Message from the Secretary It is with great pleasure that I present the NSW Health Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2016-2019. This plan is part of a broader NSW agenda to improve the lives of people with disability and moves us closer to a fully inclusive society for all. In 2014, the NSW Parliament passed the Disability Inclusion Act, which sets out the need for the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan, and for each agency to have a Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Almost one in five people in NSW live with disability. People with disability often experience poorer health outcomes unrelated to their disability, and are often in hospital longer with a higher rate of re-admission. This NSW Health Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2016-2019 is a system-wide plan which sets out the high level vision and objectives of disability inclusion for the NSW Health system, and is intended to set the direction for the Ministry of Health, Local Health Districts, Specialty Health Networks, Pillars, Statewide Health Services and Shared Services to develop and customise their own disability inclusion plan to suit local contexts and community needs. It is intended as an agile, adaptable plan which will be continually reviewed and monitored to support its effective implementation. This plan re-affirms NSW Health’s commitment to delivering ‘Right Care, Right Place, Right Time’ with an emphasis on our CORE values of Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment. This means that we are committed to providing equitable and dignified access to services and employment for people, regardless of disability. This plan is being delivered at a time of significant change in the disability sector, with the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from 2016. Actions in this plan are intended to complement and support this transition at the local service delivery level. A key part of the development of this Disability Inclusion Action Plan was consultation with people with disability, their carers and families, as well as a range of relevant peak and advocacy bodies to identify opportunities to create a more inclusive health service experience. The principles, strategies and actions for disability inclusion in this plan are intended to enhance the whole health system and improve our commitment to person centred care. Each one of us wherever we work within the NSW Health System is responsible for disability inclusion. Thank you to all the people who have contributed to the development of this Plan and those who will be working with us to implement it. Dr Mary Foley Secretary, NSW Health
b. Ensuring LHDs and SHNs are aware of and action where possible the Wayfinding for Healthcare Facilities Guideline (GL2014_018) c. Including representation from people with disability, their carers and families in LHD and SHN facility planning to identify opportunities for improvements in wayfinding through experiential common journey planning to and within facilities in line with the Wayfinding Guidelines. application from LHDs, SHNs Evidence of LHDs and SHNs consulting with people with disability, their carers and families and implementing actions arising 5.2 Changing Places to be considered in all new and refurbished health care facility functional briefs. Ongoing NSW Health Infrastructure (projects more than $10m) LHDs (projects less than $10m) Functional briefs include requirement where appropriate.
systems to better identify people with disability. Group / Ministry of Health measuring inclusion are incorporated into new data collection processes 8.2 Produce a disability focused annual report of patient perspectives on the care people with disability receive through NSW Health. Ongoing BHI Annual report developed and made publicly available. Strategy 9: Ensure all service users have the same access to information regarding their treatment and care. Action Timeframe Responsibility Performance Indicators 9.1 All NSW Health websites to comply with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) level ‘AA’. 2018 Ministry of Health / LHDs / SHNs All NSW Health websites are audited and found compliant with Guidelines 9.2 Ensure feedback and complaints mechanisms are accessible to people with disability. This may include a range of formats and alternative avenues. 2018 Ministry of Health / LHDs / SHNs Feedback mechanisms are audited and found compliant 9.3 Identify health resources that are available in accessible formats and share these across the NSW Health system. Ongoing DIAP Governance Group Accessible health resources made available
Monitoring and reporting framework Ultimate outcomes Outcomes Indicators Responsibility Data sources Aligns with: People with disability are able to access NSW Health services, according to their needs Proportion of people with disability who answer ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ as an overall rating of care in the NSW Patient Survey Program Ministry of Health / LHDs / SHNs/ Pillars, Statewide Health Services/ Shared Services NSW Patient Surveys data (e.g.: Adult Admitted, Emergency Department, Admitted Children, Outpatient and Small Hospitals & Rural Surveys) NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations EQuIP: 11. Service Delivery EQuIP: 12. Provision of Care People with disability receive quality services from NSW Health in a respectful manner that upholds their dignity Proportion of people with disability who answer ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ as an overall rating of care in the NSW Patient Survey Program Ministry of Health / LHDs / SHNs/ Pillars, Statewide Health Services/ Shared Services NSW Patient Surveys data (Adult Admitted, Emergency Department, Admitted Children, Outpatient and Small Hospitals & Rural Surveys) NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations EQuIP: 11. Service Delivery EQuIP: 12. Provision of Care NSW Health staff represent the diversity of the NSW population, including people with disability Public Service Commission Workforce Profile for NSW Health: increase in % employees with a disability, % of employees requiring workplace adjustment Ministry of Health / LHDs / SHNs/ Pillars, Statewide Health Services/ Shared Services Public Service Commission – Workforce Profile NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations EQuIP: 13 Workforce Planning and Management Intermediate outcomes Note – these outcomes have been sorted by immediacy and not by numerical order.
10.4 Corporate software systems are designed to address the access needs of people with disability who are part of the health workforce Evidence of disability inclusion principles incorporated into planning and design of corporate software systems DIAP Governance Group / eHealth / HETI / Business & Asset Services Corporate software systems design documentation NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations EQuIP: 13 Workforce Planning and Management NDIS checklist: 2b Workforce readiness Outcome: Disability inclusion is embedded as a priority in the planning and design of new and refurbished facilities. Actions Indicators Responsibility Data sources Aligns with: 3.2 The principles of disability inclusion to be embedded within the design and functional brief for all capital projects Number of project design and functional briefs that consider the principles of disability inclusion NSW Health Infrastructure LHDs Project design and functional briefs NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations NSQHS Standard: 2. Partnering with Consumers EQuIP: 11. Service Delivery EQuIP: 12. Provision of Care EQuIP: 15. Corporate Systems and Safety 5.2 Changing Places to be considered in all new and refurbished health care facility functional briefs All functional briefs include Changing Places where appropriate. NSW Health Infrastructure LHDs Health Infrastructure records LHD reports EQuIP: 11. Service Delivery EQuIP: 12. Provision of Care
1.1 Develop, publish and implement a communication strategy for disability inclusion across NSW Health Communication strategy developed, published and implemented DIAP Governance Group / SRC Governance Group annual updates NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations NDIS checklist: 1a Governance 1.2 Disability inclusion is a standing item on leadership meeting annual agendas Disability inclusion is a standing item on relevant agendas DIAP Governance Group / Disability representatives from LHDs / SHNs Governance Group annual updates NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations NDIS checklist: 1aGovernance 10.1 Promote the requirements of the existing recruitment policy that outlines recruitment practices that support the employment of people with disability through targeted communications with convenors and recruitment panels Public Service Commission Workforce Profile for NSW Health: increase in % of employees with a disability and % of employees requiring workplace adjustment Workplace Relations Branch Public Service Commission – Workforce Profile NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations EQuIP: 13 Workforce Planning and Management NDIS checklist: 2b Workforce readiness 10.3 Support and foster mentoring partnerships for employees with disability, including support for career advancement Evidence of mentoring partnerships for employees with disability. Directors of Workforce across NSW Health Ministry of Health / LHD / SHN reports NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations EQuIP: 13 Workforce Planning and Management NDIS checklist: 2b Workforce readiness
Actions Indicators Responsibility Data sources Aligns with: 6.1 Disability inclusion resources developed for application across policy and service delivery settings Disability inclusion implementation guidance developed and implemented DIAP Governance Group / Integrated Care Branch Disability Inclusion implementation guidance NSQHS Standard: 1. Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations NSQHS Standard: 2. Partnering with Consumers EQuIP: 11. Service Delivery EQuIP: 12. Provision of Care EQuIP: 15. Corporate Systems and Safety