Supported Employment
Supported Employment is a project run by the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties aimed at helping individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities, or suffering from mental illness to integrate and find their place in the working world. By focusing on the abilities and strengths of the person, the programme seeks to create a win-win situation where both the employer and the new employee achieve their objectives. How does it work? For Supported Employment to be successful, collaboration is required between the job seekers, the job coaches and the employers. Most job seekers who access Supported Employment services have not been in employment for a while or have not had any employment opportunities since leaving school and are therefore unsure of their own job preferences, strengths and difficulties.
This situation is tackled through Work Placements and Job Tasters, whereby the employer provides an opportunity for the job seeker to experience a work environment. This enables the individual to develop skills while understanding better their job preferences, likes/dislikes and strengths and weaknesses within the workplace. Moreover, Work Placements often result into an employer who considers employing an individual on a more permanent basis after the latter would have demonstrated one’s own skills, abilities and motivation.
The Job Seekers are accompanied by the Job Coach, who supports them in the learning process of adapting to the work place. The Job Coach works with the employee and the employer to determine the preferred training and learning strategies which meet an individual’s needs and fit into the company culture. The support given aims at promoting a person’s independence by giving only as much assistance as is needed and is gradually faded out as practice makes the person more skilled.
This information is brought to you by Inspire and The Richmond Foundation, as part of the campaign IT WORKS, through funding and management by the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme.