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Working it out: An introduction to the RNZFB Employment Service

Read this brochure online (below) or follow the links to download it in a range of formats:

www.rnzfb.org.nz/employmentservices

Ph 0800 24 33 33

Cover photo: RNZFB member Steven Donnelly using a computer.

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Welcome to the RNZFB Employment Service

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) Employment Service is for members who are looking for a job or who are looking for support to keep the job they're already in.

The Employment Service is a registered member of the Association for Supported Employment in New Zealand (ASENZ) and is funded by the Ministry of Social Development.

Our Employment Consultants (EC's) provide the service across the country.

1. Criteria for Services

To get Employment Service support, members must:

want to work
be of working age (16 – 65 years of age) and have left school
be New Zealand citizens or hold relevant residency and working permits

2. Referrals to the Service

Most people access the RNZFB Employment Service directly. To do this, contact your local Service Manager. They will make a referral to the EC who covers your region. To find out who your local Service Manager is, call the RNZFB information line on 0800 24 33 33. The Service Manager can also tell you about other RNZFB services that you might like to take advantage of.

Once a referral has been made, your EC will contact you. Often there is a waiting list for this service and this will affect how long this takes. Priority is given to those whose job is in jeopardy or who are about to start a new job.

Referrals can also come from sources like family/whānau, Workbridge, WINZ, and other RNZFB staff. If you are an ACC client your case worker will need to make a referral to the service. They will then negotiate payment for the service.

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3. The First Steps

Your EC will contact you to introduce themself, answer any initial questions you may have and make a time to meet with you in person. You will usually be expected to come into your local RNZFB office to meet with the EC. However, there are some circumstances where the EC will come to your home or another place that is more suitable to your situation. You can agree this prior to your first meeting.

You can expect your first meeting to take between one and one and a half hours.

Vocational Assessment

At your first meeting your EC will explain the Employment Service in-depth, including giving you information that will help you set your vocational goals and starting a Vocational Assessment.

A Vocational Assessment is basically a discussion and series of questions aimed at finding out your goals, skills, strengths, employment and education history, and cultural background. It also identifies any barriers you may have to gaining employment.

The assessment helps us to work out what steps you need to take before looking for a job, and will include an evaluation of your adaptive technology, mobility and communication skills, as well as your presentation and level of work awareness. If there are any issues that may impact on your ability to get a job, referrals may be made to additional RNZFB services.

Ministry of Social Development (MSD)

The RNZFB Employment Service is funded by the MSD to support our members into open employment. This means that we are obliged to supply them with your Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) number to prove that we are working with you. We are also required to give them your employment details. It is necessary for your EC to act legally and responsibly regarding benefit entitlements.

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As part of our contract with the MSD, the RNZFB Employment Service is audited by an independent body that reviews our performance. You may be contacted as part of that process.

Employment Information Release

To provide an effective service, we may need to speak to other people or agencies that you are working with, such as WINZ or Workbridge. When you first meet your EC, you'll be asked to identify any people or agencies that may be relevant for the EC to contact. The Privacy Act 1993 requires us to get your permission to share and receive information about you with other parties, so you'll also be asked to sign a privacy release form giving us permission to do so. Your EC will only discuss matters that are relevant to supporting you in your job search. The privacy release form also asks you to confirm that you will inform WINZ of any change in your employment status and that you are legally entitled to work in New Zealand.

Criminal Convictions

We must know about any criminal convictions you may have so that we can address any issues that may be important to your job search. We especially need to know about any convictions that may stop you from working in the jobs you have identified that you wish to pursue. In some cases, convictions are not relevant, and may be overlooked if they have no bearing on the job. However, by being honest and sharing this information we can work around any issues. You will be required to sign a Criminal Conviction Declaration as part of your initial registration with the RNZFB Employment Service.

Based on the information gathered during your first meeting, your EC will write up a Vocational Assessment Report which you will receive a copy of.

4. Personal Action Plans

The information in your Vocational Assessment Report will help form the basis of an Action Plan that you will develop with your EC. This Action Plan will include all of the steps you need to take to reach your goal, whether it's staying in the job you have now, finding a job, or undertaking study.

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Finding a job is a partnership between you and your EC. You will be expected to put your time, energy and commitment in to the job search. The exact tasks for you and your EC will be identified in your Action Plan, which will be reviewed at least once every six months. It is your responsibility to keep in regular contact with your EC, so part of the plan will be deciding how and when this will be done.

You are welcome to invite family/whānau and other support people to help with developing your plan. You will receive a copy of this plan so that you can keep track of your progress towards your goals.

We recognise that everyone is different, with different goals, aspirations, abilities and needs. That's why we provide an individualised service based on what you want, which means the support we provide will vary from person to person.

Our aim is for people to grow and become as independent as possible, so we don't do anything for a client that they are able to do for themselves. Over time we will help you develop skills that will enable you to be more and more independent in reaching your vocational goals.

5. Pre-employment Support

There are many activities that your EC can help you with which will be identified in your Action Plan. Some examples are:

Career Planning

Career planning is available to individuals who are unsure about appropriate career or job options. We may use career assessment tools to match up your personality, interests and skills with different work options. Your EC might also put you in contact with your local Career Services office to help with this. The process may include:

Help with identifying realistic career goals
Suggestions for appropriate training, work trials or voluntary work opportunities

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Access to an up to date collection of career materials, including job outlines, employment-related information, websites and career articles
Looking at how the workforce operates, so that you get a clear understanding of your work values as well as how ready you are to go in to work
Taking a realistic look at how a vision impairment impacts on your ability to perform a particular job. People often over estimate the impact of their vision impairment. By confronting stereotypes about vision impairment and blindness, career planning can help you make decisions about what you want to do, rather than what you think you can or can't do.

Pre-employment Activities

Looking for a job is a lot of work! It can take many applications and interviews before you actually get a job, so you'll have to spend a lot of time and effort looking and applying for jobs. Your EC can provide individualised support in the following pre-employment activities, and will also help you to develop strategies for doing these tasks independently.

Developing a CV
Learning job search strategies
Canvassing and researching prospective employers
Registering with online job search websites
Writing cover letters
Filling out application forms
Learning self-marketing strategies
Self-advocating so that your needs are met
Exploration of when and how to disclose your vision impairment during the application process
Training and preparing for interviews

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Interview support
Identifying opportunities for work experience and observation
Identifying opportunities to participate in group programmes and accessing peer networking opportunities like the Employment Matters email group
Liaising with other employment service providers where appropriate
Accessing appropriate employer incentive schemes, including WINZ wage subsidies or the State Service Commission's Mainstream Employment Programme.

6. Placement Support

The RNZFB is funded by the MSD to provide a supported employment service. This means that your EC is there to provide ongoing support for as long as necessary – it doesn't just stop once you've got a job. Again, the amount of support required will differ from person to person.

The MSD contract defines a placement as a job of five or more hours per week that continues for a duration of six or more months and that has an employment contract that meets the conditions of the current Employment Relations Act. Some of the areas that your EC may provide ongoing support in are:

Advice about the rights and responsibilities of being an employee
Reading and negotiating employment contracts
Supporting you during the initial induction and introduction to your new job and workplace
In conjunction with the employer and other RNZFB staff, giving you the skills you need for your new job so that your employer's productivity and quality standards are met and maintained
Identifying effective strategies that can be used to manage vision impairment in the workplace

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Support with Health and Safety in Employment issues that are directly related to vision impairment. Any potential risks will be assessed, analysed and managed where possible
Awareness training to educate co-workers on effective strategies for working with colleagues who are blind or vision-impaired
Referrals for worksite assessments of adaptive technology and other equipment requirements such as magnification or lighting. This will not only determine your specific requirements for the position, but will also be justification for funding applications
Referrals for other RNZFB services which you may need, like Orientation and Mobility training for getting to and from work, as well as getting around the new workplace.
Funding applications to pay for assessments and equipment
Monitoring of the placement to make sure that support for the employer and for you is tailored to meet the current need

7. Support Review

There is no limit to the time we spend on providing support services and strategies. The RNZFB Employment Service is tailored to your individual needs with the aim of maximising job success and retention. We actively encourage independence by only providing assistance with tasks or activities that you are unable to complete yourself. The ongoing support that you need after starting a job will be reviewed with you every six months and may include:

Mentoring
Equipment replacement
Funding applications
Assisting in the transition to a new role or function change at work
Support when there are changes in your eye condition which affect your job

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Support with performance appraisals, and negotiating wage reviews and promotion opportunities
Assistance with re-negotiating employment contracts and understanding all employment-related legislation and processes

Your EC will do an evaluation of your support needs at six-monthly intervals or as required, whichever is sooner. Together you will decide whether you still need their support services. If you decide that you are now fully independent in your job and don't need any further help, you will be asked to give feedback on the service you have received.

If, after joining the RNZFB Employment Service, you decide not to continue receiving our support, just let your EC know and we will exit you from the service. We will be happy to accept you back at a later date, but you will have to go back through the referral process that you did when you first entered the service by making contact with your local Service Manager. Your CV, assessments and plans will be kept on file, although they may need to be updated.

8. Exit interview

We value your feedback on our service and would like you to let us know how we can improve what we do and how we do it. We will not be offended if you give constructive criticism, as this helps us to be aware of which areas we need to improve. In order for us to get honest and accurate feedback from you on our service, you will be asked to contact the Employment Services Manager when you finish working with your EC. The Manager will give you the opportunity to provide confidential comment and evaluation on the Employment Service. This will then be used to improve our work in the future.

9. Students

Your EC can also help if you are enrolling in tertiary education. The Employment Service is not funded by MSD to carry out this work though, so it is financed through public donations. The referral and registration

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process is the same as if you were looking for a job (see above) and we will help you make a plan for getting everything organised before you start your course.

One of the most important factors in getting prepared for tertiary study is starting early. We recommend that you make contact with the education provider and your EC about six months before you intend to start your studies. This way, you can start assessing what your support needs might be.

The Library and Information Services and Accessible Format Production departments of the RNZFB have produced a Tertiary Study Information Pack. It's an excellent tool packed with all of the things you need to think about leading up to and during tertiary study. You can get a copy of this pack through your EC, by e-mailing libraryenquiries@rnzfb.org.nz or by phoning 0800 24 33 33 (option 3).

Some of the ways your EC can support you as a student are:

Preparing a personal action plan
Liaising with tertiary institutes and linking you with their Disability Support Services
Referrals for technology training and assessments
Preparing funding applications for assessments and disability-related equipment needed for study
Linking you with other RNZFB services that you might need in order to be as independent as possible, like getting from A to B safely and confidently

10. Funding

The Government provides all sorts of ways to access funding to cover the cost of disability-related equipment and support that you might need for work or study. Most people with a vision impairment will need adaptive technology to be as independent at work or study as possible.

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Funding is only available upon application and is never guaranteed. Your EC can help you access the appropriate funding source. Below are some of the sources that are available to RNZFB members.

There are many other private and corporate scholarships and trusts that can be applied for, so it is worth doing internet searches for other options related to your particular situation. A good site to start with is the Funding Information Service: www.fis.org.nz

Workbridge

Workbridge administer government funding through their Support Funds scheme. You do not have to be registered with Workbridge to access these funds. There are three areas that they fund:

Job Support
Training Support
Self start (for people going into business)

There are specific conditions for accessing each fund which you can discuss with your EC or a representative from Workbridge. There is also information on their website: www.workbridge.co.nz

WINZ

WINZ have several funds that can be accessed for work and study including their Job Modification Grant and Training Incentive Allowance.

The Job Modification Grant has similar criteria to the Workbridge Job Support funds, and can only be accessed through your WINZ or Workbridge case worker.

The Training Incentive Allowance is for WINZ clients on certain benefits, such as the invalids benefit, and provides funds for training that will increase your employment prospects.

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Enable/Accessable

Equipment may be purchased for people with disabilities through Enable/ Accessable funding, but only when the relevant eligibility criteria is met and the correct process to obtain funding has been followed. You'll need to have an assessment by a specialist Accredited Assessor and it must be determined that the equipment is essential for you to:

Undertake full-time education,
Undertake full-time employment, or
Undertake vocational training

Oppenheim Trust

This Trust was founded by Dr and Mrs Oppenheim in November 1989. The purpose of the Trust is to provide assistance to registered members of the RNZFB who are presently undergoing or are about to enter tertiary education. Due to the high level of requests, priority is given to school leavers. Applications close on 1 February each year. You can get an application form from your EC.

11. Funding Process through your EC

Your EC is available to help you access funding for work or study. Funding is only available upon application and is never guaranteed. To put the best case forward to secure financial assistance for you, we need to determine what your particular needs are going to be for your job or study course. This is done through specialist assessments carried out by RNZFB staff such as Adaptive Technologists, Orientation and Mobility Instructors and Adaptive Daily Living Instructors. The assessments will look at all factors relating to your eye condition, technology needs, lighting conditions, health and safety and so on.

Workbridge rely on these assessments to provide unbiased, professional information to justify funding approval. Workbridge pay the RNZFB for these assessments through Job Support Funds, so the first step is for you

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to ask your Workbridge Employment Consultant to make a referral through your RNZFB EC for an assessment.

The steps for accessing funding through Workbridge are:

1. Let your Workbridge and RNZFB EC know in plenty of time that you are starting a job, course of study, your own business or have different needs in your current job

2. Workbridge EC makes referral for an RNZFB assessment to determine your needs and a Support Funds application is made to cover the cost of this

3. Your RNZFB EC makes the appropriate internal referrals for assessment(s)

4. RNZFB staff member does a technology assessment at your worksite

5. RNZFB staff member writes a technology assessment report outlining recommendations resulting from assessment process

6. RNZFB EC receives quotes for recommended equipment

7. RNZFB EC and you complete funding application which must be signed by you before submitting to Workbridge

8. If application is approved, then your RNZFB EC orders equipment

9. RNZFB staff member installs and configures equipment and carries out any training necessary

10. If funding is not approved, your EC can help you to appeal the decision through Workbridge's funding review process if this is appropriate.

The process from Workbridge referral to receiving equipment can take anywhere between three and eight weeks, or more. It depends on several variables including assessors' work loads, complexity of assessment and

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your needs, availability of stock and so on. For this reason it is important that you make contact with your EC as soon as possible to start the process.

12. Your rights

When using any health or disability service you have clear rights as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights. In brief, you have the right to:

1. Be treated with respect

2. Freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment and exploitation

3. Dignity and independence

4. Services of an appropriate standard

5. Effective communication in a form that enables you to understand the information provided

6. Be fully informed

7. Make an informed choice and give informed consent

8. Support

9. Respect during teaching and research

10. Right to complain

If you feel your rights have been breached, it is best to talk to the person or organisation giving you the service. If you feel uncomfortable doing this on your own you can use a friend or relative as support. You can also have the support of an independent Health and Disability Advocate. For more information on this you can contact the Health and Disability Commissioner's office on 0800 11 22 33.

13. Contacts List

Below is a list of contacts that might be useful as you work towards your vocational goals.

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Disability Issues

Association of Blind Citizens is a consumer advocacy group. Phone 0800 222 694 or visit www.abcnz.org.nz
Disability Information Service can give you information on all the agencies that work with people with disabilities. They can also head you in the right direction with any issue you have relating to disability. Phone (03) 366 6189 or email dis@info.co.nz
Health and Disability Commissioner can give you information on your rights when receiving a health or disability service, as well as the procedures for complaints. Phone 0800 11 22 33 or visit www.hdc.org.nz
The Human Rights Commission can advise you on your rights as an employee and citizen. Phone (03) 379 2015 or 0800 496 877
The Office for Disability Issues is responsible for ensuring Government keeps faith with the New Zealand Disability Strategy by promoting the participation and inclusion of disabled people in society. Phone (04) 916 3300 or visit www.odi.govt.nz

Employment

Employment Relations Service gives independent advice on employment disputes. Phone 0800 800 863 or visit www.ers.dol.govt.nz
Workbridge Inc provides a professional employment service for people with all types of disabilities. Phone 0508 858 858 or visit www.workbridge.co.nz
Work and Income (WINZ) can help if you are eligible for income support and help with finding work, study or training. Phone 0800 559 009 or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz
Career Services can provide career planning, CV preparation, and interview skills. They also provide information and training and study options. Some of their services are free for people with disabilities. Phone 0800 109 901 or visit www.careers.govt.nz

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Volunteer New Zealand can help you find out about volunteer work in your region. Phone 0800 865 268 or visit www.volunteernow.org.nz
The Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Trust can tell you about EEO practices and employers who are committed to them. Phone (09) 525 3023 or visit www.eeotrust.org.nz
Mainstream is a two-year subsidised employment programme to assist people with significant disabilities into employment in the State sector. Phone (04) 495 6726 or go to www.ssc.govt.nz/mainstream
Occupational Safety and Health can give you information about health and safety in the workplace. Visit www.osh.dol.govt.nz for more info.

Internet job sites

These can be a great place for getting job leads. Some are not so friendly for people who are visually impaired. You usually have to check boxes that best fit what work you are looking for and they come up with a list of vacancies that fit your choices.

www.workandincome.govt.nz

www.career.co.nz

www.volunteernow.org.nz

www.jobs.govt.nz

www.searchforjobs.co.nz

www.recruitmentplus.co.nz

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Study or Training

Worksite is a good place to start for information on education and training. Visit www.worksite.govt.nz
Tertiary Education Commission can help you find out about the many places you can get training and give information on Modern Apprenticeships and youth training. Phone 0800 832 225 or visit www.tec.govt.nz
New Zealand Qualifications Authority can provide information about national qualifications and standards on the NZQA framework, registered providers and what you should look for when choosing a course. Phone (04) 802 3000 or visit www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-learners
The Funding Information Service has a list of awards, scholarships and grants on its database. This can be accessed for free from any public library. Phone (04) 499 4090 or visit www.fis.org.nz
The Correspondence School provides distance learning at the secondary school level. Phone 0800 659 988 or visit www.correspondence.school.nz
The Open Polytechnic can help with studying, from basic skills to degree level and distance learning. Phone 0508 650 200 or visit www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Studylink to find out about student loans, student allowances and other ways to fund your study. Phone 0800 889 900 or visit www.studylink.govt.nz

Adaptive Technology

The RNZFB can provide independent, professional assessment and advice on adaptive technology for blind, deafblind and vision impaired members. Phone 0800 243 333 or visit www.rnzfb.org.nz

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The following companies supply specialised technology for people with visual impairments:

Adaptive Technology Solutions Ltd. Phone Genevieve McLachlan on (04) 528 7600, email genevieve@adaptivetech.co.nz or visit www.adaptivetech.co.nz
HumanWare. Phone (03) 384 4555 or visit www.humanware.com
Pacific Vision. Phone Barry Burgess on (03) 328 8662 or email pacific.vision@xtra.co.nz
Zabonne. Phone 0800 351 151 or visit www.zabonne.com

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