Supported Employment: Training Frontline Staff - SAMHSA Store ...

The overriding philosophy of SE is the belief that
every person with a serious mental illness is capable
of working competitively in the community if the
right kind of job and work environment can be
found. Rather than trying to sculpt consumers
into becoming “perfect workers,” through
extensive prevocational assessment and training,
consumers are offered help finding and keeping
jobs that capitalize on their personal strengths
and motivation. Thus, the primary goal of SE is
not to change consumers but to find a natural “fit”
between consumers’ strengths and experiences and
jobs in the community.
As consumers succeed in working in the
community, their self-perceptions often change,
and they view themselves as workers and
contributors to society. Furthermore, as people in
the community see consumers working, consumers
are less stigmatized for their mental illness and
become more socially accepted.
• Employment specialists help consumers look
for jobs soon after they enter the program.
Instead of requiring extensive pre-employment
assessment, training or intermediate work
experiences (like prevocational work units,
Transitional Employment Positions, or sheltered
workshops), employment specialists and
consumers begin the job search rapidly.
• Support from employment specialists continues
as long as consumers want it. Participation
in SE is not terminated unless requested by
the consumer.
• Jobs are seen as transitions. Employment
specialists help consumers find new jobs
as needed.
• SE programs are staffed by employment
specialists who are a part of a clinical treatment
team. Employment specialists meet weekly and
communicate frequently with team members.
• SE is individualized. All choices and decisions
about work are based on consumers’ preferences,
strengths, and experiences.
Core components of
Supported Employment
SE is a well-defined approach to helping people
with mental illnesses find and keep competitive
employment. Competitive employment means
work in the community that anyone can apply for
that pays at least minimum wage. The wage should
not be less than the wage (and level of benefits)
paid for the same work performed by people who
do not have a mental illness.
Evidence-based SE incorporates the
following points:
• SE programs help anyone who expresses the
desire to work. Consumers are not excluded
because they are not “ready” or because of prior
work history, substance use, or symptoms.
Active ingredients of
Supported Employment
One of the unique features of SE is that the
important characteristics of this evidence-based
practice have been translated into program
standards to help programs replicate SE.
An instrument called the SE Fidelity Scale
summarizes the basic characteristics of SE.
The fidelity scale is available to help quality
assurance teams assess how closely their program
follows the SE model (See Evaluating Your
Program in this KIT).
Your SE leader will distribute this scale to you to
review and discuss during training.
Training Basic Elements Frontline and Staff Practice Principles 3 Module 1