EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Originally, this program began as a grant from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in 1991.  The program is designed to assist persons with mental health, mental retardation, and/or physical disabilities in securing and maintaining employment in the competitive job market.  This is accomplished through assessment, job readiness training, job development, job placement, on-the-job training, and follow-up services.  Placement is designed to accommodate an individual’s interests, disabilities and abilities.  Successful placements have occurred in various settings (i.e., industrial, food service, custodial, etc.) throughout Elk and Cameron Counties.  The program is funded through the Cameron and Elk County MH/MR Administrative Office and in part by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. 

REALISTIC JOB PREVIEW

 A typical workweek for the Job Development Specialist and the Job Coach starts at 8:00 a.m. on Monday.  Initiating in the Office in order to coordinate the weekly schedule and to provide the Administrative Staff with any necessary paperwork (i.e. time sheets, and progress notes) from the previous week, as it is imperative that all paperwork is available by 8:30 a.m. every Monday morning to the Administrative Staff.  The ESS Staff must be flexible with their time in order to meet such needs.  

8:00 a.m.          Job Coach/Developer hours may vary throughout the week.  Must be flexible because individual may call off work. 

8:30 a.m.          Provide Administrative Staff with previous week paperwork.

8:45 a.m.          Drives from Ridgway to St. Mary’s to Jobsite

9:15 a.m.        The Job Coach would begin assisting the individual at the job site from 9:15 until 12:30.  The Job Coach would assure that the individual is following the routine.  If it is taking too long to separate items the Job Coach will suggest ways too increase speed. Some reasons for being slow at this task may include: talking excessively, the individual may not be able to concentrate due to environmental distractions, etc. The Job Coach would also help the individual “punch out” at the end of the working day.

12:00 p.m.        The Job Coach takes a lunch break. 

12:30 p.m.        The Job Coach would drive to Emporium to a grocery store.

1:00 p.m.        The Job Coach would go to this business where an individual has already been working to monitoring how he is doing.  The Job Coach would meet with the supervisor to discuss if the employee is meeting the businesses expectations. If there were areas of concern the Job Coach would then address these issues. 

2:00 p.m.          The Job Coach drives back to Ridgway to the office

3:00 p.m.          The Job Coach completes necessary paperwork reviewing their day.

4:30 p.m.          End of the working day.  

Another example of Job Coach

9:00 a.m.         Office-received phone call from hospital requesting that Job Coach to come in tonight because a cleaning staff has not been doing a satisfactory job.

10:00 a.m.        Begin in St. Mary’s at a business Job Coaching an individual the entire shift.

11:30 a.m.        Lunch

12:00 p.m.        Continue Job Coaching the individual

2:00 p.m.          The individual’s shift is complete.

2:15 p.m.          Go home

8:00 p.m.        Went to the hospital to work with an individual.  Discussed with the individual that the employer requested that the Job Coach assist them with their job duties in order for the individual to perform the duties accurately.  The Job Coach would once again review the task analysis (a synopsis of the job duties).  The Job Coach would recommend that the individual check of each duty as the task is completed.  They would also discuss any issues, which may be causing any personal distractions (i.e. medication changes, marital problems, sleeping patterns, etc.).

12:30 a.m.        Shift completed. 

JOB DEVELOPER

8:00 a.m.        Day begins in office.  Review client list and determine which clients will need jobs.   Establish where the individual wishes to work.   Begin contacting employers to discuss the program and incentives.  Set up appointment to meet at 2:00 p.m. today. 

9:30 a.m.          Meet with an individual to make a resume and to do job readiness skills.  Practice interviews.

11:30 a.m.        lunch

12:00 p.m.       Meet with Intensive Casemanager to discuss why the individual will not accept any of the jobs offered.  It is determined that anxiety of actually accepting a job makes the person nervous.  We discussed ways to help alleviate the individual’s anxiety.  We then determined to perform a Community Base Work Assessment.  The individual will perform a variety of jobs at different locations as a volunteer.  The Job Coach will be available the entire time for guidance and support. After this assessment is completed the Job Coach will complete a summary on the individual’s strengths and weaknesses in order to place them appropriately

1:00 p.m.          Meeting for an Individual Support Plan

1:45 p.m.         Drive to a local business in Ridgway to job develop.  Discuss what position they may have available and the person we believe could perform the job.

Discuss what a job coach could do to help individual and the Employer.  Explain tax incentives for hiring a person from our program. 

2:30 p.m.         Drive to St. Mary’s to a meeting at an individuals home to discuss hygiene concerns.

5:00 p.m.          end of the day.

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