Productivity Commission invites submissions in inquiry into social services


Mon 13 Oct 2014

The Productivity Commission has invited submissions to its inquiry into improving outcomes from social services. The due date for submissions ...

The Productivity Commission has invited submissions to its inquiry into improving outcomes from social services. The due date for submissions has been extended to 2 December 2014.

The Commission has released an issues paper. This outlines the inquiry's background, the Commission's intended approach, and the questions on which they seek comment and information.

The Commission says:

"The Commission has been asked to look at ways to improve how government agencies commission and purchase social services. This will include how agencies identify the needs of people who use the services, how they choose organisations to provide the services, and how the contracts between agencies and organisations work.

The inquiry aims to shed light on how commissioning and purchasing influence the quality and effectiveness of social services, and suggest measures government agencies and others could take to promote better outcomes in the future. The inquiry will conduct case studies on employment services, Whānau Ora, services for people with disabilities, and home-based care of older people."

In the next two months, the Commission will be attending a number of conferences and meetings as well as visiting different regions to conduct research for the inquiry case studies.

For background information, see previous NZFVC news story, Productivity Commission to investigate improving the delivery of public services.

Inquiry timeline:

Due date for submissions on Issues paper  -  18 November 2014

Draft report released for submissions  -  March 2015

Final report due to Government  -  30 June 2015

Update: The Commission recieved 134 submissions on the issues paper. The draft report will be released at the end of April 2015, followed by an 8 week submission period.

Media:

Sweeping changes for social services, Community Scoop, 12.04.2015

A radical shift, Opinion: Rod Oram, Stuff, 12.10.14

Whanau Ora in productivity study, Waatea News, 08.10.14

More effective social services: Commission seeks views, Press Release: Productivity Commission, 07.10.14

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