The objectives of this week’s blog are:
Last week’s blog explained the different responsibilities a Job Coach has on a work site and how they can help support a new employee. This week we will examine how a Job Coach is different to an Employment Support Practitioner (ESP)- an ESP works at your local employment agency. So, what exactly is the difference? I asked a local ESP to explain her role and she said this: The role of the Employment Support Practitioner is to provide support to clients who identify as having multi-barriers to employment. The support can range from assistance with pre-employment, on-the-job as well as post-employment including job-carving. The fact that the ESP case-load is smaller than that of a Job Developer allows the ESP to spend more one-on-one time with the client and to go at the pace set by the client. An ESP can work with a client anywhere from 3-months to a year depending on the needs of the client as well as a one-time intervention. The ESP Intervention is based on the individualized needs of the client and, as such, can vary depending upon what those needs may be at any given time. An ESP is able to act as a go-between for the client and the employer (as long as the client has disclosed) or it can take the shape of providing off-site support to the client. Each client has different barriers and challenges so there is really no “typical” ESP client. In many respects, the ESP role is constantly evolving and changing as dictated by the various needs and supports of the client and by where they are in terms of employment. Whereas a Job Developer client may be more self-sufficient and ready “to hit the ground running” with respect to employment readiness, the ESP client may need much more pre-employment support or job-readiness skills. What a great service coming out of our local employment agencies! If you feel this type of support would benefit you, please ensure that you are attached to one of the many employment agencies across the city. These agencies include YMCA Dartmouth, Halifax and Cole Harbour, Job Junction, Teamwork Cooperative etc. If you are confused about these agencies, feel free to contact our Employment Support Coordinator at [email protected] for more information. Autism Nova Scotia's Employment Support Coordinator also helps to support new employees and works closely with the Employment Support Practitioner on some jobs. A Job Coach will work 1:1 with an employee on the job for 8-12 weeks. Sometimes, after a Job Coach has transitioned away, an ESP will take over and provide support one a weekly basis. This ensures that support is on-going until the employee feels they no longer need the support and will be successful in long term employment. Job Coaches and ESPs also work closely with employers. This is vitally important because it allows the Job Coach/ESP to understand what successes and challenges the employee may face when first new to a job. A Job Coach or ESP will discuss further with the employer how they, together, can help the employee be successful. Whether you need 1:1 support on the job or occasional checks in for success, support is always vital when starting a new job.
0 Comments
The objectives for today’s post are as follows:
1. To define what a job coach does and the role of the job coach. 2. To explain the overall goal of the job coach. 3. To explain what outside of work job coach support is. 4. To provide information about the types of things you will see a job coach do. Many job seekers I meet with during the Ready, Willing, & Able intake think a Job Coach is a person who will do the job for the employee. If this is what you thought too, you are incorrect. On the work site, a Job Coach:
information that will help them do their best at the job.
When the employee is independently completing their job tasks, navigating their work environment, and has the necessary advocacy skills and strategies to ask for accommodations and adaptations to handle change in the work environment on their own, the Job Coach will transition away.The Job Coach usually works for 8-12 weeks on the job with the employee, slowly transitioning until the employee is completely independent. The role of a Job Coach is diverse. First and foremost, a Job Coach supports the employee, however, Job Coaches are also required to understand the needs and expectations of the employer and become familiar with the work site and various job tasks involved with the employee’s job. The overall goal of a Job Coach is to ensure the employee gains independence within their job, advocates successfully for supports and utilizes natural supports that exists in their workplace.Natural Supports are people within the workplace with whom you can turn to for help and assistance when the Job Coach has faded from the job. What will you see a Job Coach doing?
Here is what one job seeker has to say about receiving Job Coach support: Having a Job Coach helped one job seeker “feel less anxious when I started working. I knew she would help me learn how to do my job properly, and gain confidence. She also helped me understand my supervisors' expectations and to become more comfortable communicating with co-workers. I was sad when she finished, but I knew I was ready.” But what if you’re a job seeker who needs support, just not on the job? Autism Nova Scotia also offers 1:1 support outside the job provided by Autism Works or your Employment Agency. It is common for some employees to work with a Job Coach outside the work place to navigate the social situations of a workplace. For instance, a Job Coach working outside the job could work with the employee on knowing when to end a conversation, unwritten rules of a workplace or anything the employee feels they wish to improve upon. Job Coaches who provide support outside the workplace are still required to understand the needs and expectations of the employer and become familiar with the work site environment and various tasks involved with the employee’s job. The Job Coach is also expected to ensure the employee gains independence within their job by applying the skills they are learning and teaching the job seeker when/where to recognize and use natural supports that exists in their workplace. If you’re a job seeker who needs a Job Coach or a job seeker who requires support outside of the work place contact Sheila Pearson with Autism Works. Autism Works has a list of qualified, trained Job Coaches who can work 1:1 with an employee on or off the job. If you have been hired for a job and need a Job Coach contact Sheila Pearson at [email protected] Objectives
Ready, Willing and Able strives to provide job supports for underemployed autistic individuals throughout Canada. But what exactly does that mean? Job supports vary greatly and differ between individuals because everyone is different! There are three major types of job supports that job coaches and employment agencies can provide to autistic individuals: Adaptations Adaptations refer to changing something within the workplace so the employee is supported in a more inclusive environment. For instance, it might be necessary for a job coach to shadow the employee and then write down the “unwritten rules” of the workplace for the individual to better understand the social norms of their environment. This can extend to alterations to the employer’s training process itself, such as adapting the training manual to break down the information visually. These changes relate to the accessibility of the workplace. Making changes to the physical environment and how the employee relates to that environment allows them to better adapt to their new job. Accommodations Many individuals on the spectrum require routine to succeed in the workplace. Others have difficulty with certain motor skills or time management/organization skills. This is where accommodations such as physical supports and tools can be identified and implemented by the job coach and employer. For instance, an individual with autism may be tasked with cleaning the lobby of a restaurant. They require the use of a broom to sweep the floors and a cloth to wipe down tables. However, this individual is used to a certain type of broom and has difficulty using other brooms. While on-site or in follow-up discussions with the client, a job coach would be able to identify this hurdle and prompt the employee to address it with the employer to provide them with a broom they’re used to using. This is only one example, but accommodations refer to any support that can be provided in the workplace by the employer and/or job coach that allow the employee to succeed and accomplish their tasks. Natural Supports Developing healthy relationships in the workplace is one of the most important supports that a job coach and employer can provide for their autistic employee. More often than not, a friendly face who is willing to answer questions makes the difference between a successful and failed transition into a working environment. Support from colleagues, supervisors, and other staff members at every level of the organization will help an employee with autism feel comfortable in their new work environment. Ensuring natural supports exist outside of the workplace can benefit an autistic employee as well. Continued support from family, friends, employment agencies, and job coaches guarantees that the employee will have a person to turn to with any difficulties or problems they might be facing. This is why RWA job coaches continue to offer support to their clients following their successful transition into a workplace environment. These internal and external supports can reduce employee turnover and increase quality of life for the autistic individual. Help Yourself! Job coaches will not be around forever. That is why one of the most significant supports that we provide is teaching the employee to advocate for themselves in the workplace. For instance, instead of raising a question or issue with a job coach, the employee learns to approach the employer directly. Self-advocacy promotes independence is all aspects of daily life and is a crucial skill to learn to enjoy a healthy workplace environment. What is Employment Support?
The objectives of the below blog are as follows:
1:1 Job Coaches- Autism Works has a roster of qualified, Autism trained Job Coaches who can work 1:1 with a new employee on the job. The Job Coach does not complete the work for the employee, but instead assists in implementing accommodations and adaptations to help the employee do the job. This could be in the form of checklists, timers, visual aids etc. They also help the employee to self advocate for their needs in the workplace. Often it is difficult, especially if it is your first job, to know when and what to say to your manager if you require assistance, vacation time, or a sick day. A Job Coach can help script/role play these incidents with you. Job Coaches also help to build natural supports. Natural supports are people within the workplace you can turn to for help and assistance when the Job Coach has transitioned from the job. The Job Coach usually works for 8-12 weeks on the job with the employee until they are completely independent. 1:1 support outside the job provided by Autism Works or your Employment Agency- Sometimes an employee can do the job without a Job Coach on-site but needs support to navigate the social situations of a workplace. For instance, a Job Coach working outside the job could work with the employee on knowing when to end a conversation, unwritten rules of a workplace or anything the employee feels they wish to improve upon. If the employee has disclosed to the employer, the Job Coach will also speak to them to ensure that everything is going smoothly on the job site. The meetings are usually once a week for an hour and can last for up to 2 months or 8 sessions. Employment Support from your Employment Agency- Teamwork Cooperative, Opportunity Place and YMCA Employment Agencies have specific roles within their agencies called ‘Employment Support Practitioner’ (ESP). This role is beneficial if the employee needs a check in once or twice a week for 30 mins or so. If needed, the ESP can stay longer on the job as well. The ESP will also talk to the employer and ensure that the employee is performing in a successful way. Support can also mean obtaining financial assistance to assist you in purchasing equipment needed for the job. For example, if your new job requires you to wear steel toe boats, Ready, Willing and Able can help you in buying this equipment. Each type of Employment Support is equally important and can be the difference between maintaining or losing a job. Support on the job can be helpful to both employee and employer and help bridge the communication between the two. If you have recently secured a job opportunity OR are an employer eager to find out more about employment support in the workplace, feel free to contact the Employment Support Coordinator at Autism Nova Scotia for further information and consultation. She can be reached at [email protected]. |
Archives
November 2017
Categories |