Resources

Standards and Guidelines

Home and Community Support Sector Standard

Link to the Ministry of Health Auditing Requirements Document This publication outlines the requirements for conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that are auditing and certifying providers of home and community support services (HCSS) against Ngā paerewa Health and disability services standard (NZS 8134;2021).

Operational Impact Assessment Document, prepared as part of the 'Strengthening Quality Assurance Project.  This document considers the impact of the requirement for providers to meet the New Standard. (pdf 461kb)

HCHA Publications

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Review for Home and Community Care Provision (Dec 2020)

The Home and Community Health Association commissioned a leading New Zealand Occupational Medicine Specialist, Dr David Hartshorn, of Medicine at Work Ltd, to specifically review the activities of the Home and Community Support Sector and to prepare a discussion paper to address and discuss issues of infection control with particular reference to the appropriate utilisation of PPE.

EY Report (Nov 2019) : Recognising the Contribution of the Home and Community Support Sector to New Zealand

The Home and Community Health Association commissioned EY to produce a report: "Recognising the Contribution of the Home and Community Support Sector to New Zealand". This report identifies opportunities for the further development of the sector.

 Economic instability in the home support sector, Cause, effect, solution, need, value, April 2016

The HCHA produced a pre-budget 2016 paper about economic instability in the sector.

Deloitte Financial Review April 2015
The HCHA commissioned business specialists Deloitte to review the sector which concluded the current funding model is unsustainable. 

Sapere Report - Sapere Independent Report on Implementation of Guaranteed Hours, 2018.

Supporting People to Move at Home

HCHA and Carers NZ worked together to produce two resources.  The first is a 36-page brochure which offers tips and techniques to carers and support workers on how to assist someone to move at home.

• The brochure is available here: Supporting People to Move at Home

 Please note hard copies are no longer available to be ordered through the ACC website as the brochure is out of print.

• The other resource developed is: Supporting People to Move At Home- A Guide for Managers 

• WorkSafe also has guidance on their website- https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/health-and-safety-in-healthcare/moving-and-handling-people-in-the-healthcare-industry/#lf-doc-45981 

HCHA Briefing 2014  This publication set out the HCHA's expectations about the need for comprehensive changes to policy, planning and integration of home and community support services.

Making the Most of Home Support Services (NZHHA 2011) provides information on the home health sector, sets out NZHHA's position, and makes recommendations to support a sustainable and effective service.

A Sustainable, Cost  Effective Model for Older Persons' Home Based Health and Disability Services. NZHHA 2008.   Multiple and inconsistent purchasing arrangements between funders results in poor use of public resources. The NZHHA seeks greater consistency between all funders, including DHBs.   

Sector Resources

Home and Community Support Sector Complaints Categorisation Guidance

In 2011 the Office of the Auditor Generals' report on home based support noted that there are very few recorded complaints about services.  A recommendation was made for district health boards to work collaboratively with others to develop a complaints system for people to confidently raise any concerns about their services.

In response to this Ministry of Health worked with Home and community Service (HCSS) representatives to develop resources for Consumers that encourage older people to raise concerns/complaints.  In 2013/14 three DHB regions successfully piloted a standardised approach to categorising concerns and complaints when they are received by providers.

HCHA recommends that providers use this process to inform their quality management system.  Two documents are available:

Complaints Categorisation Guidance

HCSS Complaints Reporting template

The Ministry of Health published an information pack in 2013 to assist Home and Community Support service providers to receive and handle complaints effectively.  That resource is available at this link. 

There is also a brochure available:"What to do if you have a concern about your home support services".

Supporting Migrant and Employers of Migrants in Aged Care

Have a look at these guides for migrants and employers of migrants in Aged Care. 

Click on the image to find useful information and tips. 

The Immigration New Zealand Employer Guides are currently being reviewed and updated to reflect recent changes.

Revised guidance will be published to help employers understand their obligations, along with information for supporting new migrant settlement.

To order online click here.

What you can expect from home support services- Ministry of Health website

This page gives you information about:

• home support services
• how to involve family in your home support plan
• how to improve home support services
• how to raise a concern or complaint.

The brochure can be downloaded here.

Official Reports

Aged Care Commissioner Report

Amplifying the voices of older people across Aotearoa New Zealand (2024)

DG Reference Group Report (2015)

Towards Better Home and Community Support Services for All New Zealanders (Aug 2015)

Caring Counts (EEO, 2012) 

2012 Report by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner into the equal employment opportunity issues in the aged care workforce.

Home-based Support services for older people (OAG, 2011)

2011 Performance audit report by the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General, discussing how effectively the Ministry of Health and District health Boards are ensuring that, where appropriate, older people get the care and support they need to remain living independently at home.

Research and other reports

• Care and support in the community for older people (Ministry of Health issues paper 2007)
• ASPIRE Report (an evaluation of three significant ageing in place programmes)
• Quality and safety project (Ministry of Health)
• Meeting the Challenge: Enhancing Sustainability and the Patient and Consumer Experience within the Current Legislative Framework for Health and Disability Services in New Zealand, Report of the Ministerial Review Group, is also known as The Horn Report.
  Download the Horn Report.
• Care and Support in the Community Setting (Health Workforce Advisory Committee 2006)
  This paper covers workforce issues which continue to present a challenge to the sector