Expected behaviours for DSS staff and providers

• We act according to good quality management principles
• we uphold the rights of disabled people
• we are responsive
• we treat all parties fairly
• we are accountable for what we do
• we learn and improve.

Our work is underpinned by our obligations to Te Tiriti o Waitangi:

• Kawanatanga – partnering and shared decision making: We work together to improve the quality of disability supports and safeguard tāngata whaikaha Māori.
• Tino rangatiratanga – self-determination: We enable tāngata whaikaha Māori me ō rātou whānau to have greater choice and control over their lives and the things of importance to them.
• Ōritetanga – we ensure our approach is equitable for Māori and ensure our safeguarding and quality systems and processes are culturally responsive and anti-discriminatory.
• Wairuatanga – we acknowledge the importance of cultural and faith-based values and beliefs in people’s lives. 

We act in line with the EGL principles:

• Self-determination: we respect the choices disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori make about the quality of their support and their safety.
• Beginning early: we respond and act quickly to quality and safeguarding concerns.
• Easy to use: we ensure accessibility of the quality and safeguarding processes.
• Person centred: we seek out and value the perspectives and rangatiratanga of disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori.
• Ordinary life outcomes: we support disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori to live their good life.
• Mainstream first: quality and safeguarding concerns are managed by the right organisation (including police and family violence organisations).
• Mana enhancing: we treat quality and safeguarding concerns seriously. We value the mana of the person/people we engage with.
• Relationship building: we build trusting relationships with all parties to achieve a successful resolution of quality and safeguarding concerns, and aim to restore relationships.