Partners with Business CoWorker Support Training Training Outline

Partners with Business Co-Worker Support Training

Training Outline I. Supported Employment Overview II. Overview of Partners with Business III. Role of Supported Employment Agency IV. Best Practices for Coaching to Promote Independence and Good Work Performance V. Worker Specific Information: Support plan, Communication and Learning style VI. Contact for SE Agency and Back Up Plan VII. Monthly Invoice and Progress Reporting

What is Supported Employment? • Supported Employment began in early 1970’s during the Independent Living movement • Supported Employment is defined in federal legislation • Supported Employment involves publicly funded services that help people with the most significant disabilities to find and maintain community, integrated employment • Types of Supported Employment services include: assessment, job development, and job coaching

Supported Employment Values People with disabilities…. • Can work in the community, no matter how significant their disabilities, with the right job match and the right support. • Have the right to earn a prevailing wage (at least minimum wage or more). • Should be given opportunities to advance in employment. • Should receive the same supervision and supports from their bosses and coworkers at work as their peers without disabilities. • Can learn complex tasks with positive support and coaching. • Should be welcomed at work and supported to make meaningful connections with coworkers.

Supported Employment Best Practices • Gaining an understanding a person’s unique skills, interests and abilities • Matching these skills and interests to the right job in the community • Being a resource to employers on how to successfully employ and interact with people with disabilities • Cultivating natural supports at work with supervisors and coworkers • Using positive instructional techniques to help a person learn tasks and gain independence • Fading formal job coaching supports over time as a person gains independence at work

What Are Co-Worker Supports? • Designated coworker(s) provide extra help to a worker with disabilities so they can be successful on the job, rather than having a job coach from a supported employment agency. • The employer signs a Partners with Business agreement and is reimbursed for the costs of providing the formal support. • The supported employment agency checks in with the employer and coworkers once a month to evaluate progress and determine if changes are needed.

What Does Partners With Business Cover? • Supports that would otherwise be provided by a supported employment job coach. • Support that a job coach typically provides can include: • • Teaching specific job tasks and skills Supervision or direct assistance to complete specific job tasks Quality checks Redirection and reminders Social or emotional support Problem solving Monitoring health and safety

What Doesn’t Partners with Business Cover? • Natural supports that have already been negotiated with the employer that are provided through coworkers and supervisors or supervisory/co-worker supports rendered as a normal part of the business setting that would otherwise be provided to an employee without a disability.

What are the Expected Outcomes of Partners With Business? For the Worker For the Employer • Success and Satisfaction on the job • Direct supervision and oversight • Integration and inclusion at work • Satisfaction with the worker • Independence to the greatest extent possible • Understanding how to support the worker’s success • Fading supports as independence grows • Support and back up from the Supported Employment Agency when requested • Long term, committed employee

Role of the Supported Employment Agency • Identify support needs of the Supported Employee (i. e. Job Support Assessment) • Assist the Employer to identify possible supervisors/coworkers to provide supports • Conduct background checks on possible supervisors/coworkers who may provide supports • Keep details of the background checks confidential • Develop and share a Partners with Business Employee Profile for the Supported Employee and the Employer • Provide initial Partners with Business training to supervisors/coworkers

Best Practices to Support Independence at Work • Understand what motivates the worker • Understand the learning style of the worker • Reinforce the worker in ways that matter to him/her • Use the least intrusive methods for support - provide prompts and assistance only when needed (avoid enabling, hovering or over supporting) • Adapt worksites and tasks. (e. g. rearrange work space or task order to improve flow, color-code objects, create visual aids or tasks list, be creative!)

Role of the Supported Employment Agency Continued • Assist with transition from job coaching to co-worker paid supports • Provide monthly check in/follow along services to evaluate progress and address concerns • Obtain and process monthly invoice/progress report from Employer • Review agreement with Employer every 6 months • Renew agreement annually with Employer • Submit necessary reports to funder of Supported Employment services

Best Practices to Support Independence at Work • Give the worker time to learn and adapt to new tasks and expectations • If teaching new tasks, model the task first, do it together, then observe the worker doing it to determine where they might need additional support to learn all the steps. • If the worker makes errors, give clear and constructive feedback. Demonstrate/model how the task should be done.

Best Practices to Support Independence at Work • Sometimes people need support with ‘soft skills’ such as cooperation, flexibility, work initiative, accountability, following direction, communication. • Ways to foster soft skills are through reminders, role playing/talking through examples, and modeling • Behavior is a form of communication. Some people may not be able to verbally express when they are stressed out, confused, tired or overwhelmed.

Meet [Supported Employee’s Name] • Give a short introduction about the supported employee – name, interests, employment background, specific talents and skills • Include a photo of the person

[Name]’s Support plan Provide details about the support plan you have developed with the employer

[Name]’s Communication Style

[Name]’s Learning Style

When to Contact Us • Describe when the employer should contact your agency. This may be different for each Partners with Business employer.

How to Contact Us • Add your agency contact info

Back Up Plan • Describe the back up plan in place

Monthly Invoice and Progress Report • Provide step by step instructions on the invoicing and progress reporting process you have negotiated with the employer

Thank you! • Thank you for being a Partners with Business employer!