WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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Introduction – Kaleidoscope ‘Partnering people into Work Programme’ According to a Disability Survey conducted in 2013 by Statistics NZ, 24 percent of the New Zealand population is identified as disabled, a total of 1.1 million people. The increase from the 2001 rate (20 percent) is partly explained by an ageing population. At inauguration of Kaleidoscope, for the population who had a serious SCI, as a result of an accident and who were entitled to ACC Earnings Related Compensation (ACC ERC), the proportion of people confirmed in full or part-time work was 12%, implying an unemployment rate of a staggering 88%. During the course of the report I will refer to SCI, which covers serious spinal cord injury or illness (with a neurological diagnosis). Further to this the use of the word patient pertains to those persons engaged in vocational rehabilitation be it in the acute, rehabilitation or community setting. Kaleidoscope was formed in response to a clear need, and driven by a man Professor Alan Clarke. He first formed the New Zealand Spinal Trust (NZST) in 1994 to address the unmet needs of rehabilitation, information, research, advocacy and support for people with spinal cord injuries throughout New Zealand. The NZST is firmly focused on supporting independent living and improving the quality of rehabilitation through initiatives, projects and programmes that directly benefit people with a SCI. Professor Clarke said the language of good recovery is positive and personal, not cautious, p.c. or impersonal and institutional. He named this new approach the ‘New Rehabilitation’ which encourages each person to steer a new course for themselves, in the sure knowledge that fulfillment and happiness is achievable. If you think this sounds soft and fuzzy you are right. Serious recovery is very personal and involves hope, trust and happiness. Kaleidoscope is an early intervention vocational rehabilitation programme set up in 2003, dedicated to getting people who have a SCI into meaningful and sustainable employment. We have paved the way forward in developing a model of practice (Appendix 1.) which provides explanation of how we engage patients and gives context to what we do (Appendix 2.). Kaleidoscope is a programme of the NZST based at both the Burwood and Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Units and also delivering services at Middlemore Hospital. The service delivered <strong>WCMT</strong> Research Fellowship 5
is specialist spinal vocational rehabilitation, both to acute patients and community patients. Kaleidoscope’s guiding principles are: • Everyone can have a great job • It’s healthy to be working • The sooner the better • There are thousands of work opportunities • Personal networks are the key • The process for getting a job is the same as before • You can do it yourself – whatever it takes! • Your life experiences give you unique qualifications The Kaleidoscope programme undertakes vocational rehabilitation work with people much earlier in their rehabilitation, i.e. 80% of patients are engaged within three weeks post SCI. This, combined with the holistic approach of the multi-disciplinary team engagement, sets these people up to powerfully re-enter the job market. Specialist Vocational Consultants provide on-going individual career coaching with a strong emphasis on the patient doing as much of the work as possible. Dependency can be a learned behaviour and we recognise this and want our patients to own their vocational rehabilitation, receive education and feel empowered. The other key aspect of the Kaleidoscope programme and crucial to its success is engaging employers early. Further to this, the close involvement of the local business community, tertiary training institutes and the persons family. This approach builds the patient’s confidence, self-awareness and improves their chances of getting jobs. The maintenance of hope and building resilience is recognised and carefully considered by the Kaleidoscope programme. “I haven’t fallen through the cracks because Kaleidoscope didn’t allow them to appear, and by being at work even just for lunch to start with, filled a social void and a purpose for the effort of just getting there. Work is more than just a job and money and now I see what Kaleidoscope has always seen. As a child a favourite toy of mine was a kaleidoscope, and now to me, a SCI at first is like a kaleidoscope of dark and broken pieces that won’t stop spinning to allow you to make sense of what has happened. BSU has put the colour back in my ‘kaleidoscope of life’ and now it even stops so I can enjoy the new and wonderful things I see and do.” Kaleidoscope patient – 2011 <strong>WCMT</strong> Research Fellowship 6
Page 1 and 2: Specialist Spinal Vocational Rehabi
Page 3 and 4: Contents Executive summary Page 3 I
Page 5: 3. Ability Awareness Learning Exper
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 and 26: Following targeted support, the att
Page 27 and 28: for patients, including those not r
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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