Information for placement specialists
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Mainstream Employment Programme placement process
What do I do first?
If you have a client who you think would benefit from the Mainstream Employment Programme, please work through the following steps. If you have any questions, contact us on 04 917 8185 or e-mail: mainstream@msd.govt.nz
The placement process
STEP 1
Complete the Application for Mainstream Eligibility form for your client and send it to the Mainstream Employment Programme. The application is reviewed by the Manager of the Programme.
Key points
Complete the Application for Mainstream Eligibility form as fully as possible.
The Mainstream Employment Programme is for people with the most significant disadvantage in terms of ability to compete on the open labour market.
STEP 2
If a client is approved as eligible for the Mainstream Employment Programme they become a Mainstream candidate. You can then approach eligible State sector employers to negotiate a suitable placement for the Mainstream candidate.
Key points
The Mainstream candidate does not negotiate the placement. This is the placement specialist's role.
It is important to check the list of eligible employing organisations before approaching State sector employers, as the list changes frequently.
You'll need to contact the Programme directly to see which schools are eligible for Mainstream placements
STEP 3
Once you have negotiated a position, complete the Placement Application form and post it to Mainstream, along with a completed Job Proposal form. When all the necessary information is received, Mainstream will contact you, the Mainstream candidate, and the employer to confirm a start date.
Key points
Mainstream allocates the start date and notifies all parties.
By completing and signing the Placement Application form, you and your agency commit to providing support to the Mainstream candidate throughout the course of their placement.
STEP 4
Mainstream then sends the Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Social Development (Mainstream Employment Programme) and the employer to the employer for signing. You receive a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement.
STEP 5
Once the signed Memorandum of Agreement is returned to Mainstream, the Mainstream candidate becomes a participant. Mainstream sends a letter to the participant, their new supervisor and their placement specialist confirming the placement and providing relevant resources.
Key point
The employing organisation treats the Mainstream participant as any other employee. Mainstream arranges to reimburse the participant's salary to the employer.
STEP 6
You and your agency are required to provide ongoing support to the Mainstream participant. Mainstream participants and direct supervisors are required to attend Mainstream Employment Programme induction workshops. Training about the Mainstream Programme is also available to placement specialists.
Key points
Induction workshops for Mainstream participants and direct supervisors are mandatory.
You are also required to complete and return the Placement Progress Reviews periodically sent out by Mainstream, and keep Mainstream informed of any significant changes to the placement.
General eligibility criteria and application form
Candidates for the Mainstream Employment Programme must have a disability that severely restricts their employment prospects. Additional factors resulting in a significant employment disadvantage may also be taken into consideration.
Disability is defined as limitation resulting from impairment to:
- vision
- hearing
- physical agility
- intellect
- psychological functioning
- learning.
The impairment must have been present for at least six months and be expected to last at least four years. If a corrective device (e.g. hearing aid or glasses) completely eliminates the limitation, Mainstream does not consider the candidate eligible.
The term "significant disadvantage" means people who:
- have a significant congenital or acquired impairment or impairments
- have significant barriers to employment
- would not gain a position within the State sector on merit.
Additional factors may be taken into consideration when assessing candidate eligibility, such as:
- limited access to education
- late onset of disability requiring total re-training
- limited access to employment opportunities due to geographical isolation.
Entry to the Mainstream Employment Programme is restricted to those people with disabilities who:
- meet the eligibility criteria in respect to significant impairment
- are sixteen years of age or over
- are unemployed, or
- are engaged in full or part-time employment for no payment, or which pays less than the minimum adult wage, or
- are employed under a Department of Work and Income scheme, or
- are engaged in open employment for a total not exceeding 15 hours per week maximum, in the previous 6 months.
Admission to the Mainstream Employment Programme is also dependent upon availability of funding. The Mainstream Employment Programme Manager is not obliged to admit participants to the programme on a "first come first served" basis but may target particular participants. This will ensure that people with the least access to employment opportunities will benefit most.
To find out if your client is eligible, download the Application for Eligibility form. Complete all sections of the form and email it as an attachment to the Mainstream Employment Programme Manager: mainstream@msd.govt.nz with the words "Application for Eligibility" in the subject line.
A participants' eligibility must be confirmed in writing before a placement is sought.
Organisations eligible for Mainstream placements
Once you have received written confirmation of your client's eligibility, you can begin to negotiate an eligible employer. Not all government departments are eligible - they must be large enough to have suitable support systems.
Check here for eligible organisations.
Some schools are also eligible for Mainstream placements. As well as the standard criteria for all placements, Mainstream placements in schools can only be made:
- in schools with a minimum roll of 400;
- in non-teaching positions - not teacher or teacher aide positions.
Contact Mainstream to find out which schools are eligible.
Check the Education Review Office website for the latest ERO report on the school you are considering.
Placement Application Form and Job Proposal Form
Once your client has confirmed eligibility and a job description:
- Complete the Placement Application Form.
- Attach a job proposal form
- Post hard copies of both to:
Mainstream Employment Programme
Ministry of Social development
PO Box 1556
Wellington 6140
The Placement Application Form must be completed by the placement specialist.
The disclosure section of the form must be signed by the candidate. Research has shown that disclosure of a person's disability and its impact in the workplace has a significant bearing on the success or otherwise of the programme. Placements can only be made for people who have completed the disclosure section.
Ongoing role of the placement specialist
When a successful placement is underway, the placement specialist's ongoing tasks are:
- making sure participants and supervisors attend Mainstream Induction training
- helping participants and supervisors to apply for training funding
- helping participants and supervisors work out which Cost of Disability in Employment (CODE) requirements they may have
- meeting with the participant and supervisor to complete the Placement Progress Reviews
- ongoing support
- encouraging the participant to attend the second-year workshop
- helping the participant plan for future employment options.
Cost of Disability in Employment (CODE) Funding
The Mainstream CODE Funding Application form must be completed by the participant and/or their placement specialist in consultation with the direct supervisor.
If a worker with a disability needs special resources to help their job, CODE funding can help.
The employer of a Mainstream participant must provide the participant with the same equipment available to its other employees, and make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the participant's disability. However, the significant impairments of Mainstream participants sometimes means they need additional support, including special equipment.
For more information on CODE funding, go to the Participant page.
Training Funding Information and Application Forms
Mainstream training assistance for participants
Mainstream training assistance of up to $4,000.00 (including GST) may be granted during the placement.
Training funded by the Mainstream Employment Programme must be additional to that provided by the employer. Funding for on-the-job training is the responsibility of the employer.
Appropriate training must either enhance the participant’s employment prospects or meet his or her individual disability needs. Studies outside of these parameters will not be funded.
The training sought must be either vocational in nature, that is, likely to enhance your future employment prospects, or specifically designed to meet individual disability needs. Studies which are merely of interest and not relevant to current or future employment options will not be funded.
There is more information on the Participants page.
Mainstream training assistance for supervisors
Training in performance management or disability equity for supervisors of Mainstream participants may also be funded by Mainstream. The training should enhance the participant’s employment prospects, by improving the supervisor’s coaching and mentoring skills, or knowledge of disability issues.
There is more information on the Employers page.
Placement Progress Review Forms
Placement Progress Reviews (PPRs) are used to make sure the placement is going well. They also alert the Casework Advisor to developing problems. Reviews are carried out at intervals during the placement.
- Some information from the forms is used for reporting (for example, the number of people who have had some form of training during their placement) so it's important that they're filled in completely and accurately.
- The reviews are a chance for the placement specialist, the participant and the supervisor talk about the placement together, and to iron out any issues. They are also a time to plan for the participant's future.
- The questions are a prompt to make sure everything is on track, and the participant is heading towards sustainable employment.
- If uncomfortable talking in front of the supervisor or the placement specialist, the participant can contact their Mainstream Casework Advisor directly to discuss any of the issues in private.
- Please note there is now only one Placement Progress Review form, to be used at regular intervals throughout the placement.
