled people and their families are supported to live the lives they choose"

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    And wedge politics from Bill "the lizard" English....

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/275463/super-comes-at-cost-of-health-and-welfare-english

    Wicked, evil man.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    "super-comes-at-cost-of-health-and-welfare-english"

    Despite this sadly misguided attempt at spin, super is welfare. A universal living wage is both affordable and inevitable, or we're all stuffed.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Marc C, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    If you choose poverty and a very low level of "choices" you may in their eyes be "well served". Sick really, what comes from those quarters.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2012 • 437 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Marc C,

    Sick really, what comes from those quarters.

    I literally do feel sick reading the latest missive from the Miserly. Every time I read the word "choice", I can't help but wonder if there is an evil person generating these documents who enjoys tormenting us.

    They are certainly making us suffer for the family carers case....no mention in the new fucking strategy about the abysmal failure that is FFC.

    The decade plus of legal wrangling may well have never happened.

    And all for something that our ACC cousins have been entitled to for decades.

    More wedges firmly in place.

    And its goodnight from me.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Just a reminder that the MSD consultation on older carers of older people (whatever that means) closes on Friday. Online survey.
    http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/policy-development/carers-strategy/carers-information-needs.html

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    A blog post from the writer of the Productivity Commission's social services report Appendix D: Services for people with disabilities, mainly about client-directed budgets such as Individualised Funding.

    http://www.productivity.govt.nz/blog/blog-the-freedom-to-choose-the-advantages-of-client-directed-budgets

    Submissions are due on the draft report this week.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    Invite to hui for Newsletter (1).pdf

    There is a hui…..(FREE…WITH LUNCH!!!)

    “Defining our futures
    Making Individualised Funding Work for everyone
    A free hui in Auckland on 16th July 9:30am-3:30pm
    Deaf Association Conference room
    164 Balmoral Road”

    according to the blurb…."It is a crucial time for us to review how IF is working in Aotearoa/New Zealand, look at if it’s working as we had envisaged, acknowledge what is working well and also face up to the challenges, risks and uncertainties that IF is posing.”

    I’m not sure why it is that this invite is only available through the NZ Disability Support Network’s website when it is presented by Auckland Disability Law and the Public Service Association, and seemingly not mentioned on either of their websites…but…might be worth checking out.

    “We hope you will join us in exploring this issue and thinking about how we would like to see all our futures defined.”

    Hmmm….

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    And, some interesting discussion here....http://includingallpeople.org.nz/?p=1157
    about the "never-ending reforms.."

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

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