We Believe in You - The Clubhouse Journey to Employment
Presented By Lisa Soucie, Director of High Hopes Clubhouse, Waterville, ME at the 14th International Clubhouse Seminar October 13th through the 18th 2007 in Milwaukee
I will be speaking to you today from the staff perspective about the
Importance of Work and How as Staff we support members to use TE and SE as
stepping stones to Independent Employment.
When I was asked to do this presentation three things crossed my mind.
The first was “What can the director of a smaller rural clubhouse tell the
clubhouse world about work’, The second was “I need to live up to the great
clubhouse presenters of the past and present” and the third was “Ok, the topic
of why work is important is easy, I have seen work improve peoples lives, I have
done this for 10 years and I believe that a strong Transitional Employment and
Supported Employment opportunities lead to independence, good mental health, and
a better world for clubhouse members.”
After 50 years or so of clubhouse doing TE and SE’s it is not a new
concept to anyone in this room, however, sometimes it is easy to get so involved
in the important issues of Relationships, Work Ordered Days and getting lunch
served that sometimes staff take the idea of members going to paid employment
for granted or for something to strive for in the future.
Strong Transitional and Supported Employment sites are one of the most
important cornerstones of a successful clubhouse. Members often come to the
clubhouse after a hospitalization, or after long periods of isolation, they are
often struggling with symptoms of their illness, they come to the clubhouse with
low self-esteem, and anxieties about fitting into the community and the
workforce. Most often members come to the clubhouse with no work history, a poor
work history, legal histories, and a fear of losing their benefits.
This is where clubhouse really kicks it up a notch. One of the most
important things we as a clubhouse community can do is believe in each other’s
ability to go to work and to be successful. We as a clubhouse community embrace
the Transitional Employment Standard #22 , we live it day in and day out and we
truly believe in it.
As a society we often look at what “we as people do for work as
defining who we are in the world.” It is imperative that every member of every
clubhouse have the opportunity to be part of the working world. I can truly say
that in my travels to conferences, clubhouses, trainings and presentations I
have never met one member of a clubhouse that has no desire to work.
Transitional Employment placements have a very specific role in a
member’s career path. TE’s are not meant to be the end of work opportunities or
someone’s career, but a stepping-stone to gainful employment. TE’s are
entry-level jobs to give members a chance to work immediately when they are
ready. TE’s give members a chance to work on the basics of employment, gaining
skills like: keeping work schedules, building co-working relationships, having
good habits of hygiene, taking supervision, and staying focused. These are all
skills that everyone works on in their first jobs. Now imagine doing this with
the added barriers of stigma, side effects of psychotropic medications or
dealing with symptoms. That is why the support given by a clubhouse is so
important.
So how does a clubhouse staff person support members in TE positions?
That is a big question and comes with many answers. Clubhouse staff are the most
dedicated people I have ever met and it should not be overlooked that everyday
they go above and beyond to help members be successful in meeting a variety of
goals. Everyone going to work is different and will indeed need different
supports. In the interest of time I will only hit on a few.
#1. It is essential that we as staff, never put limits on our members
abilities to go to work. Making assumptions that Mary can’t ever work, or can
only do a one-day a week job, is unacceptable.
#2. We as staff have the responsibility to instill in our members and
each other that all work is important, rather it be janitorial, foodservice,
retail or clerical. All TE work is needed and important.
#3. We as staff have to build positive employer relationships initially and maintain those relationships throughout the partnership of TE placements. Sometimes this takes daily contact, continued education with the employer, advocacy and at times very creative problem solving. We have found that the more you can get any employer involved with the clubhouse the more opportunities that open for the members. As part of having good employer relationships staff need to ensure that they are doing what we guaranteed the employer that we will do. Providing coverage is essential to keeping a TE site. Sometimes the employer will graciously says, “Oh you don’t have to cover the position today.” Staff just need to work it. The employer should never be put in that position of deciding if a TE is covered or not. Staff or member placement managers just need to do the job. No questions asked.
#4. Staff support members in transportation to and from work: this can
obviously vary from city clubhouses to the rural clubs. Drive, walk, use
transits, buses, subways or horseback. It is essential that as staff we take
away the worry of reliable transportation to and from work. We must always
assist our members in securing and problem solving transportation for work.
#5 Staff need to assist members in a variety of situations. Staff may
have to do wake up calls, repair bikes, scooters and cars, I have seen staff
return the clubhouse bottles to buy a needed uniform for a member to go to work.
These are just a few of the talents that a clubhouse staff need. It is important
that staff always be able to think outside of the box to assist members in
succeeding at work.
#6. Staff must not only serve as job coaches but as advocates, as
confidants and as role models.
#7. It is our responsibility as staff to ensure that members are being
treated like all other employees of the business, and that the TE sites are
healthy work environments for our members to be in. Members should never feel
that they are being treated different from other employees. Members should never
be expected to work a job that staff would not do or could not do. I like to
give you an example. Three years ago I was one of the co-placement managers at a
greenhouse. We had two members working the site and it appeared to be a perfect
TE. I learned the job, I did the job, I trained the members, I transported the
15 miles everyday, and everything was going great. Or so I thought. Still
something did not seem right, after talking with the other placement manager, I
decided to make an unexpected stop into the jobsite. What I found was a big
surprise, the employer not only had changed the job, which by the way I could
not do in his time frame, he was degrading, harassing, and what I would call
abusive to the members working for him. It did not take another visit, or
advocacy or more job coaching at this point. I praised the members for their
good work, asked them to wrap up their jobs for the day. I then spoke with the
employer telling him we would not be returning. I was not the director of the
clubhouse then, The ICCD was coming in less than a month for certification, and
I knew I would have to explain to my boss and others, including Jim Schmidt why
I gave up 2 20-hour Te positions! But as a clubhouse staff person, I could not
and would not jeopardize the members’ recovery, work experience and self esteem
by working with this company. Now as the director, I expect no less from any of
the staff. TE is to be a positive healthy experience, and as staff we need to
ensure that, to the best of our ability.
#8. We as staff need to be educators to the employer and to the members
about what TE is, why we do TE and opportunities TE’s offer the entire clubhouse
membership and not just one member. You have all heard the golden questions:
“Why can’t I just keep this job, I am doing well.” Or from the employer: “Why
can’t I just hire Mary for this job, we really like her and she does the job
well.” These are constant and challenging questions that a clubhouse staff needs
a ready answer for.
#9Staff need to assist with reporting wages in regards to entitlements
and working with members to understand that by working you always come out ahead
of the game. Rather it be by money or being self sufficient.
#10 Staff need to be able to work with other providers, doctors, case
managers, medication clinics, to accept, support and empower our members to be
able to work. Med clinics and counseling sessions, support groups and visits by
community support workers have to re arranged or sometimes reduced when a member
goes to work. This is often more difficult for the providers to accept than the
members. We need to work with these providers to look past the clinical view of
our members as clients, patients and consumers to look at them as working
people.
What does it take for staff to support SE placements- With the
exception of guaranteed coverage, everything I just talked about and more. The
“more” being to encourage the continued growth of a member in the working world.
To look beyond their current SE job and to the possibilities in the workforce
for full time employment.
The most important thing I would like you to take away from this speech
today is this. TE’s and SE’s are only the stepping-stones in a member’s career
path. As a clubhouse community we need to push the bar, SE’s are not the
successful end to members working, we need to support, encourage and explore the
next steps to independent full time employment for our members.
Thank you