NATIONWIDE HEALTH AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY SERVICE

1996

The National Certificate in Health, Disability, and Aged Support

(Advocacy)(Level 5) (NZQA 1636)

NZQA QUALIFICATION

Reflections on the Qualification

Policy Statement“The National Advocacy Trust recognizes its

responsibility to enhance its employee opportunities to develop skills and abilities for full performance within their roles and career advancement” to that end ……

“The Trust is committed to promoting best practice and consistency of practice among Advocates in their employment”

Objectives of the Qualifications•The qualification recognizes the knowledge and skills required by Health and Disability Advocates pursuant to the Health and Disability Act 1994,

• To be effective in advocating for all health and disability consumers,

• To be effective in promoting consumers’ rights

• Facilitating the early resolution of complaints

• Establishing professional relationships with providers of H&D Services that will benefit consumers

• To advocate with Maori and people of other cultures and consumers who have impairments

Nelson

Gisborne

Turangi

Wanganui

Masterton Lower Hutt

South AucklandThames

Kaitaia

North Shore West Auckland

Dunedin

Timaru

Competencies

1. HDC Legislation 269522. Maori Competencies 269533. Interfacing Legislation 269544. Impairments 269555. Analyze The Code 269626. SB Practice 269567. Complaints Process 269578. Cultural Competencies 269589. Networking 2695910. Peer Review 2696011. Quality Improvement 2696112. Culturally Inclusive Learning

709113. Interactive Learning 709714. Positive Learning 711515. Records Management 7214

Relevant to our everyday work as Advocates

Based on prior knowledge

Reinforces what we do and consolidates what

we already know

• Evidence Based• Use own casework (ADS#)• Can use same cases • Complaints• Networks• Education sessions

For different assessments

Code of Rights Training

Provides deeper knowledge and understanding of the Act and the

Code

Clear linkage between theory and practice

You get to know your way around the • Contract Operating Manual• the HDC Act and the • Orientation Manual

Contract

Operating Orientatio

n

Competencies are not about

They recognize and acknowledge own practice – validates own practice as you need to use own case studies for assessments

Good opportunity to reflecton own practice

Good opportunity to look at ways of incorporating new Knowledge into practice

Opportunity to have a deeper understanding and quantify what it is we are doing and why we are doing it.

e.g. Assessment of Relevant Legislation NZQA 26954

Some are more challenging than others. You need to work out what works for you. Taking a couple of days in a block worked for me. Average time to prepare for each assessment until its completed is about 8 hours (more for some, less for others) everyone is different

They will require a significant amount of time and commitment. Some assessments require moretime than others e.g. MaoriCompetencies.

Can work at your pace.

You have 15 months to complete the assessments

Can cross credit the Education Assessments if

you have completed Certificate of Adult

Learning Credit

Support Available Tony Daly: available to talk through the assessments, clarify what’s required, and keeps you on track

Verifier Support:Te Puna Matauranga & Louise Grant (Maori Assessments)Gillian Adams & Kellie Dore (Disability Assessments)

Organization supports:advocates by enabling time to undertake the assessments.Application for study leave.

Other Advocates who have completed the standards

Other comments that Advocates have made about the

qualification

“I’m nearly there….”“A lot of gaps being filled in..”“Very happy with the progress and yes it certainly makes us read our manuals more thoroughly…”“Presentation/reflection was one of the main reasons that motivated me to join NZQA quals…” “ A great opportunity for personal development has given me more depth and understanding of my role and it’s importance”

When you join the service you commence the learning through orientation and in-service education and training. Assessment can commence after 15 months, but cannot be completed until after the 24 month annual review (the annual reviews are part of the evidence required for the standards).

Two advocates per team undertaking NZQA competencies at the moment (we still need to meet contractual outputs i.e. monthly targets).