Customized Employment Strategies

What Works? What Doesn’t?

Job SeekerStrengths

PreferencesSupports

EmployerUnmet Needs

Negotiated CustomizedEmployment

Collaborative

Case Management

Team

Medical

Needs

Counseling

Family &

Social

Support

Job Supports

Training

Housing

Client &

Facilitator

Food

The client-centered, TEAM foundation:

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES TO PRACTICESTRENGTHS/CHOICE BASED APPROACH

1. DISCOVERY*

2. PERSONAL PROFILE* (Discovery Report)

3. JOB PLANNING MEETING* *We’ll focus on the three above today

4. Client Portfolio

5. Job Customization

6. Self Employment Development

DVRDVR Family/FriendFamily/Friend

CRPCRP PARTNER AGENCIESPARTNER AGENCIES

Client Driven;

FacilitatorHelping

Client Driven;

FacilitatorHelping

“Wrap Around Services” approach“Wrap Around Services” approach

Service TEAM is the KEY

Service team develops the best approach to a prospective employer using discovery

information (“personal profile”) to help job-develop for a customized position.

Customized job seeker meets unmet needs for an employer using discovery information.

JD

PlanningJD

Planning

Job MatchJob Match

Customized job

Customized job

Follow-up & Safety Net

Follow-up & Safety Net

Employer

Driven

Employer

Driven

Consumer

Driven

Consumer

Driven

“DISCOVERY” as the

foundation

“DISCOVERY” as the

foundation

What is “Discovery”? • Comprehensive research/biography into consumers

daily lives to learn their interests, supports, strengths and skills to better assist them in reaching their employment goals.

What we usually know about the people we try to assist

We need to know it all

The Iceberg Analogy of Discovery

DISCOVERY = Who is this Person?client complexities AND potential job contributions

Discovery Process

Responsibilities

Challenges

TransportationComplexities

Hobbies

SkillsInterest Areas

Education

Vocational Profile and Vocational Portfolio

• Profile is the written summary/biography of the individual’s Discovery; shared with team members-valuable information that could point to success and supports on the job.

• Portfolio is the visual resume showing interest, work skills and personal characteristics to be shown to prospective employers.

• Sample one page portfolio• Binder highlighted portfolio

Who does Discovery/Profile?

• Facilitated through a CRP/provider or lead case-manager

• Completed by the applicant, Self Directed Discovery

• Group or Peer Directed learning about the applicant

• Combination of above

Job Development Team Planning

• Service team & consumer work together to develop an individualized employment plan based on DISCOVERY/Personal Profile. It’s VERY specific; identifies employers to be approached, etc.

Job Negotiations• CEG job developer or team member approaches a

prospective employer with consumer portfolio to help develop a customized position. Customized job seeker meets unmet needs for an employer.

“Job Customization” Outcomes:• Carved Jobs: Job descriptions based on tasks

derived from a single traditional job• Negotiated Jobs: Job descriptions based on

tasks derived from a variety of jobs• Created Jobs: Job descriptions based on

heretofore unmet needs of a work setting• Contract Jobs: Carved, negotiated or created

job descriptions performed under a contract• Micro-enterprises: Small businesses based on

the unmet needs of a local market

CUSTOMIZING “SUCCESS”

• “Discover” complexities, individual strengths, capacity and interests to fully maximize client’s job potential

• Applicant’s resulting “profile” drives the employment process through a strength’s based, client centered approach

• “Customized placement” also meets individual employer needs

Final learning stage is PRACTICE:

• Build the service team• CRPs can help A LOT; Liza, Shane, Tracy• Use the “Customized Employment” manual• Complete Discovery; utilize profile examples• Develop the employment plan using that info• TA assistance available to implement: Margie Thomson at 465-3199 Sean O’Brien at 465-6969

For our clients and employers!

CE Reference Material:

• Alaska Customized Employment Website:

http://www.labor.state.ak.us/dvr/ceg.htm

Mike Calahan’s Discovery video:http://www.t-tap.org/training/onlineseminars/callahan/callahan_discovery.htm

SPECIAL THANKS!

Special thanks to “Employment for All” for serving as our master trainers; Mike Callahan, Civa Shumpert & Joe Skiba

In addition, BIG thanks to Margie & Liza for helping out on this training!