New Zealand Customs Service
New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation Work Plan. 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006
1. Recruitment and Selection
Desired Outcome
The increased awareness of recruitment options and sources for recruitment of disabled people will lead to an increase in the recruitment of disabled people.
Description
To continue to work with and support Workbridge, or other recognised placement agencies, in identifying and appointing disabled people within the NZ Customs Service.
Ensure the Services recruitment and selection processes continue to be responsive to the needs of disabled people and do not contain barriers to their employment prospects.
Ensure that appointment panels consider the feasibility of vacant positions being filled by disabled people.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
As/where appropriate, advertise vacancies through disability networks and media.
Continue the relationships with Mainstream, Workbridge and others with a view to identifying placement opportunities with Customs. Ongoing.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people – actions 4.5, 4.8, 4.9, 4.12.
2. Workplace Support
Desired Outcome
Reduce or remove barriers in the workplace that would otherwise affect performance.
On going provision of resources and support for disabled staff to enable them to perform as well as their work colleagues.
Improve awareness and knowledge of building accessibility issues.
Description
Ensure the continuation of the provision of a supportive environment for people with significant impairments across the organisation by providing disability assistance such as:
- ergonomic workstations to reduce the incidence of OOS or prevent further aggravation of existing conditions
- Provision of OOS prevention and management software
Continue to make every effort to provide suitable and meaningful duties for disabled staff.
Ensure disabled staff are involved in the planning and implementation of disability projects.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Annually, provide a report on the number of staff with:
- known disabilities who are actively participating in the Service
- disability assistance devices installed or support initiatives that have been taken.
Ensure the provision of a management programme for all people with known disabilities to enable them to perform to their best ability and annually review practices against good employer and business objectives.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people – actions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.9, 4.11.
Foster an aware and responsive public service – action 6.3, 6.6.
3. Training and Development
Desired Outcome
As part of the Service’s Performance and Development programme for staff, ensure training and development opportunities are identified and implemented for disabled staff to assist them to perform to their potential.
Description
Continue to ensure that disabled staff are provided with appropriate training and development opportunities to assist them to perform to their potential and compete with others on an equal footing.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
The provision of training and development opportunities to assist disabled staff to perform to their potential and the removal of any potential barriers to promotion. Ongoing.
Report annually on the number of disabled staff who availed themselves of development opportunities provided by the Service and any ensuring outcomes.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people – actions 4.2, 4.5, 4.9.
4. Human Resource Policies
Desired Outcome
All staff have an increased understanding of EEO policies and procedures.
All staff understand the need to ensure the elimination of disability discrimination.
Staff and managers are aware of the rights of, and their obligations to, disabled people.
Description
Human Resources policies and procedures continue to be responsive and supportive of the needs of disabled people.
- Distribute information to Customs staff to raise disability awareness.
- Review whether there is a need for further in-house training on disability awareness and consider running courses according to the review findings.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Responsiveness and supportiveness of the current human resources policies, procedures and disability plans to be reviewed by organisations/networks representing disabled people by June 2005.
Ensure future human resources policies and procedures are presented for review and comment by organisations/networks representing disabled people before finalisation of same.
Ensure, as part of the Service’s biennial policy review programme, that the Service’s Code of Conduct remains consistent with the Human Rights Act 1993 and continues to be distributed to staff.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Encourage and educate for a non-disabling society – action 1.5.
Ensure rights for disabled people – actions 2.1, 2.2.
Provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people – actions 4.3, 4.9, 4.11.
Foster an aware and responsive public service – action 6.1.
5. Staff Induction
Desired Outcome
To ensure staff know how, if required, to best assist people with a mobility related disability and methods of relating to people with a speech or hearing disability.
All staff understand the issues relating to EEO including disability awareness.
Description
Ensure that induction courses continue to include a component on disability awareness and how that impacts on core business.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Effectiveness of the disability component of the induction course is annually reviewed by disabled staff and, as applicable, external disability consultants, to ensure it meets current needs.
Links to Strategy Objection and Action
Foster an awareness and responsive public service – action 6.2, 6.3.
6. Create Leadership Opportunities for Disabled People
Desired Outcome
Disabled staff have equal opportunity to attain senior management positions.
A better level of reporting ability when providing EEO reports both internally and to central agencies.
Description
Continue to foster leadership by disabled people and ensure that the Service’s Performance and Development programme provides development opportunities for disabled staff.
Undertake an enhancement of Customs Employee information System to enable additional levels of disability reporting so that:
- more accurate data can be produced on disabilities
- the appointment and promotion of disabled staff can be better monitored
- EEO disability trends can be better reported.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Progress in respect to promotion of staff with a disability will be reported annually as part of the Services agreement with the State Services Commission for attainment of EEO Targets to 2010.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Foster leadership by disabled people – actions 5.1, 5.4.
Collect and use relevant information about disabled people and disability issues – actions 10.4, 10.5.
7. Web Site
Desired Outcome
All information on the site is accessible to disabled people.
Disabled people are able to navigate the website independently.
Description
Maintain navigational aids that make it easier for a blind person’s text reader to interpret.
Continue provision of descriptive alt tags on graphic elements.
Continue to provide documents in a format that is printer friendly.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Review the web site for accessibility and user friendliness in consultation with disabled people and modify in accordance with the feedback received. Ongoing.
Web site to conform with e-government June 2006 mandatory recommendations.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Foster an aware and responsive public service – actions 6.4, 6.5.
8. Communication
Desired Outcome
Customs information is accessible to all New Zealanders.
Description
All Public consultation documents and final reports are made available in accessible and alternative formats.
Public and relevant agencies advised that publications are available in accessible and alternative format.
Ensure reception areas are accessible by a designation fax line that is included on the lists of contact numbers for the department.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Continue to ensure all Public consultation documents and final reports are made available in accessible and alternative formats.
Ensure that publicly available information is available in plain language that will assist people with intellectual disabilities to understand the document.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Foster an aware and responsive public service – action 6.5.
9. Policy, Legislation, Service Development and Delivery
Desired Outcome
All policy, legislation, service development and delivery reflect the principles of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
Staff will be more aware of the needs of disabled people.
Selected staff will be more able to communicate effectively with people who use sign language.
Description
Customs will continue to ensure that its policy and legislation, is consistent with the objectives of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
Customs will work with other Government border agencies to ensure consistency in the area of service development and delivery, especially in respect to the way disabled people are processed at the border.
Customs will also investigate the demand for, and where appropriate arrange the delivery of, sign language training for a range of staff to ensure the Service has the capacity to communicate effectively with people who predominately communicate using sign language.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
All future strategies and final reports will continue to consider the needs of disabled people where applicable. Ongoing.
The number of occasions where sign language is required to communicate with customers will be recorded and reported.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Foster an aware and responsive public service – actions 6.1, 6.2, 6.5.
10. Office and Other Building Accommodation
Desired Outcome
Disabled clients and staff will have access to buildings and be able to fully utilise building facilities.
Description
Customs will continue to take all practicable steps to ensure that its buildings are accessible to disabled people.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Customs will continue to ensure all new accommodation or changes to current accommodation comply with the New Zealand Access Standard 4121. Ongoing.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Foster an aware and responsive public service – action 6.6.
11. Emergency Preparedness
Desired Outcome
Ensure designated staff are competent to cope with the needs of disabled people during an emergency.
Description
First aid staff and building wardens continue to be trained on how to assist disabled staff and disabled visitors or clients during an emergency.
Outcome Measures and Timeframes
Evacuation wardens will continue to be provided with guidelines and instruction on procedures that ensure, in the event of an emergency, the safe evacuation of disabled people.
Trained staff are able to assist disabled staff and visitors in fire drills and emergencies. Ongoing.
Links to Strategy Objective and Action
Foster an aware and responsive public service – action 6.1.