Minds Craft

• Text by: Mr Jason Sim, Job Placement Executive • Photos by: JPJS •
SUPPORTING A MINDS CLIENT
ON-THE-JOB ~ GUIDING AKARI ~
If you are keen to refer your
adult child with intellectual
disability or for more
information on the JPJS
Programme,
you may contact:
Jason Sim,
Job Placement Executive at
jasonsim.hq@minds.org.sg
From left: Akari’s Job Placement Officer (Jason Sim); Supervisor (Nancy), Manager (Su Yin) & Mom (Ms Yoko Inoue)
Since January 2010, through our JPJS (Job
Placement / Job Support) Programme, 59
individuals, including Akari, were matched to
suitable jobs and placed in open employment.
The objective of the JPJS Programme which is to
promote the employment and retention of persons
with intellectual disability in the open job market,
can be evidently seen by the majority of these 59
individuals who have sustained their jobs to-date
through our strong job support service. Many of
these individuals have been (and are still) with
their employers for over a year!
When Akari was referred to our JPJS Programme,
a Team of Professionals consisting of a Job
Placement Executive, an Occupational Therapist
and a Psychologist identified her key strengths,
skills and job interests through a series of
assessments and interviews to ensure that the
right job match is made for her. By recognising
Akari’s strong Food & Beverage (F&B) training
experience and her keen interest to serve
customers, the JPJS Team was able to scout for
the appropriate job opportunity and recommended
an F&B service-related job at Laksania which
would give ample opportunities for Akari to greet,
serve and interact with people.
The JPJS Team then arranged a Job Trial for
Akari to try out and have a feel of the actual job
at Laksania before taking up the job. During the
Job Trial and over the course of her employment
with Laksania, the Job Placement Executive
and Occupational Therapist analysed her job
tasks and taught her improvisations to help
Akari improve the speed and quality of her work.
Though Akari was initially passive and uncertain of
herself, through intensive support, she gradually
grew more confident and was able to perform well
during the Job Trial. Upon indicating her interest
in taking up the job, the Job Placement Executive
then negotiated employment terms and conditions
with Laksania concerning Akari’s working hours,
before confirming her employment.
Throughout Akari’s first three days at work, the
Job Placement Officer supported her intensively
on-the-job, providing her job coaching and
counselling to help her adapt and settle down
quickly. The Job Placement Officer continued to
provide active support for Akari by visiting her
weekly for the next two months to review, followup
& resolve any work performance issues and
help her build a positive relationship with her coworkers
and superiors. The Job Placement Officer
continues to work closely with Akari’s superiors
and her mother by constantly garnering feedback
as well as to resolve and provide interventions or
solutions to any issues.
Through our intensive support, Akari’s work
endurance, productivity, speed, punctuality and
social interaction has considerably improved
over the months. The Job Placement Officer
worked to build a positive impression of Akari to
her superiors who commended on how she has
significantly improved since her first day of work.
The Job Placement Officer was also attentive
to Akari’s health and well-being, immediately
working with her mom on a skin peeling habit
that Akari had recently started again before it
worsened. The Job Placement Officer also plays
mentor to Akari; giving her sound advice and
listening her thoughts and concerns on the job.
The officer also helps her manage her emotionally
and provides support to transit her into the next
phase of working life.
At present, Akari has reached her eight month
of employment with Laksania and can be seen
cheerfully greeting everyone with a great big
smile! She takes great pride in her work, serving
customers with much enthusiasm and developing
as a mentor to her new co-workers!
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