Government agencies are giving increasing attention to ensuring that services meet disabled people’s support needs more effectively, including recognising the diversity of needs.

Achievements in 2008/2009 included:

• the development of options to enable young people with high support needs to live in residential care which is age-appropriate, so they no longer are placed in aged care facilities: a review of current service models will be completed by February 2010 and an options paper completed in June 2010
• the establishment in November 2009 of the Lu’i Ola Pacific Disability Provider Network Committee, comprising senior representatives of Pacific disability services provider groups, to provide the Lu’i Ola Steering Group with service delivery advice in relation to the disability-related needs of Pacific peoples (Ministry of Health).

The Ministry of Health is also undertaking a number of projects aiming to enhance services and improve access to equipment and modifications. These fall into five categories: complex housing modifications; prioritisation of services; measurement of service quality and outcomes; assessor accreditation; and equipment purchasing and provision. Recommendations and an implementation plan are due in February 2010.

The Ministry of Health is also giving increasing attention to improving services for carers of disabled people. Achievements over 2008/2009 include:

• the implementation of new respite services so carers can have a break; and the securing of new funding in Budget 2009 for dedicated residential beds for older people
• the development of service specifications for planned respite services for caregivers of people with mental health needs and addictions: these are available for use by district health board funders and planners to contract for non-government organisations from 1 July 2009 and district health board providers from 1 July 2010
• the completion of a stocktake of current respite care and carer relief, to be released in 2010.

The Ministry of Health is also undertaking:

• a stocktake and gap analysis of currently contracted services to determine the improvements to be made to help informal carers of disabled people to recruit relief carers
• work to examine what changes or enhancements can be made to improve support for carers using the Carer Support Subsidy within current financial parameters.