State Services Commission
New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation Work Plan. 1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007
Introduction
The State Services Commissioner’s roles and responsibilities are described in section 6 of the State Sector Act. They include:
- appointing, reappointing and reviewing the performance of Public Service chief executives
- promoting and developing senior leadership and management capability for the Public Service
- providing advice on the training and career development of staff in the Public Service
- reviewing the performance of each department
- providing advice on the allocation of functions to and between departments and other agencies
- providing advice on management systems, structures and organisations in the Public Service and Crown entities
- promoting, developing and monitoring equal employment opportunities policies and programmes
- any other functions with respect to the administration and management of the Public Service as directed by the Prime Minister.
The State Services Commissioner’s mandate includes responsibility for setting standards of integrity and conduct within the State Services generally.
In addition the State Services Commission has been charged with providing leadership and management of Government’s overarching goal for the State Services and the six Development Goals which support it. The overarching goal is:
A world class professional State Services serving the government of the day and meeting the needs of New Zealanders.
This Implementation Plan sets out the outcomes that the State Services Commission is intending to achieve during 2006/07 to contribute to the New Zealand Disability Strategy. As requested, it describes new programmes or special projects the State Services Commission will be undertaking in 2006/07 to contribute to the desired outcomes of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. In addition, the State Services Commission will continue to make a contribution through a number of areas of its ongoing work programme. Significant among these are:
- The continuing provision of administrative support and management of the Mainstream Supported Employment Programme to place people with significant disabilities into created positions within the State Services. Over the course of the year, the programme aims to have at least 230 participants. Ongoing support to the programme provided by the State Services Commission Mainstream team will include running workshops for participants, supervisors and placement specialists and providing casework support.
- The ongoing work programme to develop and manage the all-of-government portal, www.govt.nz. The portal management team have an objective to ensure that more government information and services that are relevant to and accessible for people with disabilities are delivered via the internet. For example, under the heading Disabilities there are currently 27 relevant services. All portal redevelopment work on the portal will be undertaken within the context of meeting the objective of ensuring that information is organised to maximise accessibility for all New Zealanders.
Level 1 Activities: Universal responsiveness to disability issues
| Accessible government information | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency’s websites | ||||
| Meet e-government Web-Guidelines 2.1 | Yes | |||
| Tested for accessibility for disabled people | Yes | |||
| Adapted to increase accessibility to disabled people | Yes | |||
| Downloadable files available in HTML, not only PDF | Yes | |||
| Other publications and public information available in alternative formats. (eg key information available in easy-to-read English, Braille, NZSL video clips, captions on TV adverts, etc) | Yes | |||
| Agency makes available alternative forms of contact (ie phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc) | Yes | |||
| Accessible government buildings and sites | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All agency’s buildings and sites meet statutory and regulatory access requirements (eg NZS 4121) | Yes | |||
| Agency’s buildings and sites have Building Code compliance certification | Yes | |||
| Agency’s buildings and sites audited for accessibility by Barrier Free NZ Trust | Yes | |||
| Agency’s buildings and sites accessible | ||||
| Frontline staff receive training in disability responsiveness | Yes | |||
| Reception areas accessible | Yes | |||
| Counters lowered for wheelchair users | Yes | |||
| Telephone staff familiar with using NZ Relay service1 | ||||
| Other accommodations (please list) (eg signage, accessible lifts, hearing loops, etc) | ||||
| Accessible lifts | Yes | |||
| Accessible government services | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service policies and procedures include reference to disability issues (eg policies on the use of New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters) | Yes | ||
| Information / data on services provided to disabled people is recorded | Yes | ||
| Service staff receive disability responsiveness training | Yes | ||
| When contracting for new or up-graded IT applications and environments, contracts include a requirement to ensure accessibility by disabled users | Yes |
| Responsive government employment practices | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resource policies and procedures include EEO issues for disabled people | Yes | |||
| Recruitment and selection of vacancies responsive to disabled people (eg vacancies advertised to the widest possible audience, vacancies list alternative forms of contact – phone, fax, email, etc) | Yes | |||
| Human Resource staff familiar with EEO issues for disabled people (eg staff receive disability responsiveness training, staff familiar with the Disability Perspective Tool Kit2, etc) | Yes | |||
| Disabled staff are supported | ||||
| Individual assessments of workplace accommodations or support are provided (eg work station assessments) | Yes | |||
| Accommodations provided to disabled staff (eg work station adaptations, special equipment, New Zealand Sign Language interpreters, etc are provided) | Yes | |||
| Disabled staff provided with opportunities for career advancement | Yes | |||
| Agency supports a disabled staff network group | Yes | |||
| Internal agency newsletters promote the positive presence of disabled staff people | Yes | |||
| Other support provided to disabled staff (please list) | ||||
| Equipment relevant to disability is provided e.g. chairs, braille reader | Yes | |||
| Information and data on disabled people is collected | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information on agency’s responsiveness to disabled staff people | ||||
| Number of disabled people employed (we recommend you use the State Service Commission’s EEO disability information and definition of disability.) | Yes | |||
| Data on disability related accommodations, adaptive equipment, etc, provided by your agency | Yes | |||
| Number of disabled people employed under the State Service Commission’s ‘Mainstream programme’3. | Yes | |||
| Number of current employees previously employed under the ‘Mainstream Programme’. | Yes | |||
| Information on agency’s responsiveness to the disabled public | ||||
| Information and data on agency’s contact with the disabled public is recorded (eg consultation with disabled groups) | Yes | |||
| Information / data on agency’s disabled client group recorded | Yes | |||
Level 2 Activities: Disability perspective included in ordinary work
| Disability responsiveness training and resources | Planned this year | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| Disability responsiveness training offered to all staff | Yes | |
| Promotion of the Disability Perspective Tool Kit4 within your agency (eg this website resource distributed to policy and strategic personnel, receiving training or advice on the use of this resource, etc) |
Yes | |
| Other (please indicate) |
| Disability perspective included in ordinary work | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key documents to incorporate a disability perspective | |||
|
Yes | ||
|
Yes | ||
|
Yes | ||
|
Yes | ||
|
Yes | ||
|
|||
| Implementing the NZ Disability Strategy beyond your agency | Planned this year | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| Agencies, Crown Entities, boards, reference groups, etc, that your agency is responsible for are encouraged to consider disabled people and disability issues (eg staff / membership supports the inclusion of disabled people, compliance with level 1 activities is encouraged, your agency’s purchase agreements require compliance with the Disability Strategy, and where appropriate requires the provision of any data/information on disability issues/disabled clients) | Yes | |
| Other (please indicate) |
1. Mainstream Supported Employment Programme
Description
The Mainstream Supported Employment Programme facilitates the placement of people with significant disabilities into created positions within the State sector. This year the State Services Commission celebrates 30 years of Mainstream Programme provision. Promotional activities are underway and will conclude in October 2006. Specific events include:
- launching the celebrations with an employers’ breakfast at the State Services Commission
- facilitating six Disability Mentoring Days throughout New Zealand
- publishing a book and DVD about the provision of the Mainstream Programme over 30 years, and
- concluding the celebrations with the Mainstream Placement Awards.
Desired Outcome
To highlight the achievements of the Mainstream Programme over 30 years and to market the programme to employers and people who experience disability.
Outcome measures and timeframes
The timeframe for this programme is October 2005 to October 2006.
Links to Strategy objective and action
- Provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people (NZDS Objective 4).
- Encourage and educate for a non-disabling society (NZDS Objective 1).
2. Ensuring the Accessibility of Government Websites
Description
- The New Zealand Government Web Guidelines have been based on the international World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) technical standards. Technology standards continue to evolve and mature.
- The major focus of the Web Guidelines continues to be ensuring website content is accessible to all New Zealanders regardless of disability, use of the latest technology or the availability of fast Internet connections.
Desired Outcome
- A new version (V3.0) of the Web Guidelines will be published January 2007. Agency website content will continue to improve and become increasingly accessible.
Outcome measures and timeframes
- During 2006 we will review and update the NZ Web Guidelines based on the current W3C recommended technology standards where they are relevant to New Zealand .
- We will work with the Office for Disability Issues to commission an external accessibility audit of the mandated Government agencies websites in August/September 2006.
- Following a thorough consultation process we will publish V3.0 Web Guidelines by January 2007.
- We will work and support agencies as they seek to be compliant against V3.0 Web Guidelines by January 2008.
Links to Strategy objective and action
- Encourage and educate for a non-disabling society (NZDS Objective 1).
- Ensure rights for disabled people (NZDS Objective 2).
- Foster an aware and responsive Public Service (NZDS Objective 6).
1. For information on NZ Relay service
2. The Disability Perspective Tool Kit is available on the Office for Disability Issues’ website
3. Information on the State Service Commission’s Mainstream Programme
4. The Disability Perspective Tool Kit is available on the Office for Disability Issues’ website