Mission

Supporting people through quality care

E tautoko ana i Nga Tangata ma te tiaki kounga

Vision and Values

Our vision is for the South Canterbury community to be strong, vibrant, safe and healthy.  This vision will be achieved when children, young people, families and adults regardless of
age live a safe, productive and meaningful life built on mutual respect and trust, clear in the knowledge that people will work together to support each other and reach their full potential.
We aim to be one of South Canterbury’s leading providers of social services and we will work tirelessly to achieve our mission and vision which are the foundation stones of our recognised
philosophies:
• “The Eden Alternative” for residential services and;
• “Powerful Families” for children, young persons, adults and their family’s services.
• Restorative focus for Community Based Services
The Eden Alternative Philosophy focuses our work in residential care on the elimination of loneliness, helplessness and boredom from the lives of people, both young and old by helping to create a community where residents can live empowered, meaningful and spontaneous lives through close and continuing contact with people, plants, animals and children.  While our aligned ‘Powerful Families” philosophy guides Family Works to deliver services based on the understanding that we want all children, adults and families to flourish, so we work to support them and to champion their cause in our communities.

The organisation contains a number of services within the overall suite of services that are not accredited against the Eden Alternative or Powerful Families philosophy principles. However, it is recognised that the core driver of all of our services is the empowerment of client’s and resident’s to live safe, productive and meaningful lives, regardless of which service they choose. It is this focus that provides the consistency across philosophies and services and the alignment with our mission and vision.

The core values and beliefs that underpin our work and service to the people of South Canterbury derive from our history and heritage – ”Supporting people through quality care ”.

• We believe in:
  • Christian Love                      Aroha Karaitiana
  • Caring                                  Manaakitanga
  • Respect                                Manaaki
  • Empowerment                     Whakamanatanga
  • Equity                                  Oritetanga
  • Partnership                          Mahi Ngatahi
  • Participation                        Whai Wahitanga
  • Protection                           Arai
  • Enduring Stewardship        Whakaputunga

We also believe that all people who choose Presbyterian Support South Canterbury services are entitled to expect support that is professional, best practice and appropriately person-centered within an environment that promotes independence and choice as a fundamental right.

Each person has a unique identity with their own individual spiritual and cultural beliefs, and we believe that providing high quality care includes sharing information openly and encouraging people (including family/whanau if appropriate) to actively participate in making decisions about their care, offering freedom of choice and informed consent.

To achieve our vision and philosophy:
• We recognise that the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom account for the bulk of suffering amongst residential residents and we will actively work with them to     eliminate the plagues from their home.
• We want all children to flourish, so we will work to support them and their families and champion their cause in our communities.
• We will provide client focused flexible and integrated restorative community-based services that support people to live their lives to the full; irrespective of where they choose to live,     their age, frailty and disability.
• We will listen carefully to the needs of our residents, clients and their families and we will ensure they actively participate in and take responsibility for decisions surrounding their care.
• Promote opportunities for spiritual and cultural fulfilment that demonstrate that individual spiritual and cultural beliefs are accepted and celebrated without prejudice.
• We will listen carefully to and consult with our community, our staff, our volunteers, our supporters and our service partners to ensure their feedback to us is heard and acted on.
• We will ensure the quality of our services is of the highest standard and that it does not impinge on the ability of residents and clients to live a daily life that is filled with variety,   spontaneity and loving companionship.
• We will strive to be good employers, valuing our staff and our volunteers and encouraging their personal and professional development and wellbeing.
• We will seek to recruit and retain qualified and highly competent staff whose personal life philosophies are aligned to those of the organisation.
• We will strive to be good managers of our resources and finances ensuring we are efficient, effective and prudent in all we do. We will encourage a culture of wise leadership, innovation,
accountability and performance.
• We will work with residents to ensure the physical environment enhances their lives and is appropriate to their physical, social, spiritual and medical needs.
• We will work enthusiastically and co-operatively in partnership with others to advocate for the lives of all people.

And in everything we do we will not forget our history and heritage as a Christian-based organisation committed to serving our residents, clients and the community.

(page updated Jan 2023)