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Title / Describe and integrate a strengths-based model of advocacy into the practice of a health and disability advocate
Level / 5 / Credits / 6
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to describe how a strengths-based model of advocacy underpins the role and function of health and disability advocates, and integrate a strengths-based model of advocacy into practice as a health and disability advocate.
Classification / Health, Disability, and Aged Support > Health and Disability Principles in Practice
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1 Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes:
Accident Compensation Act 2001;
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989;
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994;
Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003;
Human Rights Act 1993;
Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003;
Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992;
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990;
Privacy Act 1993;
Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.
2 Codes and guidelines relevant to this unit standard include:
Advocacy Code of Practice; available at http://advocacy.hdc.org.nz/resources/code-of-practice;
Advocacy Guidelines for the Nationwide Advocacy Service Pursuant to section 28 (1) of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994. The New Zealand Gazette, 24 March 2005. Available at http://advocacy.hdc.org.nz/resources/advocacy-guidelines;
Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996, available at http://www.hdc.org.nz;
Health Information Privacy Code 1994, available at http://www.privacy.org.nz.
3 New Zealand Standards relevant to this unit standard include:
NZS 8134.0:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (general) Standard;
NZS 8134.1:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (core) Standards;
NZS 8134.2:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (restraint minimisation and safe practice) Standards;
NZS 8134.3:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (infection prevention and control) Standards.
4 References
Ministry of Health. (2001). The New Zealand Disability Strategy. Wellington: Author; available at http://www.moh.govt.nz/.
Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service. (2006). Māori cultural competencies for health and disability advocates. Wellington: Author; available at http://advocacy.hdc.org.nz/about-us/competencies.
Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service. (2010). Cultural competencies for health and disability advocates. Auckland: Author; available at http://advocacy.hdc.org.nz/about-us/competencies.
5 This unit standard cannot be assessed against in a simulated environment. It is required that people seeking credit for this unit standard demonstrate competence and are assessed in the workplace: through paid or unpaid employment, or in placements in a service provider workplace negotiated by an education provider.
6 Candidates’ practice must show appropriate values, processes, and protocols in relation to working with different cultures in a range of settings and environments, in accordance with the provisions outlined in the two Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service publications referenced in explanatory note 4 above.
7 Definitions
Consumer is defined in the Code of Rights and the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994 in the following ways:
'Consumer means a health consumer or a disability services consumer; and, for the purposes of rights 5, 6, 7(1), 7(7) to 7(10), and 10, includes a person entitled to give consent on behalf of that consumer.' – Code of Rights, regulation 4.
'Disability services consumer means any person with a disability that –
'(a) Reduces that person's ability to function independently; and
'(b) Means that the person is likely to need support for an indefinite period.' – Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, s. 2.
'Health consumer includes any person on or in respect of whom any health care procedure is carried out.' – Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, s. 2.
Health and disability advocates assist consumers to have their rights recognised and upheld by health and disability service providers; and encourage them to take action – including making a complaint – if they have an unresolved concern. Advocates operate independently of government agencies, the Health and Disability Commissioner, and the funders of health and disability services.
Principles and values of a strengths-based model of advocacy refers to an approach to people which is dependent on positive attitudes about their dignity, capacities, rights, uniqueness, and commonalities; the creation of a culture of 'power with' to reduce any power imbalance; the belief that people are capable of change and growth; and the belief that people are the best judges of their own situation and capabilities.
Providers means disability services providers and health care providers, as defined in the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, ss. 2 and 3.
A strengths-based model of advocacy is described at http://advocacy.hdc.org.nz/resources/models-of-advocacy.
Strengths-based practice is predicated on the assumption that people have strengths, capacities, and resources for their own empowerment. Consumers – not advocates – set the goals, and identify and mobilise their own strengths, capabilities, and resources.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe how a strengths-based model of advocacy underpins the role and function of health and disability advocates.
Evidence requirements
1.1 A strengths-based model of advocacy is described in terms of its principles and values.
1.2 The role and function of health and disability advocates is described in terms of the competencies required to practise a strengths-based model of advocacy.
Range competencies include – knowledge, skills, behaviour;
practice includes – interaction with consumers, providers, colleagues.
Outcome 2
Integrate a strengths-based model of advocacy into own practice as a health and disability advocate.
Range evidence is required of four examples from own practice as a health and disability advocate.
Evidence requirements
2.1 A strengths-based model of advocacy is integrated into practice when working collaboratively with consumers towards early resolution.
Range strengths-based practice may include but is not limited to – clear process that includes facilitating resolution meeting(s) between consumers and providers; involvement of consumers in reviewing progress towards, and achievement of, early resolution; encouraging feedback; evaluation; building and rebuilding relationships.
2.2 A strengths-based model of advocacy is integrated into practice when working with consumers to develop and implement self-advocacy skills.
Range strengths-based practice may include but is not limited to – offering tools to consumers to identify issues and self-advocate; supporting consumers to set explicit and manageable goals and identify appropriate courses of action; supporting consumers to identify strengths and resources for resolving issues in terms of self-advocacy;
strengths and resources – own, others.
2.3 A strengths-based model of advocacy is integrated into other aspects of practice as a health and disability advocate.
Range other aspects of practice may include but are not limited to – education, peer support, phone contact, networking.
Planned review date / 31 December 2016Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment /Registration / 1 / 19 November 2010 / N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0024
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Consent requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Community Support Services ITO Limited if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Community Support Services ITO LimitedSSB Code 101814 / Ó New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2010