Work and Income New Zealand Regional Plans - Regional Plan for Wellington 2/3

Work and Income New Zealand Regional Plans
Regional Plan Wellington

Our Regional Strategies

Key priorities for the 2000/2001 fiscal year
The key focus of he Wellington Regional Plan is
to work with identified key priority groups with
specific needs and improve their capability for
independence. The key priorities identified are

• increased work focus by staff to increase job seeker movement into employment
• increased participation of Maori in training and development by providing services which are appropriate
• increased Pacific Peoples moving into employment and training
• increased employment outcomes for clients who engage in skills training opportunities
• longer duration developmental training to increase the ability of long-term unemployed job seekers to move owards independence
• increased young people (18-24 years)participating in developmental opportunities
• increased community involvement with the Department's staff and with client development.

OBJECTIVES AND KEY TASKS

STRATEGIC OUTCOME 1
Increase people's capacity to participate in
community life through providing income
support and other assistance to eligible people.

Ensure clients receive their correct benefit entitlement.

• Ensure an accurate assessment of benefit entitlements is completed at the initial meeting.
• Provide clients with information on the full range of additional assistance available on an ongoing basis.
• Undertake monitoring activities on a regular basis to ensure quality service is provided.
• Undertake exit interviews with clients moving into full-time work to ensure low-income earners receive their entitlements.
• Ensure benefit-related reviews of decisions are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Implement service delivery structures which respond to local needs and service issues.

Maintain at least 80%level of client satisfaction.

• Ensure clients are seen within 48 hours of requesting an appointment,or sooner if necessary.
• Provide specialised assistance for NZ Superannuitants,Invalids Benefit clients and other identified priority groups.
• Provide individualised and personalised service to clients through case management.
• Develop a communications plan to increase the level of information available to staff,clients and the community.

Increase the competency of all staff,enabling them
to deliver a full range of services.

• Recruit people with the right skills and attributes to meet the needs of our clients.
• Provide new staff with five weeks intensive training on the programmes and services administered by the Department.
• Provide ongoing training sessions for all staff as required to increase their competency level.
• Ensure all staff have a training plan as part of their Performance Management Agreement.
• Maintain staff levels through timely recruitment processes.
• Continue to develop the competency of all staff to ensure they
  have the skills and knowledge to deliver a full range of services.
• Implement a cultural training programme for all staff and enhance support networks for Maori and Pacific staff.

STRATEGIC OUTCOME 2
Increase the movement of job seekers into employment, particularly Maori, Pacific Peoples and people with disabilities.

Purchase a range of opportunities and programmes
that will meet the identified needs of client groups.

• Collect information on the labour market monthly and respond to relevant employment opportunities.
• Purchase training programmes that meet identified labour market needs and client requirements.
• Make 15%of he skills raining budget available to respond to market needs and developments.
• Develop relationships with employers and industry to identify
  and contract industry- specific training which targets potential job
  growth areas.
• Purchase programmes specifically for priority groups - Maori,Pacific Peoples,youth and long-term unemployed.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate all training purchased,o ensure it meets the needs of our clients.

Give 4,000 clients the opportunity to participate
in developmental activities.

• Increase client awareness of activities available to enhance skills and abilities.
• Ensure programme information is communicated effectively with staff.
• Actively encourage job seekers to attend relevant training programmes in order to develop their employment potential.
• Provide clients with individualised and targeted case management and promote the advantages of raining available.
• Work in partnership with Skill New Zealand and other training providers to ensure training meets client and industry needs.

Support all clients during and after course completion to facilitate movement into further
training and/or paid employment.

• Build relationships with employers,key agencies and communities to enhance and secure opportunities for job seekers.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships and liaison with training providers.
• Obtain and monitor reports from providers at the conclusion of all programmes/services.
• Ensure participants on training courses receive a follow-up interview appointment on completion of raining.
• Contract programmes that include appropriate post-placement activities by raining provider.
• Actively encourage and support clients to access relevant steps to work within two weeks following completion of training.
• Complete profile and actively market work-ready job seekers to access relevant work opportunities.

Increase knowledge and awareness of local labour
market to obtain opportunities which meet the
needs of job seekers.

• Collect
  information on the labour market monthly to respond o opportunities and
  analyse information quarterly to determine trends.
• Develop positive partnerships and initiatives with key
  business leaders,agencies and community to support clients into
  employment.
• Encourage Local Employment Co-ordination groups to devise
  short and long-term strategies,and to develop a minimum of one
  initiative or project each that will facilitate employment outcomes.

Assist 7,000 clients to achieve appropriate
employment goals.

• Actively and positively profile job seekers as credible job applicants by individualised Case Managers.
• >Establish a minimum of four industry-specific joint ventures targeted at job growth areas.
• Identify appropriate opportunities and activities with job seekers and agree on a developmental plan.
• Provide specialised support to ensure clients are able to
  access self-employment assistance available to develop new business
  ventures.
• Identify and establish business and community partnerships to promote and implement a key employment campaign.

Provide support to clients and employers following placement into employment in order to facilitate long-term employment.

• Undertake exit interviews with clients moving into full-time work to ensure low-income earners receive their full entitlements.
• Increase awareness of subsidies available to assist long-term unemployed clients into employment.
• Develop an in-work support package for clients moving into employment.
• Identify at-risk clients and provide ongoing support after placement into subsidised employment .
• Provide post-placement support to employers to ensure placement into subsidised employment is appropriate and sustainable.
• Enhance liaison/partnerships with employers, key agencies and community groups to suppor clients in employment.

STRATEGIC OUTCOME 3
Close the economic and employment gaps by establishing partnerships with Maori for developing self-determining solutions.

Strengthen relationships with iwi,and key Maori
organisations,business,community and people
to identify opportunities which best meet the
needs of Maori.

• Consult with key community groups and agencies to develop a greater awareness of issues that face Maori clients.
• Facilitate regular hui as a forum (internally and
  externally)to develop strategies which will assist Maori into
  employment and other activities.

Participate in developing joint initiatives with Maori-
based organisations to increase Maori participation
in the labour market.

• Identify
  and establish effective alliances with key Maori organisations and
  communities to seek opportunities and achieve positive outcomes for
  Maori clients.
• Monitor training and employment opportunities provided for Maori to enhance the quality of developmental opportunities.
• Facilitate a Local Employment Co-ordination group for Maori to
  develop and implement short and long-term strategies to enhance access
  to training and labour market opportunities.
• Assist in developing a minimum of six initiatives that will enable Maori to participate and contribute to their community.
• Work with Maori businesses to identify work experience and employment opportunities for Maori.

Increase the number of Maori clients participating
in developmental opportunities to 24% of
total activities.

• Ensure every Maori client receives individualised case management.
• Ensure every Maori client receives correct information on benefit entitlement at initial interview and on an ongoing basis.
• Purchase 228 training opportunities specifically for Maori job seekers.
• Identify appropriate training providers to deliver training programmes for Maori clients.
• Purchase programmes/services from Maori providers who will
  determine the most appropriate method to achieve outcomes for Maori job
  seekers.

Support 1,750 Maori clients to access appropriate and sustainable employment opportunities.

• Ensure Maori clients are fully aware of all assistance available when moving into employment.
• Ensure support is provided to all Maori clients placed into employment.
• Actively promote self-employment programmes and support to
  provide opportunities for Maori to develop their own business ventures.
• Ensure Maori job seekers completing raining or activities are
  actively case managed with a follow-up interview,and supported to
  achieve employment.
• Proactively profile and suppor work-ready Maori job seekers into appropriate employment.
• Ensure that 24% of wage subsidies are targetedfor Maori clients.

STRATEGiC OUTCOME 4
Close the economic and employment gaps by strengthening priority communities through inter-sectoral and community partnerships.

Strengthen and progress partnerships with priority
groups to identify how best to meet the needs of
priority clients.
Pacific Peoples

• Form effective alliances with key agencies and communities representing specific Pacific Peoples groups.
• Identify an appropriate strategy to communicate relevant information to Pacific Peoples.
• Purchase specific training and development programmes for Pacific Peoples with appropriate providers.
• Monitor training and employment opportunities provided for
  Pacific Peoples to enhance the quality of developmental opportunities.
• Facilitate Pacific Peoples community groups to develop and
  implement a minimum of three short and long-term initiatives to enhance
  access to raining and labour market opportunities.
• Analyse skill gaps for Pacific Peoples to facilitate the development of appropriate employment training programmes.

People with disabilities