We are in the process of developing and building this section. In the meantime, here a few learning resources to start with.
Working with Volunteers
As services seek to build community around people in the form of natural supports, there has been an increase in the number of volunteers working with organisations. At our recent VASS Membership Forum in Wellington people shared their experiences about the greater involvement of volunteers and it was agreed that volunteers needed to be adequately supported and co-ordinated.
Volunteer New Zealand's 'Managers of Volunteers' Project
Volunteer New Zealand is a national association of organisations that have a commitment to volunteering. Their 'Managers of Volunteers' project recognises the importance of managing volunteers and ensuring that managers are valued, well resourced, and have professional development opportunities.
This national initiative promotes the recognition and professional development of 'Managers of Volunteers'. A project team was established following the VNZ conference in October 2009, drawing membership from around New Zealand.
The project aims to strengthen the Community and Voluntary sector by taking the national lead role in:
- Raising awareness amongst those who influence the delivery of volunteer services about the need for good management of them, and the critical role of managers of volunteers in achieving this
- Formalising a learning and development pathway for managing volunteers, with multiple entry points and recognition of prior learning, allowing these skilled practitioners to gain recognition for their study and skills.
VNZ will be holding meetings of specific working groups looking at the development of best practice guidelines for volunteer-involving organisations and the economic contribution of volunteers.
Furthermore they have formed a working partnership with the Office of the Community and Voluntary Sector to identify competencies for Managers of Volunteers. For more information on the Office of the Community and Voluntary Sector visit www.ocvs.govt.nz
If you are interested in finding out more about the work that VNZ are undertaking in this area please visit www.volunteeringnz.org.nz
Or you can contact VNZ at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING or on 04 384 3636
VNZ are also running an on-line course entitled 'Xperts Introduction to Managing Volunteers' in March 2012. This course is designed to help you manage your volunteers with more confidence and effectiveness.
Community Building
Community Building is about developing relationships and connections. Many disabled people do not have a wide network of family and friends within their community. In order to facilitate this it is also important for organisations that are helping people to build relationships to have good community networks themselves.
Inspiring Communities has published What we are learning about community-led development in Aotearoa New Zealand. it includes a section on community building which contains practical information and ideas for organisations looking for ways to expand networks and participate in their local communities. Check out the Inspiring Communities website for other information and resources: http://www.inspiringcommunities.org.nz/
Individualised Support
We are looking for better ways to support individuals that:
- puts them in the driver's seat and enables them to make decisions about their own lives
- connects them with their families and communities
- helps them to fulfil their goals and aspirations
This means that our role as service providers is changing. We are thinking about how we can move away from group models of support to individualised ones, and how.
Here are some links to websites and articles that you might find helpful:
Community Resource Unit
CRU exists to support the development of leadership and authentic change which enhances the possibilites of people with disabilities to belong and to participate in community life. It aims to:
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Challenge ideas and practises which limit the lives of people with disabilities
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Inspire and Encourage individuals and organisations to pursue better lives for people with disabilities.
The CRU website www.cru.org.au has a resources section and news about upcoming events.
Michael J Kendrick
Michael has been researching and writing about individual services for some time. He has published a number of articles that assist organisations thinking about how to change and design services that focus on the individual.
- Agency Transformation
- Key Dimensions of Quality and Individualisation
- Vulnerabilities in Individualised Arrangements
Janet Klees You Tube Clips
These short clips by Janet Klees focus on the role of support workers, and relationship building. Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/CommResourceUnit
Employment
Achieving Social and Economic Inclusion: From Segregation to ‘Employment First’
The Canadian Association for Community Living published this study in 2011. It examines effective policies and practices for supporting people into open employment in the Canadian context. The report identifies both barriers to labour market inclusion and enabling factors for inclusion in the labour market. Barriers include the lack of coherent policy or programme framework, and enablers include factors such as an ‘Employment First’ approach, and awareness and leadership among parents and educators. The report makes interesting reading, especially as a comparison to our New Zealand situation.
Download a PDF of the report here
People First NZ has published a Plain Language Employment Agreement. Download a PDF of the agreement.
You can find resources at www.peoplefirst.org.nz