NZQA registered unit standard
26956 version 1
Page 1 of 5
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/codeof-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;
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26956 version 1
Page 2 of 5
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.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26956 version 1
Page 3 of 5
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.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
2.2
A strengths-based model of advocacy is integrated into practice when working
with consumers to develop and implement self-advocacy skills.
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.
Range
2.3
26956 version 1
Page 4 of 5
A strengths-based model of advocacy is integrated into other aspects of
practice as a health and disability advocate.
other aspects of practice may include but are not limited to –
education, peer support, phone contact, networking.
Range
Planned review date
31 December 2016
Status 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.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26956 version 1
Page 5 of 5
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Community Support Services ITO Limited
enquiries@careerforce.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit
standard.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016