Spectrum Care respite support options welcomed into Wgtn

Spectrum Care respite support options welcomed into Wellington

A whakatau was held on Thursday 13 July to commemorate the handing over of two residential respite support houses in Porirua and Lower Hutt to disability support provider Spectrum Care

Held at Pataka Museum in Porirua, the event was well attended by families and supported individuals, as well as sector and government representatives.

Chief Operating Officer of IDEA Services Janine Stewart gifted Spectrum Care a taonga to represent the family focus of our respite support and paid tribute to the long history with Spectrum Care Chief Executive Sean Stowers, commenting that it was fitting Spectrum Care had taken over from IDEA Services and was continuing to support families.

Paul Moles, Service Leader at Wellington Needs Assessment and Service Coordination agency Capital Support also reflected this positivity, noting that it was "...exciting to be able to ensure ongoing provision of such critical services, that help keep families/whanau together and support their loved ones.”

Group Manager of the Ministry of Health's Disability Support Services Toni Atkinson acknowledged both IDEA Services and Spectrum Care. "It's been a process of transition," said Ms Atkinson. "But we all kept in mind what we wanted to achieve, which was continuity of service for the people who use these services and their families.

"The Ministry understands how important respite is to families and the people who use our services. Reflecting this, we've recently completed our respite strategy and we're now working with the sector to get feedback about what it looks like and what it should be going forward."

Continuity of service was also a key focus for Spectrum Care’s Chief Executive Sean Stowers. “Our presence in the Wellington region offers the opportunity for a partnership-based approach in providing a range of valuable new support options to people with disabilities and their families,” said Mr Stowers.

Spectrum Care is an independent charitable trust that provides support for children, young people and adults with disabilities and their families, and the recipient of two international Business Excellence awards.

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