supported employment
TRANSCRIPT
SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
COMPENSATED WORK THERAPY PROGRAMWellness and Vocational Enrichment Clinic (WAVE)
ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
• Offers assistance and on-going support for veterans who are interested in returning to work.
• Approach is to assist the veterans in locating and maintaining competitive community based employment, working in jobs they prefer with the level of professional help they require.
ABOUT OUR CLIENTELE
• Honorably discharged veterans. • All walks of life and motivated.• Variety of skills and education levels.• Recovering from a physical and/or psychiatric
disability.• A desire to return to the work force.
HOW WE DO IT?
• Match veteran’s vocational preferences, skills and abilities with employer’s needs.
• Integrate and coordinate vocational services with medical/rehabilitation treatment.
• Provide job development and placement with or on behalf of the veteran.
WORKING WITH PARTERSHIPS
Some partnerships are already established. We work thru:
• Reciprocal relationships, • Co-enrollment,• No duplication of services (unless needed),
TEAM WORK and TEAM EFFORT for our shared goal.
OUR REFERRAL SYSTEM
• Our participants are pre-referred internally by a VA Medical Provider.
• Our community partners just need to direct their clients to the veteran’s primary care provider.
• Our participants have a medical clearance to work (stating they are physically and mentally able to work in the community).
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS
1. Supported Employment Program Orientation:
• Informed Consent• Rights & Responsibilities• Participation Agreement• Address questions/concerns
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS (cont.)
2. Vocational Assessment Profile• Identify veteran’s preferences, strengths, skills,
experience and clarify vocational goals.
• Identify services and supports necessary for veteran to be successful on a long term basis.
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS (cont.)
3. Individual Employment Plan:
Develop mutually agreed upon goals, objectives and action steps in a formalized manner to assist veteran reach vocational goal.
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS (cont.)
4. Traditional Job Preparation Services:
• Resume & Application assistance• Interviewing skills• Job search skills• Networking skills• Vocational counseling
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS (cont.)
5. Individualized Vocational Services:
• Identify and job develop opportunities of the veteran’s choosing.
• Provide support services such as transportation and/or accompany veteran to interviews if requested.
• Job “carving” that will mutually benefit the veteran and employer
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS (cont.)
6. Job Training:
Once employed, the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist is available to provide unobtrusive job coaching and mentoring at the job site as it is comfortable for the veteran & the employer.
OUR PROGRAM’S PROCESS (cont.)
7. Long term follow-up:
Supported employment services may continue for as long as the veteran desires in order to: • Develop natural supports in the workplace.• Facilitate job adjustment & satisfaction.• Develop community & social supports
The ultimate goal is for the veteran and employer match to be successful as possible.
SERVICES TO THE EMPLOYERS
• Match qualified job seekers to job openings.
• Listen to employer needs and make every effort to refer veterans with the appropriate skills and interests.
• Assistance with job analysis and development of a position description.
• Arrange interviews.
• Information regarding working with people with disabilities and addressing reasonable accommodations.
• Providing initial and follow up training of a new employee.
• On-going support and assistance to maximize successful job placements - to include job coaching and monitoring the progress of a new employee.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS
• Increased current workforce effectiveness and efficiency.
• Filling gaps in the current workforce.• Reduced costs of inefficient temporary help and
overtime wages.• Increased customer satisfaction.• A positive community image.• Employer Incentives such as the Federal Work
Opportunity Tax Credit.
A WIN – WIN - WIN OUTCOME
VETERAN
COMMUNITYTREATMENT
MAIN CONTACT INFORMATION
• Sabrina L. Castañeda, M.S., C.R.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
(619) 228-8025 – office(858) 518-6287 - mobile