WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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SECTION TWO - Key Areas to Address A strategic collaborative approach is needed In 2014, New Zealand released the ‘Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan (SCIAP)’ which promotes “The best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for people with spinal cord impairment being achieved, which enhances their quality of life and ability to participate in society”. The Action Plan, outlines a vision, purpose, priorities and eight overarching objectives to help ensure the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for people with spinal cord impairment (SCI), enhancing their quality of life and ability to participate in society. In March 2012, ACC and the Ministry of Health jointly led a project to review New Zealand’s SCI services and develop a national implementation plan for improving them. The action plan states the following actions to address pertaining to vocational supports: 1. Develop a plan to address gaps in vocational supports using a cost-effective model. 2. Spinal rehabilitation services develop a process to include vocational support in discharge planning. 3. ACC and the Ministry of Social Development to work together to develop a coordinated national vocational plan that prevents duplication and addresses gaps in vocational support for people with SCI. 4. Explore the ACC weekly compensation model and Ministry of Social Development benefit model to ensure the right incentives are in place, so people can try work options without fear of loss of compensation or benefit that may prevent them attempting employment options. 5. Provide specific SCI training for ACC case managers and Needs Assessment Service coordinators who work with people with SCI to ensure realistic back- to-work planning. 6. Specify minimum skill-set requirements of vocational support services to ensure SCI expertise. There is always room to improve, and a collaborative model of service for SCI vocational rehabilitation is the way forward. This can be facilitated through the knowledge gained during my Winston Churchill Research Fellowship. Better quality and access to information is needed <strong>WCMT</strong> Research Fellowship 25
for patients, including those not receiving specialist vocational services, and the people involved in their rehabilitation. This includes local vocational services (without the serious SCI expertise), employers, family, case managers and therapists. Pathway for patients into Kaleidoscope services For those with a new SCI or illness (with a neurological diagnosis) depending on geographical location, may be admitted to one of three rehabilitation facilities: 1. Burwood Spinal Unit 2. Middlemore ICU/Acute 3. Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit Currently, 80% of those admitted are engaged in vocational rehabilitation within three weeks of admission. The remaining 20% are not engaged, most commonly due to a dual diagnosis of medium - high brain injury, medical complexities, isolation or other circumstances which require a period of time before engaging with the service. Vocational support is currently delivered in the community, complimentary to the acute services and Kaleidoscope refers to this as restorative work; one patient had been 17 years post-injury not working. There are a number of ways that people can access vocational support in the community, but primarily it is through funders ACC and Work and Income NZ (WINZ). I will never forget the people I met and went onto support, working through Kaleidoscope in more isolated areas of NZ, especially in their comments when we first met. One patient said, as the tears flowed, “where have you been all my life? I have wanted help with work and had no idea of the support or that there are things I could do”. C5/6 Complete Tetraplegic, now a very successful businessman. Our philosophy at Kaleidoscope is a holistic approach, but also one of education. Ultimately we are engaging a person in the area of work; however it is also about educating them on the readiness and preparation for work and job searching. This, so that in the future they will be able to use their own internal resource should they wish to change jobs or if they are made redundant or seek new employment. <strong>WCMT</strong> Research Fellowship 26
Page 1 and 2: Specialist Spinal Vocational Rehabi
Page 3 and 4: Contents Executive summary Page 3 I
Page 5 and 6: 3. Ability Awareness Learning Exper
Page 7 and 8: is specialist spinal vocational reh
Page 9 and 10: Four specialist centres were select
Page 11 and 12: with change and uncertainty; the ne
Page 13 and 14: Work Readiness and Job Skills Train
Page 15 and 16: such as buses and trains. The servi
Page 17 and 18: the result of a water incident and
Page 19 and 20: physical and social aspects such as
Page 21 and 22: o It is so important to reintegrate
Page 23 and 24: Stoke Mandeville’s Approach to Re
Page 25: Following targeted support, the att
Page 29 and 30: the open cafeteria area, in which p
Page 31 and 32: The topics covered will be: • Bas
Page 33 and 34: • Informal talks with NZST staff
Page 35 and 36: My fellowship will contribute to th
Page 37 and 38: Appendix 1. Model Explanation of
Page 39 and 40: Whilst Kaleidoscope’s core role i
Page 41 and 42: Appendix 4. Winston Churchill Memor
Page 43 and 44: Friday, May 16 Time Appointment Whe

WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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