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

Q: How would you address supports
related to Jack, his support network,
and workplace
While there is no single correct answer for handling
Jack’s situation, here are several approaches that you
might take:
Interventions aimed at the consumer’s
support network
Employment specialists are sometimes puzzled
by consumers’ behavior. In this case, Jack was
a very quiet person who got along well with his
employment specialist. His change in behavior was
puzzling.
As Jack’s employment specialist, you might want to
talk with his treatment team who knows him well
and could offer some answers. Jack’s case manager,
who has worked closely with him over time, can
offer a different perspective. In this case, Jack’s case
manager would tell you that the difficulty is not with
the global issue of work, but rather with the specific
job he has now.
Consumers may not always want to tell their
employment specialists what they are thinking in
terms of a job. Jack opened up to his case manager
that the boring nature of his job makes him feel that
he is going nowhere in life. Jack shared with his case
manager that he was angry with his employment
specialist for encouraging him to stick with this
job, not seeing how bad it makes him feel. In the
conversation with his case manager, Jack says, for the
first time, that he wants to go back to school to study
human services. The case manager tells Jack that
he is confident that his employment specialist will
support Jack’s goals.
Interventions aimed at the consumer
Gathering information from consumers’ support
network, including the treatment team and family
and other supporters helps employment specialists
better understand consumers’ goals. After meeting
with members of Jack’s support network, you’ll know
more about what Jack wants; you can assure Jack that
you support his vocational goals and that you will be
honored to be able to help in the process. You might
tell Jack about various programs you are aware of
and show him how to research jobs on the Internet.
Interventions aimed at the consumer’s
work environment
Employment specialists help consumers end jobs in
a good way. If at all possible, help Jack end his job
on good terms with his employer so he can obtain a
good job reference.
Jack might feel that he just cannot face his
employer after 3 days of unexcused absence. You
could then offer to explain the situation to Jack’s
employer. In the process, you’ll find out that Jack’s
employer has been worried about him and is
relieved to hear that he is safe. He says that if Jack
really has to leave, he would like Jack to work for
2 more weeks, which will give him a chance to try
to hire a replacement.
In summary, leaving a job may be a healthy decision
for consumers. Exploring consumers’ reasons for
wanting to leave and investigating if any other
options exist is useful before any final decision is
reached.
Of course, the ultimate decision to leave is up to
the consumer. If consumers decide to leave, your
role is to be a resource for them so that they may
leave the job in an informed and successful manner
The case manager then arranges to meet with Jack
and his employment specialist to work out a plan that
is consistent with Jack’s preferences and goals.
Module 34 8 Job Assessment Supports and and Collaborations
Job Finding