What is Supported Employment?

The term supported employment refers to a system of services that helps people with disabilities get jobs. These services place individuals – also called clients – in real-world work environments, and program staff provide ongoing, as-needed support to help the clients succeed. The people who receive assistance through these agencies typically have disabilities such as psychiatric disorders, traumatic brain injuries, mental retardation, or learning disorders. Supported employment programs can help clients find and keep employment in a client's community, making it possible for them to earn a competitive wage.

Typically, a supported employment program offers a vocational assessment to gauge clients' strengths, preferences, and prior work experience. The program staff typically works with clients to find appropriate, individualized job opportunities according to the results of the assessment. Staff may also assist the clients in pre-employment preparation, training, and orientation. A staff member, often called a job coach, may provide total support on-site until a client feels comfortable enough to independently complete assigned job tasks. The job coach may also facilitate relationship-building between the new employee and his or her boss.

These programs will vary from site to site, but most differ from traditional job placement services in that the program staff will continue to provide support to clients indefinitely during employment. Additionally, an important part of supported employment is communication with members of the client's mental health treatment team to provide more integrated services. These programs also offer more specialized assistance than standard job placement agencies, sometimes including transportation and assistive technology.

There are many benefits to supported employment, not only for clients of programs but also for their employers. Employers involved in the programs receive fully screened applicants who have been matched to job requirements. An employer can also be assured that the program staff will provide follow-up services for the duration of the client's employment.

Individuals with disabilities who find jobs through supported employment may experience increased quality of life and feelings of self-sufficiency. They also receive the benefits of having continuous training, specialized assistance, and support from program staff. In addition, clients gain the opportunity to earn a living wage, which may lead to less dependence on entitlement benefits.

Supported employment programs can be a valuable resource for people with a wide variety of mental health diagnoses. Many people living with mental illness or other disabilities may have a difficult time obtaining and retaining gainful employment. Individualized attention and support through supported employment can help make independence, success, and self-reliance attainable goals for many people.