Disability in New Zealand

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Workforce Development

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Workforce Development

The ASD Workforce Development Project began as one of many initiatives under the Child Youth and Family (CYF) Blueprint Investment Strategy, which was completed in June 2008. Following publication of the NZ Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline in April 2008, workforce development initiatives were incorporated into the guideline’s implementation. Vote:Health has allocated $15 million over three years to implement Guideline recommendations to improve Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services for people in New Zealand.

Workforce development initiatives currently focus on improving service co-ordination and developing ASD related competencies. Workforce development contracts have been established with Autism New Zealand, Needs Assessment & Service Coordination Association, NZ Guidelines Group and the Werry Centre.

Contact
Pamela Henry, Development Manager, on 09 580 9028 or by email at pamela_henry@moh.govt.nz.

Disability Support Services (DSS) Workforce Action Plan

Background
The DSS Workforce Action Plan (Action Plan) has been developed to support implementation of the ‘New Zealand Disability Strategy’ with a particular focus on choice and frontline disability services and improving individual quality of life for consumers. A cross-sector strategic reference group was formed in 2008 to provide advice to the Ministry while the Action Plan was being developed. The Action Plan will provide training paths for the disability support workforce that align to training frameworks being developed across the wider health and disability sector.

Workforce Action Plan
This action plan will guide workforce development initiatives funded by Disability Support Services from 2009 to 2014. A copy of the Action Plan can be requested from the workforce programme manager, Rob Gill.

Contact
Rob Gill, Workforce Development Programme Manager, on (09) 580 9111 or by email at Rob_Gill@moh.govt.nz

Home and Community Support Services Workforce Development

Background
The Home Based Support Services (HBSS) Training Initiative, which finished in 2007, set up and tested an assessment and training framework, in foundation skills for home based support workers, throughout New Zealand. A variety of organisations contributed to the planning, governance and implementation of the project including Careerforce (Community Support Services ITO), the NZ Home Health Association, providers, consumers, unions, District Health Boards of New Zealand, District Health Boards, and ACC.

The HBSS Training Initiative achieved its goals to:

Develop and support the implementation of training and assessment for HBSS support workers to attain the National Certificate in Community Support (Foundation Skills)
Test the training and assessment infrastructure and processes for HBSS support workers to attain the National Certificate in Community Support (Foundation Skills)
Boost foundation level training of support workers in the HBSS sector.

An independent evaluation found the training programme was useful and well-organised, and that support workers, employers, and the sector in general found it valuable. View the independent evaluation - Evaluation of the Home Based Support Service (HBSS) Training Initiative.

2008 initiative to strengthen training infrastructure within organisations providing Home and Community Support Services
This initiative was a direct response to the evaluator’s recommendations about training sustainability and is based on advice provided by the project’s reference group. In 2008 funding was allocated, through contracts with 12 providers, to the home and community support service sector to develop and improve training in the workplace. The objective was to enable support workers to gain a National Certificate in Community Support as an intermediate outcome to improve the quality of home and community support services.

The initiative focused on (in order of priority):

Providers’ ability to incorporate training in their quality assurance system
Boosting the providers’ supervisory staff members with the National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 4)
Enabling support workers to progress to the National Certificate in Community Support - Core Competencies (Level 3) if they already hold the National Certificate in Community Support Foundation Skills (Level 2), in order to strengthen workplace infrastructure and increase the future pool of people eligible to be trained as workplace assessors and verifiers
Supporting providers who do not currently have the internal resources or ability to develop a workplace learning and assessment programme but wish to look at options available and develop possible partnerships.

Providers were encouraged to approach the New Zealand Home Health Association to discuss options and receive advice. Final reports from the initiative will be analysed during September 2009.

Community Residential Services (Intellectual or Physical Disability) Leadership Development

Background
Consultation with sector representatives between 2006 and 2008 confirmed the need for a scheme to support leadership development for emerging leaders within the workforce. Leadership development features in recommendation 23 of the 2003 report To Have an ‘Ordinary’ Life published by the National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability.

Overview of the Scheme
This project developed and implemented a leadership development scheme, between June 2008 and July 2009. Eligible organisations were invited to submit proposals for funding to allow people identified by their organisation as leaders or emerging leaders to take part in training, courses or programmes that the organisation considered would develop and improve their leadership skills.

Objective of the Scheme
The objective of the scheme was to strengthen leadership in the intellectual and physical disability sectors, which will ultimately benefit services provided to adults with intellectual disability and/or physical disability and strengthen the workforce. Providers submitting a proposal were asked to identify how they consider doing leadership training will benefit their organisation and the services provided to their clients.

Funding has been provisionally allocated for the Scheme to continue again in 2009 and 2010.

Contact
If you would like more information please contact: Rob Gill, Ministry of Health on 09 580 9111 or Rob_Gill@moh.govt.nz

Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) Workforce Development

Graduate qualification

Background
The need for a graduate level qualification for the disability NASC workforce was identified when other NASC developments were being planned in 2005. In 2007, the NASC association (NASCA) completed a survey of the current workforce to look at what qualifications were held by workers and their intentions to gain more qualifications. Results from the NASCA survey were used by the Ministry of Health to plan a Request for Proposals (RFP) process.

An RFP was announced in December 2007, to develop a Graduate Diploma in Disability Support Assessment, Planning, and Coordination. The Graduate Diploma is the next step after the National Certificate/Diploma in Disability Support Assessment, Planning, and Coordination (Level 5) that Careerforce (Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation) developed with the disability sector.

The Graduate Diploma in Education (Disability Support)
Auckland Uniservices Limited has been contracted by the Ministry of Health to develop and deliver the diploma. The diploma is an award of the University of Auckland that is delivered through the Faculty of Education.

This is a new qualification that has been offered since March 2009. The Ministry of Health is funding 40 places (20 starting in 2009 and another 20 starting in 2010) for eligible NASC employees. The curriculum is consistent with NASC standards and specifications, relevant to Māori and Pacific peoples, and students can participate from throughout New Zealand.

Students will be experienced NASC workers or professionals in a similar field of work with at least 2 years relevant industry experience. The qualification will require up to 18 hours of study per week during semester time including the supervised professional placements which make up half of the learning programme.

The Diploma is 120 credits at level 7 on the NZ Qualifications Framework. The programme is part-time over 2 years and includes professional placements in NASC organisations approved by the Ministry of Health, supervised by regional professional supervisors.

Students must have either an approved undergraduate qualification, or a health or disability professional qualification and two years’ relevant work experience, or at least five years’ relevant work experience. Ministry funding requires that students are employed at 0.5FTE or more in a disability NASC.

Undergraduate qualification
Careerforce has developed the National Certificate in Disability Support Assessment Planning and Coordination (Level 5) in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the sector. This new qualification has approval from the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA).

The New Zealand Needs Assessment and Service coordination Association (NASCA) has surveyed its member organisations to determine demand for the qualification so that delivery methods could be confirmed. The new qualification will be available from 15 September 2009 in accessible formats that make the most of a combination of learning possibilities.

Contact
If you would like more information please contact: Rob Gill, Ministry of Health on 09 580 9111 or Rob_Gill@moh.govt.nz

Proposed Initiatives for 2009/10

National Training Coordination Service and Training Grant Scheme
Supporting uptake of new NZQA qualifications designed specifically for the disability workforce and improving local and regional training delivery methods with emphasis on training for Māori, Pacific peoples and support workers in rural areas.

Consumer Training and Leadership Fund
Training for people with disabilities to better manage their own support services and their own resources.

Leadership Development Scheme
Reproducing sector led leadership initiatives that have been successfully used to build leadership capability.

Graduate Diploma in Education (Disability Support)
A new qualification for needs assessors, service coordinators and case managers.

National Certificate Disability Support Assessment Planning and Coordination (Level 5)
A new entry level qualification for needs assessors, service coordinators and case managers.

Carers Strategy Actions
Updating informal carer training programmes to better reflect the needs of carers and improve access to relief carers.

Lu'i Ola Workforce Project
Developing and testing interagency Pacific disability awareness training as part of the Lu'i Ola Auckland Pacific Plan.

Page last updated: 1 September 2009