The Ministry undertook the first phase of a review of the accreditation of specialised assessors in 2008.  This was in response to the findings and recommendations of the Environmental Support Services Review in 2005 (DRC Auckland) which identified opportunities for improvement to the current individual accreditation system.  Building on the work undertaken through both these reviews, the Ministry has established an Assessor Accreditation work stream within the Equipment Modification Services (EMS) Improvement Programme which commenced in February this year.

This work stream aims to develop an accreditation framework that recognises different levels of skill needed to assess and recommend suitable equipment and modification (housing and vehicle) solutions for disabled people.  A discussion document was released in May 2008 which proposed a model for an accreditation framework, and  the feedback  has been positive.  As a result two individual assessor accreditation pilot projects are being established and these will test a two tiered competency framework and associated processes to implement.

In addition, a Service Accreditation Pilot Project is currently underway with four DHBs (Auckland, Waitemata, Counties Manukau and Hutt) and this will extend accreditation beyond the current limited scope for key allied health professionals.  This pilot covers access to Common/Standard List equipment items and its outcome will be evaluated in November.

The two areas for the individual assessor accreditation pilot projects have been chosen based on  early work done in the areas. The pilots will  identify individual competencies for assessors working with disabled people for Communication Assistive Technology and Wheelchair and Seating assessments. 

The pilots are scheduled to commence this month and will run through to October 2009.  If you are interested in participating in either of the two individual assessor accreditation pilot projects, either as an existing accredited assessor or as an intending “new” assessor , please contact:

Communication Assistive Technology Individual Assessor Accreditation Project –

Ann Smaill, TalkLink:                          ann.smaill@talklink.org.nz

Wheelchair and Seating Individual Assessor Accreditation Project –

Debbie Wilson, Seating To Go:          seating.to.go@xtra.co.nz

EMS Improvement Programme Contacts:

Sue Primrose, ESS Development Manager, Service Access Team, Disability Services or

Chris Howard-Brown, Project Leader, EMS Improvement Project Assessor Accreditation work stream – chris.hb@paradise.net.nz