NZFDIC STANDARDS

Principal Members of the NZ Federation of Disability Information Centres uphold and operate by the:

NZFDIC NEW ZEALAND STANDARDS FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES

The New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres has developed these Standards as a reference guideline and toolkit to assist services to provide information to people with disabilities, older people, their families/whanau and carers.

They provide a framework for the professional delivery of information services to consumers.
When providing information to disabled people, it is important to consider a range of access needs, including:

Physical or sensory impairments

  • Learning disabilities
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Communication impairments
  • Mental health support needs
  • Long-term and/or progressive illness
  • People experiencing frailty and conditions associated with aging.

THE FIVE PRINCIPLES

  • Ensure that disabled people are involved from the start.
  • Provide information through a range of channels and formats.
  • Ensure your information meets the users' needs.
  • Clearly signpost other services.
  • Always define responsibility for information provision.

INVOLVE

  • Identify individuals, organisations, networks and stakeholders who can be involved in an ongoing basis.
  • Involve disabled people in deciding which channels and formats are most effective.
  • Test information with disabled people and incorporate their feedback.
  • Find out about disabled people's user journeys and signpost services around them.
  • Reduce the number of portals disabled people have to go through to get access to services.
  • Make sure that each Centre has an identified champion for information services and resources for disabled people in the development of your services.

INFORM

  • Find out what information disabled people want and how they want it to be provided.
  • Make sure disabled people are aware that information is available, where it is available and in what formats.
  • Test new materials with different groups of disabled people. Actively seek feedback and act on it.
  • Make sure that users have all the information they need about other services.
  • Make sure you have enough time and resources to produce materials in a range of formats and channels. Check out its accessibility with the intended users.

EMBED

  • Make user involvement part of service design, development and delivery. Build up good working relationships with local organisations of disabled people.
  • Regularly audit and review how your organisation provides information.
  • Routinely test the information you provide with the people who use it and act on their feedback.
  • Build and sustain relationships with other organisations across the voluntary, statutory and private sectors and work together to provide information for service users.
  • Make sure there is organisational commitment, resources and accountability to improve information for disabled people.

STANDARD 1: INFORMATION ACCESS AND REFERRAL

Actions

  • All enquiries are responded to within one working day.
  • Information provided to clients is at little or no cost.
  • Centres are expected to co-ordinate their service delivery with other community agencies/organisations.
  • Centres are expected to actively promote themselves within their Region to ensure profile and access.

STANDARD 2: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Actions

  • Centres will regularly source and manage information in a way that enables easy access.
  • All information databases are to be updated regularly eg: WEKA and Fundview.
  • Feedback to be provided to WEKA Website / Locations Manager to ensure correctness of ongoing information.
  • All information is to be managed in a variety of formats (where practicable) for example, hard copy, electronic, Braille, etc.
  • All information is dated and the source shown (cited).
  • Centres are responsible for regular review and discard of obsolete information.
  • Centres to maintain co-operative relationships with NGO's and Government organisations.
  • All information is disseminated in a variety of mediums eg: television, radio, press, newsletters, websites etc
  • Report service gaps to Management.

STANDARD 3: CONSUMER RIGHTS

Actions

  • Centres will provide ethical, professional and respectful services.
  • All staff within Centres will comply with the code of Health and Disability Consumers Rights, to ensure that the consumer's rights and dignity are upheld.
  • All clients are aware of the Centres complaints procedure.

STANDARD 4: COMMUNITY PROFILE

Actions

  • Centres will actively participate with local, regional and national agencies in activities supporting disability.
  • Centres will make submissions, aligned to the New Zealand Disability Strategy to relevant local bodies (e.g. Health boards and City councils) on matters promoting the concerns of the disability sector.
  • Centres will ensure promotional information is readily available in all formats (i.e. electronic, paper, website and where appropriate bi-lingual translations).

STANDARD 5: TREATY OF WAITANGI PARTNERSHIP

Recognition that Maori disabled will have their disability needs met in a way that respects and acknowledges their individual beliefs and values.

Centres will reflect a commitment to cultural sensitivity and Treaty in all aspects of their organizations, i.e. governance, management and operation.

Actions

  • Centre Staff will ensure they have access to appropriate skills and expertise to work appropriately with Maori.
  • Centres will provide accessible services to Maori with disabilities and their support networks.

STANDARD 6: QUALITY ASSURANCE

Centres will demonstrate evaluation and monitoring systems in all aspects of their operation.

Actions

Centres will seek client feedback via some of the following methods:-

  • Customer surveys
  • Forums interviews
  • Complaints
  • Repeat services
  • Suggestion box

Appraisals with purchasers including:-

  • Statistics
  • Outcomes
  • Service gaps
  • Trends