Here’s all you need to know about Supported Employment, Job Coaching, Job Carving, Job Tasting, and the inclusion of people with disability in the workplace.
This project has been funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector on behalf of the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties
Supported Employment
- Supported employment refers to service provisions wherein people with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, mental health, and traumatic brain injury, among others, are assisted with obtaining and maintaining employment.
- Supported Employment focuses on the ABILITY not the DISABILITY. Supported Employment focuses on STRENGTHS not WEAKNESSES
- In Supported Employment, work placements often turn into an opportunity for the employer to consider employing the individual on a more permanent basis especially as the job seeker can demonstrate their own skills, abilities and motivation whilst undertaking a work experience placement.
Work Placements & Job Tasters
- Work Placements and Job Tasters are essential in Supported Employment – they help to develop skills and opportunities for work.
- Work placements and job tasters give individuals the opportunity to understand one’s own job preferences, likes/dislikes, strengths and weaknesses within a particular workplace environment.
- Work placements and job tasters give individuals the opportunity to add an experience to their application form, CV and an area to discuss at a job interview, thus improving their employment prospects.
- Work placements and job tasters boost an individual’s confidence and self-esteem
- Work placements and job tasters give individuals insight into what real employment is like and help assess their own skills and stamina
- Work placements and job tasters give individuals the opportunity to develop new skills and build on existing ones
Job Coaching & Job Carving
- Job carving is when a job is created by identifying parts of a job or tasks that the employer needs completing and can be completed by the job seeker. It can take imagination and creativity on behalf of both the employer and the Job Coach, but in many cases it can lead to a successful employment outcome.
- The job coach is a resource for employers and co-workers of the person with a disability. The employer may consult the job coach, if there are changes in workplace equipment, for example, to determine whether the supported employee needs specific additional training to enable him or her to use the new equipment.
- The Job Coach provides training on the job – at the place of work.
- Training is tailored to the specific requirements of the job as determined by the employer, as well as the support needs identified for the job seeker.
- The Job Coach provides training in several areas aiming at increasing the independence of the individual with a disability.
- The job coach is a resource for employers and co-workers of the person with a disability. The employer may consult the job coach, if there are changes in workplace equipment, for example, to determine whether the supported employee needs specific additional training to enable him or her to use the new equipment.
- The job coach may also be consulted when problems arise at the workplace and the employer or co-worker cannot deal with these.
- The job coach must involve co-workers of the person with a disability with supported employment methods and with their role in the process.
- The Job Coach monitors the amount of support required and evaluates the roles of the employer, co-workers.
Other facts about supported employment
In supported employment all parties are to agree regarding the changes, adjustments and the understanding of the roles and duties:
- The Person with a Disability
- The Employer
- The Job Coach
- In Supported Employment, the individual with a disability is supported to participate in all regular employee introduction, probation, performance and development procedures.
- In Supported Employment, the amount of job support needed is often higher at the beginning of a new job and can be faded over time
- Job support is an interactive process supporting the employee to successfully take over new roles and to foster his or her professional and personal development
- The Job Coach works with the employee and the employer to determine preferred training and learning approaches, adaptations and support strategies which meet the individual needs and fit into the company culture.
- A co-worker can act as mentor for the new employee to support him or her in the company and to act as a contact person for the Job Coach.
