The latest newsletter | pānui from the Crown Response Office external includes information about a second package of workforce safeguarding capability building initiatives in response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry.
This includes Government funding for a new Disability Support Services (DSS) led initiative to support capability building for disability care and support workers in community residential group homes.
“This initiative will enable us to lead work to develop and implement a programme that ensures workers can better recognise any signs of medical deterioration in disabled people, and take timely, appropriate action to prevent harm,” says Sara Chester, DSS Clinical Lead.
“We know that all New Zealanders, including disabled people are living longer, but many disabled people are living their later years in poorer health, primarily driven by long-term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Disabled people living in community residential homes are often those with the greatest clinical need, and at risk of deteriorating health.
“So, it is critical that care and support workers can recognise early signs of deteriorating health and understand how to take timely and appropriate action.
“This initiative will support about 6,000 disabled people living in DSS-funded Community Group Homes to be safer, by upskilling approximately 13,500 care and support workers,” says Sara.
“It sits alongside a broader range of work we are doing with providers to improve how we prevent, identify, and respond to any concerns or reports of violence, abuse, or neglect.
This includes work on additional workforce safeguarding capability initiatives, introducing the enhanced audit programme, improvements to our quality management system, and a project to support providers with their care records management.
More here: DSS to progress workforce safeguarding capability initiatives | Disability Support Services external