Disability Support Services is strengthening its audit and assurance programme, to ensure that people receiving our funded disability supports are safe and receiving services that align with their goals and human rights.
In response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, Budget 2025 included funding to strengthen the care systems in place to keep disabled people safe in a range of settings. This included the introduction of additional audits for DSS funded providers.
In August 2025, DSS issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Enhanced Audit Services external for a strategic audit partner to contribute to, and shape, an enhanced audit programme. DSS received a strong response, and we would like to acknowledge all those who submitted proposals.
Following a robust evaluation process, DSS identified KPMG as our preferred supplier. The KPMG team has a mix of audit experience, clinical capability, and knowledge of the disability sector.
KPMG will work with DSS to provide knowledge, tools and innovations that drive system improvement and better outcomes for disabled people.
The Royal Commission’s emphasis on lived experience, the voice of disabled people, their wellbeing and safeguarding, remain critical components of our assurance and improvement processes. KPMG’s proposal demonstrated their commitment to improving outcomes for disabled people and whānau and an inclusive approach to improving service quality.
Audits are important to establish where we are now, to address any critical issues, identify areas for improvement and share areas of best practice.
Over time audits will encompass all DSS contracted providers. However, our immediate priority will be to design, develop and implement the programme, with a focus on strengthening our understanding of service and care practices across community residential group homes. We want to ensure our enhanced audit measures are meaningful as well as being practical, achievable and measurable.
To ensure a smooth transition to this new programme, DSS is working with our existing audit and evaluation providers to ensure there is minimal disruption to our funded providers.
Find out more
For more information about our enhanced audit partner, go here.
DSS will host its next provider quality forum on Tuesday 10 February from 3-4pm. This will be an opportunity for us to provide further information, and for you to meet the KPMG team and ask any questions you may have.