The Policy Place Blog
So you’ve joined the Policy Place online policy service. Welcome aboard! It’s our most popular service especially for agencies and practitioners who have to comply with the Social Sector Accreditation Standards and Health and Disability Standards. It’s a no-brainer. Not only do we provide online policies to help your compliance. We also review and update…
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Recent changes took effect for lawyers in July this year in Aotearoa. The changes address important gaps in the rules of conduct for lawyers relating to bullying, sexual harassment, racial harassment, violence and discrimination. They are worth considering if your policies and procedures on bullying and harassment are in need of an update. The case…
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We need a recovery approach to alcohol and drug use as a society. It’s been advocated in the criminal justice system so a health rather than a criminal approach would apply for drug and alcohol-related offending. (See, for example, He Waka Roimata pp 65-67; Rights, respect & recovery: alcohol & drug treatment strategy) More recently,…
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Have you experienced, as a client in the health or social service system, being asked to repeat your story numerous times? Being given inconsistent and conflicting advice by practitioners about the same thing? We had recent experience of this when my dad was admitted to hospital. Individually, staff were caring towards my dad. However, time…
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The case of Philip Barnes was recently laid bare in New Zealand media when his name suppression order was lifted. It’s a good reminder about what not to do when, as a manager, you learn that a staff member may have been involved in offending. The case In 2017, International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) management…
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Are you getting lost in a pile-up of records and don’t know what to do with them? If so, it’s time to get cracking with your policy and procedure on retention and disposal of records. Check your existing policy and procedure is being implemented as it should be or if it needs review and updating.…
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Covid-19 vaccination is going to be the light at the end of the long pandemic tunnel. In Aotearoa/New Zealand we now have a guide about when we are likely to enter the light. But is it the light? As vaccinations start to roll out, there’s more public debate about the consequences of not getting vaccinated.…
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With vaccinations for Covid-19 becoming available, what’s going to be your agency position on it? Do you even need a position? Important questions, particularly, if you’re a social and health service providing direct care services. If you think you need an agency position on Covid-19 vaccinations, then it’s time to get cracking on your policy…
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With so many people working from home these days, mobile devices for work are the norm. So have you got mobile devices covered in your policies and procedures? The challenge for your policy and procedure in this area is to enable your organisation to reap the benefits of mobile devices while reducing the risks. Benefits Benefits…
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June 24, 2022 is going to be the first NZ Matariki national holiday. It was announced on 4 February 2021. New Zealanders will now have the opportunity to celebrate the rising of Matariki and the beginning of the Māori New Year. National celebration of Matariki reflects national recognition and respect for mātauranga Māori and the…
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