Evidence-Based Practices:
Shaping Mental Health Services Toward Recovery
Supported Employment
Workbook
Chapter 6: Assessment
Chapter overview
An accurate assessment of the consumer’s interests and work experience is critical to finding a good job match between the consumer and the employer. In this chapter we review the basics of putting together a vocational profile and developing a plan for finding work.
While assessment plays an important role in supported employment, extended periods of assessment are avoided. Instead, the employment specialist gathers as much information as quickly as possible to begin the job search process at a pace set by the consumer. The gathering of information should not slow down the process if the consumer wants to begin the job search quickly. The profile information helps to guide the planning process. Rather than assessment all occurring at the beginning of the program, assessment is ongoing. The employment specialist updates the profile with relevant information as the consumer looks for and works in jobs. Traditional vocational assessment using sheltered job experiences, work adjustment activities, and testing are avoided.
Using this chapter
In the sections that follow, case examples are used to demonstrate the components of completing a vocational profile and developing an employment plan:
- Gathering comprehensive information from a variety of sources
- Developing an employment plan
- Revising and updating the assessment and employment plan based on consumers’ experiences
After reading the vignettes, please challenge yourself by writing out a vocational profile before reading on.
Remember:
Assessment and employment planning strategies:
- find out about the consumer’s job interests and work experience
- explore how important people in the consumer’s life see work
- explore job possibilities with the consumer by walking around the community together and visiting possible workplaces
- develop a plan with the consumer for finding a job
Supervisor’s note
This chapter lends itself to group teaching and discussion.
Use these vignettes, or others from your experience, to help employment specialists broaden their understanding of assessment.
Gathering Assessment Information
This section describes Darryl, who has met with his employment specialist to learn about supported employment, and is now ready to begin talking about possible jobs.
Case history: Darryl’s Story
Darryl is a 29-year-old man with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. He takes lithium for mood swings which he says has helped him to stay out of the hospital. He lives with his girlfriend who works full time as a paralegal in a large law firm. Darryl came to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 12 with his two brothers to live with his grandparents.
Darryl’s brothers are very successful vocationally. One owns a clothing store and the other is an accountant. They have both tried to help Darryl in the past, but have become overwhelmed by his symptoms and his drinking.
Over the past year Darryl has experienced increased periods of depression, has isolated himself in his apartment, and has begun to drink more. He has not worked in several years. Darryl completed three years of college but dropped out when he began experiencing symptoms when he was 20 years old. Darryl said his dream was to be an architect. Darryl reported that over the past several years he has secured two jobs (as a dishwasher and at a fast food restaurant), but both times he did not show up for the first day of work.
Tackling the issues
If you were the employment specialist, what would you do?
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Reasonable responses
Some Possible Responses: There is no single correct answer as to how to handle this situation, but here are a few ideas.
You could explore with Darryl further about the kinds of work he is interested in, his skills, and what he would like to do. You could include questions about how the important people in his life see work, what types of jobs they have, and what their expectations for him are. Darryl has expressed an interest in architecture. What kinds of things about architecture interest Darryl most? Would he like to work in the construction business? Is he interested in design? Is he interested in the materials used in building? Has Darryl ever done any work related to architecture? In addition to talking with Darryl at greater length about his interest in architecture and related fields, you should inquire as to any specific skills Darryl might have that would help him land a job in his area of interest. Did Darryl take drafting courses when he was in school, learn about computer-assisted design or learn other practical information that he could apply on a job? Of course, it is possible that Darryl’s interests have changed, and this would lead you to explore other, newer interests. Talking with other team members, such as the case manager, therapist, or psychiatrist may reveal other interests and talents of Darryl that he hadn’t mentioned to the employment specialist. Involving Darryl’s girlfriend, brothers, or grandparents may facilitate identifying possible job leads, and addressing some of the possible problems raised below.
Talking with Darryl about his job aspirations may result in him expressing pessimism about his ability to fulfill his dreams, and increase his sense of self-defeat, possibly fueling his depression and drinking. The reasons for Darryl failing to show up for his two past jobs should be explored. Were they not interesting for Darryl? Was the money not important for him? If Darryl is still interested in architecture, you may need to encourage Darryl by helping him develop a plan in which he can take small but meaningful steps towards getting work in this area, and helping him see that it is possible for him to find a job that interests him. Depending on how serious Darryl is about pursuing architecture, you might also discuss the long-term possibility with him of returning to school to complete his B.A. degree, or to obtain some specialty skills that could be applied in his field of interest (e.g., taking a programming class).
Last, Darryl’s depression and drinking have both worsened in the past year. These problems need to be taken into account when considering possible jobs. You will need to discuss with Darryl what kinds of work he feels he could perform well despite the problems he has had in these areas. It may also be important to talk with Darryl about whether his drinking may interfere with fulfilling his job responsibilities (such as showing up on time for work, being able to focus on work), and to arrive at some tentative solutions for how to minimize the effects of his drinking. Also, talking with the treatment team about how others are addressing his drinking promotes consistent and coordinated planning.
Learning From Past Experiences
This section describes Janice, who has recently ended a job and is now ready to begin meeting with her employment specialist to discuss looking for a new job.
Case history: Janice’s Story
Janice is a 44-year-old woman with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Janice has been working as a cashier at a local department store for the past five months, and recently decided to quit her job. Janice was a good and valued employee; she was reliable, accurate, and had no problems with the customers. However, Janice said she did not enjoy handling the money, and over time found the work boring. Janice told her employment specialist that she thought being a cashier would be fun, but that once she had the routine down, there was no challenge left.
Janice is interested in working in sales, and she has always enjoyed textiles and clothing. She is an avid knitter, and once worked as an assistant to a tailor. Janice likes working with other people, but she wants to be involved in some aspect of sales before the customer’s decision has been made. Janice got along well with her employer, who was sorry to see her leave.
Tackling the issues
If you were the employment specialist, what would you do?
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________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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Reasonable responses
Some Possible Responses: There is no single correct answer as to how to handle this situation, but here are a few ideas.
As her employment specialist, you can help Janice view her last job as a valuable learning experience. Although her last job was in sales, Janice found out that she did not enjoy doing a job that simply involved handling the final part of the sale. Janice would like to work in sales, possibly in clothing or textiles, but would prefer more meaningful interactions with customers. Some jobs in this area would involve being a sales clerk, working in a specific department, or developing more expertise about a specific line of products.
Janice’s interest in textiles, including knitting, might be a clue to other possible jobs. Janice might enjoy working in the clothing department of a store (perhaps in the same department store she had her previous job), or a clothing store. Or Janice might want to pursue work in a store that sells textiles, handcraft work, or supplies for that industry.
You and Janice could obtain job leads from many possible sources, including the treatment team members, other employment specialists, and her family and friends. Does Janice belong to a knitting club, or other group who share an interest in textiles? Her boss at the last job liked Janice’s work, and might have ideas of other positions in the store, or other stores. Based on Janice’s experience in her last job, you and she know that the best job for Janice is one that involves doing sales in an area of interest (clothing or textiles), and not simply operating the cash register.
See Appendix
See Appendix B for a sample vocational profile and Appendix C for a sample individual employment plan.
Chapter summary
This chapter reviewed some assessment and employment planning strategies. Establishing a profile of a consumer’s strengths and interests will help you to match the person with a job that they are more likely to enjoy. Explore job opportunities that flow from a consumer’s interests and skills.
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