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

Practice principles of
Supported Employment
SE programs are based on a core set of practice
principles. These principles form the foundation of
the program.
Practice principles of SE
• Eligibility is based on consumer choice.
• SE services are integrated with comprehensive
mental health treatment.
• Competitive employment is the goal.
Principle 1: Eligibility is based on
consumer choice
All consumers who want to participate in SE are
eligible—no one is excluded. Consumers who
are interested in work are not prevented from
participating in SE regardless of their psychiatric
diagnosis, symptoms, work history, or other
problems, including substance abuse and cognitive
impairment.
The core philosophy of SE is that all consumers can
work at competitive jobs in the community without
prior training, and no one should be excluded from
this opportunity.
SE does not try to bring consumers to some
preconceived standard of “work readiness” before
they seek employment. Consumers are “work
ready” when they say they want to work. Research
shows that symptoms, substance abuse, and other
consumer factors are not strong and consistent
barriers to work when consumers receive assistance
from an SE program. Therefore, no justification
exists for excluding consumers who are interested
in work from SE programs.
• Personalized benefits counseling is important.
• Job searches start soon after consumers
express interest in working.
• Follow-along supports are continuous.
• Consumer preferences are important.
Principle 2: SE services are integrated with
comprehensive mental health treatment
Closely coordinating SE services with other
mental health rehabilitation and clinical treatment
ensures that all mental health practitioners (not
just the employment specialist) support consumers’
vocational goals. For this reason, it is important that
you participate regularly in clinical treatment team
meetings.
Participating in team meetings gives you a vehicle
to discuss clinical and rehabilitation issues relevant
to work, such as the following:
• Medication side effects;
• Persistent symptoms (e.g., hallucinations);
• Cognitive difficulties; or
• Other rehabilitation needs (e.g., skills training to
improve ability to socialize with co-workers or
self-assertion skills).
Moreover, regular contact with team members
(phone or face-to-face meetings) also allows you to
help consumers achieve vocational goals.
Training Basic Elements Frontline and Staff Practice Principles 5 Module 1