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

Training Frontline Staff
Module 3: Assessment and Job Finding
Accurately assessing consumers’ interests and work experiences is critical to finding
a good job match between consumers and employers. In this module, we review the
basics of putting together a Vocational Profile, developing a plan for finding work, and
starting the job search process.
Assessment
While assessment plays an important role
in SE, extended periods of assessment are
initially avoided. Instead, employment
specialists first complete Vocational
Profiles to gather as much information as
quickly as possible.
Gathering information should not slow
the job search down if consumers want
to begin quickly looking for a job. The
goal is to help consumers explore job
opportunities within 1 month after they
start the SE program.
The Vocational Profile guides the job
search. It is the first step of assessment
and includes a review of consumers’ work,
preferences for type of work, and other
background information. Information
is collected from consumers, treatment
team members, the clinical record, and—
with permission—the consumers’ family
members and previous employers.
Although Vocational Profiles should
be completed within a few weeks
after consumers join the SE program,
assessment is ongoing and continues for
as long as consumers receive SE services.
The employment specialist updates
the profile with relevant information as
consumers look for jobs and as they work.
Training Assessment Frontline and Job Staff Finding 1 Module 3