In the over 20 years I have been involved with vocational programs for people who have a disability there have been many changes in emphasis and direction and, in attempts to meet these, a wide range of demands placed upon service providers.
These shifts have required a diversion of funds and while some have been fairly cheap in compliance, others have been tremendously expensive. The present trend is to move specialist employment agencies such as NOVA towards the generalist Job Network’s model of quality measurement, the Star Rating System. To get there we are being asked to achieve several Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).
It’s not the place of this document to make comment on either the present KPI’s or the Star Rating System. However it should be stated that it is the author’s belief that the ignorance and imperatives that drive them are presently reducing the number of options available to people who have a disability and pose a genuine risk to the future of specialist employment services across Australia.
If I have a hope it is that the values collectively held dear by those dinosaurs that remain committed to open and supported employment will eventually overcome these present trends as they have past errors.
What then are those values?
They are the values of choice and control, of participation and integration, of the intrinsic value of each person and their individual right to participate in employment with and within the rest of Australian society.
At NOVA Employment we believe absolutely that:
1. Each person and every member of Australian society has an intrinsic right to employment: It doesn’t matter how ‘disabled’ the individual is, or the nature of their disability, every person has both the capability and the right to work.
2. Each person that comes to us has primacy in their choices for employment, in the services they receive and the level of support that is provided to them. We believe choosing your job is the first step to enjoying your job.
3. Career satisfaction is dependent upon control, determining an appropriate level of assistance and support to maintain employment is a pre-requisite for long term job retention.
4. We believe that this employment should be within the community in which the person lives, in a normal business with wages and entitlements equal to non-disabled co-workers employed in the same position and carrying out the same work.
5. Service providers must look at aspiration and ability first and focus on individual strengths and skills rather than classifying options on the basis of impairment or deficit.
6. Integration into the social fabric of a workplace is a vital accompaniment to employment and that services should ensure such support as part of their vocational programs. And finally,
7. We believe that, since traditional employment services have largely failed people with disability, NOVA must adapt and change the methods it uses to meet each persons needs rather than impose a system of product upon service users.
These are the values that underpin our service delivery.
These values were with us before ‘Stars’ and artificial KPI’s.
These values are more noble than compliance checks and audits - they transcend such. These values were with us before the Disability Service Standards and while the Standards might compliment our values, it is our values that will ensure our success.
These are the values that sit well with us and that we believe are right for the people who access our services. They'll be with us after 'Stars' and holding to them is the best 'KPI' we could ever give.
Would you like a face-to-face meeting with Martin via Skype? Click the button below to make an appointment
Subscribe to this Blog - blog.novaemployment.com.au Copy the link above and paste it into your favourite Reader to subscribe to an RSS feed of this blog. To watch a short video explanation of RSS and how it helps you save time reading the web click here
Your Comments There are currently no comments on this article
Previous Posts
Whats wrong with Employment Services II? What's wrong with Employment Services II
My mum used to frequently admonish my brothers and I with the words, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again'....
Whats wrong with Employment Services? There's rumours of a shake-up in the Job Active program - word is, the program isn't making a real difference and employers don't like it!
There's plenty of evidence to suggest that, despite the best intent of Government and funding body, the Disability Employment Service (DES) is similarly in the doldrums....
I need you! Comrades
NOVA needs you - we are very keen to enlist new members of our organisation.
Here's what you need: the patience of Job, the strength of the Hulk, the wisdom of Solomon and a selfless devotion caring for the needs of others worthy of Mother Teresa....
Tragic Loss People with Disability lost a true champion last Wednesday with the unexpected passing of a truly great man, the Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion Australia and a dear friend Mr Paul Cain....
Fair Warning
I'm giving fair warning of my intention to expose examples of the current DES-ESS contract's exploitation.
I have written to the Commonwealth expressing my concerns about clear manipulation of the present contract....
Fundamentals
The new contract for Disability Employment Services (DES) will not bring performance improvement.
Government will scratch it's head, blame the economy, blame people with disability, talk about educating employers and spend money on consultations before coming to the conclusion that people with disability must meet more stringent 'mutual obligations'....
100%
Each year, around about the International Day of People with a Disability (IDPwD) NOVA Employment holds a formal graduation for students that have participated in our pre-employment programs....
Profiting from poverty
Profiting from Poverty
I am genuinely horrified by this disaster: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/02/the-demerit-system-is-ruthless-social-policy-designed-to-keep-the-poor-powerless
I believe that we presently represent the job hopes of around 1500 people, in various stages of their progression to independent employment....
New Contract but no change!
New Contract but no change!
Today marks the first day of a new Disability Employment Service (DES) contract.
There are new players and new rules....
Administrative Overload
'It's nice to be busy' and 'busy is better than idle' and all of my mum's other sayings about work being good for you, and all of them said; we're drowning!
The administrative burden of a new Disability Employment Service contract (starts July 1st) and the mountains of paperwork required for an NDIS dollar (approximately 10X that of the former TTW program) has seen us add 3 extra staff to the admin team and we are still receiving a large volume of enquiries that are causing us some time delay in getting back to folk....
Podcasts I've been learning all about Podcasts (I suspect that this may be a long road!)
However, getting paid to be inspired is not the worst way to spend a Monday afternoon and that is just how my day has gone....
Lucky Lucky
I am truly fortunate to work with the very best people in this great nation and we are truly lucky to be part of the best short film festival this side of anywhere!
"Focusonability" voting starts today and there is an even larger number of films (287) than last year....
On the money Sometime over the next week a new Disability Employment Service contract will be announced.
We are moving into a new world of greater consumer choice and greater mobility of job seekers....
Making a tough job tougher!
Making a tough job tougher
It isnt easy to get a decent job and its harder to do so if you have a disability.
NOVA employs around 190 people, an effective and experienced team who are able to draw upon a staff of highly skilled trainers and a support program honed over almost 30 years and tens of thousands of participants....
Your Work There was never any doubt in my mind that I would work. My dad told me I would work and there wasn't ever a suggestion that my future held an alternative option....
Not so bad! Taken from: Today's Guardian at 4.09pm Tuesday 7th November 2017:
www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jun/23/russia-and-the-us-have-the-worst-employment-gaps-for-disabled-people
In a world full of discouragement there’s always a space for good news....
Informed Choice
The NDIS mantra is 'choice and control'
To be valuable, choice needs to be informed.
Since 2010:
Average Sydney Disability Employment Services placement rates are 34....
Hard Job
It's voting time at "Focusonability" - with a record number of films entered, a tremendous effort by more than 100 High Schools and 19 countries competing in the International section it was always going to be a hard job to pick a winner....
Choice & Control
The NDIS slogans around choice and control demonstrate the importance of consumer involvement in both the choice and control of supports they need.
However, in order to be valuable, choice needs to be informed by accurate data such is this: http://www....
Belfast
Last week (14-16) it was my privilege to attend the 1st World Supported Employment Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
"Employment for All - A Global Perspective" brought workers from around the globe (primarily Europe) to discuss best practice in supported employment....
Subscribe to this Blog