Supported Employment: Building Your Program - SAMHSA Store ...

working can obtain competitive jobs and sustainthem, if the job is a good match and the rightsupports are put in place. Some agencies hireemployment specialists who go for months withouthelping consumers find work.The SE leader may hear the employment specialistsay that consumers are not motivated, employerswill not hire people with mental illnesses, or highunemployment is the problem. In such cases,employment specialists’ doubts may impedeconsumers’ success. To effectively supportconsumers in obtaining and sustaining employment,employment specialists must wholeheartedlybelieve that consumers can work.Success as an employment specialist appears tohave less to do with academic credentials and moreto do with personal style and philosophy. Positive,high-energy, and enthusiastic people who have a“can do” attitude tend to do well.As you can see from the sample job descriptionon the next page, the employment specialists’ tasksare as varied as the skills needed to complete them.Employment specialists must have these skills: Counseling skills; Skills to engage consumers and employers; Business skills to conduct job searches; and Strong interpersonal skills.Good candidates generally come either from thebusiness community or from positions in vocationalrehabilitation services where they have workedvery closely with employers. Applicants who havetraining and experience in vocational programsthat use a step-wise approach may not be goodcandidates since they may reject SE principlessuch as rapid job search.Desired qualifications are as follows: Knowledge of serious mental illnesses (includingtreatment, medication, and the impact of mentalillnesses on vocational functioning); Ability to identify consumers’ interests, strengths,skills, abilities, and unique set of challenges andmatch them with jobs; Ability to identify and arrange long-term supportsto help consumers keep jobs; Ability to advocate effectively for consumerswith team members and employers; General knowledge and experiencein job development and marketing; Demonstrated ability to relate positivelywith employers in the community; and Working knowledge of a broad rangeof occupations and jobs.Successful employment specialists are typicallytask-oriented people who are outgoing and assertiveand who have the ability to engage all differenttypes of people, including consumers, familymembers, team members, and employers.Employment specialists must also be able to workboth independently and as team members—providing cross-coverage for SE team membersand participating in group supervision.Employment specialists must also enjoy workingin the community. Employment specialists spendmore than 60 percent of the time in the communitydeveloping jobs and providing support to consumersand employers. For this reason, employmentspecialists should enjoy knocking on doors, talkingto people in their community, putting people andideas together, and doing whatever it takes to helpconsumers reach their vocational goals.Hiring employment specialists who have livedin the community and are familiar with the localbusinesses is helpful for conducting successfuljob searches.People who become good employment specialistsdo not necessarily come to the job with all theabove qualifications. Some people can acquireknowledge and skills on the job as long as theyare smart and eager to learn. Training and goodsupervision — along with the lessons learnedBuilding Your Program 19 Tips for Agency Administrators and SE Leaders