That being said, we know that not everyone has turkey on Thanksgiving. There are vegetarians who eat lentils on Thanksgiving, or perhaps a nice pasta dish works for your family. Not everyone needs supported employment services, but we expect that most people with an MSD will need SE services, just like most people will eat turkey this Thanksgiving.
Last month, we talked about what supported employment is, isn't, and should be. Now let’s flesh out that turkey.
Who
VR participants with an MSD are eligible to receive supported employment (SE) hourly. Refer to last month’s post for more details.What
Employment professionals may bill for SE hourly to support any skills the participant needs in order to become as independent as possible on the job and reach stabilization.When
From an Indiana VR perspective, you use this service after 4 weeks on the job (Milestone 2 or M2) and before stabilization, OR during M2 if more than 45 hours of support are already used. Want to learn more? Refer to the supported employment decision graphic.Use supported employment hourly when the supported employee needs assistance for skill development, coordination, or other kinds of support to work towards stabilization. It’s important to remember that being successful at work includes much more than the job tasks a person is paid to complete. There is all of this other stuff: fitting in and becoming a part of the team, knowing what to do when you need help, and building those relationships up so that when the employment specialist is gone, they can still get the support they need.
Each situation is different, and there is no exhaustive list of the ways this service can be used. However, here are a few examples:
- Learning core job tasks and episodic job tasks
- Using a new type of technology, like a software system, copier, or sanitizer
- Communicating effectively with coworkers
- Developing the skills to get to work on time (perhaps setting an alarm, having a uniform ready the night before, calling the Uber)
- Dealing with difficult situations
- Building natural supports
- Coordinating with paid staff and unpaid supports
- Building self-management skills
And almost always, unanticipated challenges arise. Bosses or coworkers change, people have medical events, or perhaps changes in home life. All of these events can impact a person’s success at work and lead to the loss of a job if appropriate supports are not provided. Finally, think back to why the person was referred to VR. If a person has a mental illness and experiences symptoms every 4-6 months, they may be very successful for the first few months but may need additional services several months into work. This is precisely why we shouldn’t be in a rush to declare that an employee has reached stabilization. Stuff (stuffing?) happens!
Where
You can provide SE hourly at a job site or off a job site, depending on what makes sense. Consider the most discrete and supportive way to deliver the training or other job support. Be as unobtrusive as possible and provide supports in the most natural environment. For example, if a supported employee is working to develop coping strategies for stressful situations, it may be more appropriate to work on this in a private place, like a person’s house or at your office, rather than at the job site. If you’re helping the supported employee learn how to clock in for the day, then at the job site is probably your best bet. Where you provide support influences how people will perceive the supported employee.How
Providing quality SE services is both a skill and an art. The details are important. The way you provide supported employment can really impact the success of a supported employee. You must identify the areas a supported employee needs help in, figure out what skill to teach, how to teach it, and monitor progress. While doing all of these different things, you need to be building natural supports at work and work yourself out of a job. That is, when providing SE services, you are working to phase yourself out of the mix while you facilitate a relationship between the SE and those who he or she could rely on at work.This sounds simple, but it requires a lot of training and skills. Learn from seasoned experts at your organization, seek out training, and use what you already know to be successful. Dust off that Discovery profile to review successful support strategies! Facilitating can be an art, but we know you’re up for the challenge.
Why
Because it works! You can’t just eat the turkey and walk away from the table. There are dishes to load, pots to wash, leftovers to stash. Similarly, effective SE is often the work you do after you find employment for your job seeker. Establishing the right supports can ensure long-term success for an employee—even after you’ve faded your supports, gobbled the pumpkin pie, and said your goodbyes.Resources & Training
Thanksgiving leftovers! Yummy! Here again, are some of the resources we referenced in last month’s intro to supported employment.“Supported Employment Resources,” VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.
“Strategies for Effective Supported Employment,” (formerly Advanced Supported Employment). Watch your inbox and the CCLC Employment Training webpage for news about two opportunities to participate in 2019!
- Winter training begins with online modules, January 14 through March 15, with face-to-face meetings at Easterseals Crossroads in Indianapolis on February 27 & 28.
- Summer training runs online June 28 through July 26, with face-to-face meetings, at Easterseals Crossroads on July 11-12.
