In a previous blog I suggested that post placement support (PPS) is both art and science.
Some of our clients, because of the nature of their disability, require our assistance to continue past the start of their employment. Some workers may require a level of help for their entire working life.
PPS varies in the way in which it can be delivered and the range and type of help is as varied as the people that receive support.
PPS is tailored to the individual needs of the worker and should be adjusted to ensure it meets current need.
Examples
1. Mary has issues with her mental health, she sometimes appreciates a coffee break with her employment consultant as a means of helping her stay grounded. Her employment consultant gives her a phone call at the start of every working week just to check in and see how she’s coping. Mary has been employed for almost a year, the longest period of work in her adult life.
2. Steven has Down’s syndrome. He has been working in a factory for almost a month and his employment consultant starts work with him on each of the days he works. Together they are building Steve’s stamina and helping him develop a routine that he can remember and that will allow Steve to eventually become more autonomous in his work
Steve works 20 hours a week and in his first 4 weeks of employment his employment consultant has been on-site with him for more than 90% of the time. Based on their experience with other workers his employment consultant feels Steve will eventually only need to see him for a couple of hours each week.
3. Bob has an intellectual disability and has been working full time for 2 years. A couple of times each week (generally on a Monday and Wednesday morning) Bob’s employment consultant comes out to the workplace and checks in with Bob and Bob’s employer Rick. They often talk about how much Bob has improved in his attention to detail and in following the routine that they established for him
That said, Bob still needs reminders to stay on task and keep to time and Rick understands Bob’s employment consultant is a vital part of the team.
Depending on the level of disability suitable skilled disability employment service staff may be required to spend significant time at a workers new place of employment. Their role can include creating the social structures necessary to become part of the team and remain employed, demonstrating appropriate, supporting the new employers training programs and staff induction. Helping co-workers to understand the impact of disability and how to get the best from their new team member. Modelling safe work practices and so on.
Post Placement Support should be designed to ensure that the transition from unemployed person to valued member of the team is as smooth as possible. A change of role may see the reintroduction of more intensive support:
David has been working at a local supermarket for several years and his PPS consists of an occasional drop-in. However, his employer has contacted the disability employment service as they plan a significant renovation and will be moving all their stock around.
Since David’s reading and writing skills are very poor he relies on memory to find store items (customers really appreciate his unfailing ability to find what they are looking for as David has memorised the position of every stock item). The last time there was a change David became very distressed and his managers knows that effective post placement help can reduce the stress David feels – together, David his manager and employment consultant work out a 4 week plan to re-orient David to the new layout.
So post placement support CAN be a phone call but is generally much more and frequently includes very significant on-site commitment.
The provision of PPS is vital to keep people with significant disability in work. This effort was clearly foreseen by the writers of the Disability Services Act and was until recently something that Disability Employment Services automatically factored into their service delivery.
That’s changed. I know this is a fact because other service provider staff tell me that ‘they don’t do PPS’ or program staff ring my teams to see if we’ll do it for them!
Why the exclamation mark?
Because as has been repeatedly demonstrated the best model of service deliver sees the same person work with the individual who has a disability from their registration to their eventual vocational independence. To be effective at PPS you need to truly have an understanding of the person you are working with and that only comes with time.
You don’t play ‘pass the parcel’ if you are working with people that have significant support needs and these are the very people disability employment services were created for.
It’s also a great shame that the present model for evaluating service delivery seems to actively discriminate against the provision of on-going support (a lot more on this soon)
Would you like a face-to-face meeting with Martin via Skype? Click the button below to make an appointment
Subscribe to this Blog - blog.novaemployment.com.au Copy the link above and paste it into your favourite Reader to subscribe to an RSS feed of this blog. To watch a short video explanation of RSS and how it helps you save time reading the web click here
Your Comments There are currently no comments on this article
Previous Posts
Big Win! Saturday night saw a big win for the NOVA team and for people with disability when our Podcast partners NOVA Entertainment- no relationship other than mates - received the following:
BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST - BRANDED
Focus On Ability; Nova Employment & the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team , NOVA Entertainment
BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST - UNBRANDED
Hamish & Andy; Hamish Blake & Andy Lee, PodcastOne Australi
Taken from the web: https://www....
Good Result!
Received the following yesterday morning:
Hi Nova, just wanted to give my feedback in regards to my mother getting a job through you guys and the amazing impact it has had!! The job that mum has received has changed her outlook on everything! She is now much more confident in her self and her abilities....
Welfare Benefits and Health
It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's truer that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power: David Brin
DES providers don't need nor should they have been given the authority to suspend welfare benefits (see above)....
Disgusting!
Disgusting!: https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2019/07/ndis-data-drop-reveals-severe-employment-gaps/
I have spoken previously on, to quote former President Bush, 'the soft bigotry of low expectations' - if you are a member of a marginalised group the public don't expect much and are surprised when anything much is achieved!
I've been in this game for more than 30 years and have been privileged to see literally thousands of terrific men and women leave NOVA To gain (and retain) great jobs....
Goodness me!
Goodness me!
Read this article: https://www.smh.com.au/national/no-lights-no-linen-how-alex-survived-for-six-years-on-newstart-20190717-p5284q....
Changing Attitudes
One of the hardest things to do is change a person's attitude - if they are favourably disposed to you, all's well and good - if someone holds a contrary view it's an uphill battle to change a mindset....
Retention Retention, Retention!
Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, something comes along that causes you to stop and to reconsider the way your business is conducted....
Properly Caring
Much is made about the easy life enjoyed by people on welfare - we've all seen the 'news' items that show flagrant abuse of the system with welfare recipients engaged in employment or other activities that conflict with the obligation to inform Centrelink of change in status or simply as a means of defrauding the Commonwealth....
2 Things
2 Things:
First:
About the middle of February I wrote: i. "NOVA Needs You!
We are presently engaged in a very significant recruitment drive and are particularly keen to hear from folk with disability and/or sales experience to join our team of Employment Consultants - THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB - you need to be resilient, self sacrificing and have stacks of smarts and even then we only take the best....
We're struggling!
NOVA Needs You!
We are presently engaged in a very significant recruitment drive and are particularly keen to hear from folk with disability and/or sales experience to join our team of Employment Consultants - THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB - you need to be resilient, self sacrificing and have stacks of smarts and even then we only take the best....
Extraordinary Results
When Government Star Ratings seem designed to celebrate the ordinary, it is a pleasure to be able to share a terrific piece of selfless effort on behalf of others....
Whats wrong with Employment Services II? What's wrong with Employment Services II
My mum used to frequently admonish my brothers and I with the words, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again'....
Whats wrong with Employment Services? There's rumours of a shake-up in the Job Active program - word is, the program isn't making a real difference and employers don't like it!
There's plenty of evidence to suggest that, despite the best intent of Government and funding body, the Disability Employment Service (DES) is similarly in the doldrums....
I need you! Comrades
NOVA needs you - we are very keen to enlist new members of our organisation.
Here's what you need: the patience of Job, the strength of the Hulk, the wisdom of Solomon and a selfless devotion caring for the needs of others worthy of Mother Teresa....
Tragic Loss People with Disability lost a true champion last Wednesday with the unexpected passing of a truly great man, the Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion Australia and a dear friend Mr Paul Cain....
Fair Warning
I'm giving fair warning of my intention to expose examples of the current DES-ESS contract's exploitation.
I have written to the Commonwealth expressing my concerns about clear manipulation of the present contract....
Fundamentals
The new contract for Disability Employment Services (DES) will not bring performance improvement.
Government will scratch it's head, blame the economy, blame people with disability, talk about educating employers and spend money on consultations before coming to the conclusion that people with disability must meet more stringent 'mutual obligations'....
100%
Each year, around about the International Day of People with a Disability (IDPwD) NOVA Employment holds a formal graduation for students that have participated in our pre-employment programs....
Profiting from poverty
Profiting from Poverty
I am genuinely horrified by this disaster: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/02/the-demerit-system-is-ruthless-social-policy-designed-to-keep-the-poor-powerless
I believe that we presently represent the job hopes of around 1500 people, in various stages of their progression to independent employment....
New Contract but no change!
New Contract but no change!
Today marks the first day of a new Disability Employment Service (DES) contract.
There are new players and new rules....
Subscribe to this Blog