Disability in New Zealand

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Structure of Disability Services

Disability Services, part of the Health and Disability National Services Directorate which is headed by Deputy Director-General Geraldine Woods, has a number of teams:

• The Business Support Team
• The Operations Team
• The Planning and Development Team
• The Quality and Audit Team
• IDCC&R Team
• Māori Service Development

View organisational chart for Disability Services

Geraldine Woods is the DDG Health and Disability National Services. She is responsible for allocating the funding provided to the Directorate from Vote: Health to get maximum benefit for disabled people who meet the Directorate’s eligibility criteria. Geraldine reports to both the Director-General of Health and the Minister of Health.

The Business Support Team manages the Disability Services budget and information systems. It is also responsible for the administrative and technical management of service contracts and operational policy development.

The Operations Team works closely with local disability service providers to ensure quality support services are available for those who need them. The team oversees the management of local contracts and provision of services. It is also involved with the development of special projects at a national level and works closely with the other teams.

The Planning and Development Team manages and supports the strategic direction of the Disability Services by researching and evaluating current practice, and effectively promoting ongoing service development/improvement through ongoing and new projects.

The Quality and Audit Team works with the disability community and Ministry-funded providers to ensure quality support services are provided to service users. This includes planning and managing the annual audit programme and dealing with any complaints received. The team also has responsibility for implementing and monitoring internal processes and systems.

The Chief Advisor and Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act Team manages the administration of the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act, 2003 (IDCC&R Act). It manages the appointment of statutory officers and appraises their performance, guidelines and operational procedures. They liaise with other agencies such as Justice, Corrections and the Police.

The Māori Development Manager manages strategic projects and advises teams on how Māori can participate in all the Directorates activities including oversight of policy, planning, business support, quality improvement and access to services funded by the Ministry of Health.



Page last updated: 5 September 2007