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 Kaitaia West Auckland North Shore Thames South Auckland Gisborne Turangi Wanganui Lower Hutt Masterton Nelson Timaru Dunedin

Competencies HDC Legislation 26952 Maori Competencies 26953 Interfacing Legislation 26954 Impairments 26955 Analyze The Code 26962 SB Practice 26956 Complaints Process 26957 Cultural Competencies 26958 Networking 26959 Peer Review 26960 Quality Improvement 26961 Culturally Inclusive Learning 7091 Interactive Learning 7097 Positive Learning 7115 Records Management 7214 Competencies

Relevant to our everyday work as Advocates Based on prior knowledge Reinforces what we do and consolidates what we already know

Code of Rights Training 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 Orientation

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 reflect on 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

They will require a significant amount of time and commitment. Some assessments require more time than others e.g. Maori Competencies. 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

You have 15 months to complete the assessments 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

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).