Questions and Answers
Independent Review
List of Questions and Answers
Why did the Minister carry out an Independent Review?
The Ministry of Disabled People - Whaikaha was facing cost pressures. The Minister wanted to make sure she had a full picture of the situation before considering any changes to the provision of Disability Support System (DSS).
Why is the Rapid Assurance Review: Commercial Management included in the wider announcement?
The Minister for Disability Issues Hon Louise Upston commissioned an independent review of the DSS to ensure its contract management practices were robust. Some of the review’s findings were confirmed in the Independent Review report and confirm the need for urgent action to stabilise the DSS.
Why didn’t the Ministry address the cost pressures?
The Ministry took action to address the cost pressures. While there was progress, it wasn’t enough given the gravity of the situation.
What was the Ministry’s role in the review?
The Ministry co-operated with the Independent Review panel, providing information and documents as requested. The Ministry paid for the review panel and associated costs.
What’s the cost of the review, including implementation of the recommendations?
Transformation funding of $15.6M is being used to fund the implementation of the recommendations of the review.
Why is Transformation money being used to fund this?
Stabilising the DSS funding is the priority and must be the first step to delivering sustainable system transformation.
How will success be measured from these recommendations?
It's too early to determine the impact of the recommendations when some decisions are yet to be made and subsequent changes implemented.
What does this mean for disabled people, family members, and carers?
There is unlikely to be immediate change to the support disabled people receive. For now, disabled people, their family members and carers will continue to get the funding, equipment, care, and other disability support they are eligible for. However, the decisions from the Independent Review may affect the support people receive in the future.
What is happening to Enabling Good Lives (EGS)?
The Minister and Ministry are committed to the EGL principles. The review process will look at how those principles can be incorporated into the system in a sustainable way. The recommendations of the Independent Review will not affect the continuation of the existing EGL sites. However, there will not be a national roll out of additional sites in the immediate future.
What is happening to Flexible Funding?
The changes made to Flexible Funding in March 2024 will not be reversed. Recommendation 6 is to establish criteria for access to Flexible Funding and review the guidelines to improve clarity and consistency.
The immediate focus is on the first three recommendations, but we can provide an update on Recommendation 6 when we know more.
What is happening to Equipment and Modification Services (EMS)?
The prioritisation for EMS, put in place in March 2024, will not be reversed.
What is happening with residential care beds?
The rates providers are paid for residents in their care today will be the rates they will be paid for the remainder of the 2024/25 financial year (until 30 June 2025).
The Ministry will ensure no more is spent on residential care in 2024/25 than was spent in the past financial year.
Who did the Independent Review panel talk to as part of the review?
A full list of who the Independent Review panel talked to is at the back of the Report, which is available on our website.
When will the first recommendations begin?
Work is underway on all seven recommendations. There will be further work to examine the recommendations and determine the best approach to implement them.
The first three recommendations are expected to be actioned by September 2024.
Has there been engagement with the disability community and sector?
The Minister consulted with a number of DSS stakeholders (including disabled people, carers, and providers) throughout the review process. These stakeholders provided their insights and engagements to the panel.
Who is on the (taskforce) DSS Review Programme and (oversight group)?
The group is yet to be announced. It is likely to include experts in disability policy, public finance, contract management, service delivery, risk management, auditing and evaluation.
How will it work?
Our CE will work with the DSS Review Programme.
The Ministry is part of a cross-agency group (the Disability Support System Review Programme), which includes experts in disability policy, finance, contract management, service delivery, risk management, auditing and evaluation.
We will update our website, and work with providers and disability organisations as more details are confirmed.
What do the recommendations mean for Ministry staff?
Some work projects will be stalled or stopped. New workstreams will begin. People leaders will be working closely with their teams to support and clarify the work programmes.
How will the Ministry and sector have awareness of the work of the taskforce and how it is tracking to save money and stabilise the system?
A report back on progress on the first three recommendations is due in September 2024. Our website will be updated, as needed.