The Impairment Process
The Impairment Committee is a specialist committee with a rehabilitative focus. Its function is to provide a specialist body with expertise to deal with the possibility of a teacher impairment. It will focus on assisting the teacher to address his/her impairment so that the functions of a teacher can be carried out safely and competently.
The Impairment Committee is a referral body that provides specialist advice on cases referred to it by the New Zealand Teachers Council, the Complaints Assessment Committee or the Disciplinary Tribunal.
What is an Impairment?
Impairment has been defined broadly by the New Zealand Teachers Council (Impairment Process) Rules 2009. It includes any impairment that may adversely affect the teacher's ability to perform functions required by a teacher. Therefore this could include physical and mental health problems as well as addictions and substance abuse issues.
The Impairment Process
Once the referring body decides to refer a teacher to the impairment process, the Impairment Committee is charged with establishing the following information.
- Does the teacher have an impairment?
- If so, what is it?
- What are the adverse impacts on the teacher's ability to perform as a teacher?
- What has the teacher has done to deal with the impairment?
- What precautions and assistance may be undertaken to enable the teacher to practise safely and competently?
The Impairment Committee will reach an agreement with the teacher to address an impairment. This, along with the information ascertained above will be provided as a report to the referring body.
The New Zealand Teachers Council (Impairment Process) Rules 2009