Beginning of Supported Employment Service: 1994

The Tas Foundation works in the rural areas of the province of Seville. It has presence in 12 rural municipalities. They run 5 training groups focused on social and labor skills, on-the-job training, and internships in companies.
Despite the discontinuation of the specific subsidy for their supported employment project, the employment insertion service continues to apply this methodology when needed. They provide job site tutoring, follow-up, and conversations with companies.

The support in the workplace lasts between 2 and 8 months, during which time the person incorporated into the company has gained autonomy and independence in their job. The job coach support covers the following activities: organizing commutes, planning and learning job tasks, accompanying job searches and interviews, tutoring on the job and follow-up during employment, mediation with the company, and sensitization for management, coworkers, and the family of the person to be hired. They also intervene in the training of social and labor skills before job placement and during job performance.

They offer companies a realistic and honest view of the program. They sensitize management and the work team with networking sessions and business breakfasts, inviting other collaborating companies to share their experiences.
They advise companies on the type of contract and on job adaptation.

COMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES

• Socio-labor skills training groups.
• Personalized insertion itineraries.
• Dual training of 200 hours (100 theoretical and 100 practical) in companies with a high rate of hiring.
• Specific courses: “concierge assistant”, cleaning assistant, warehouse assistant, etc.
• Psychological care.
• Family care.

SECTORS WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF INCLUSION
Stores, gardening companies, administrative assistants, mechanical workshop operators, food, sporting goods stores, etc.

SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND COMPANY MANAGERS OPINIONS
Conversation with the head of the employment insertion service and a job coach:

«We convince companies that a person with a disability, if they receive the appropriate support, can be as productive or even more so than another worker without a disability.

My experience is that the inclusion of people with disabilities greatly improves the work environment.

I think it is important to reinforce competencies such as punctuality, responsibility for assigned tasks, motivation towards employment, and above all, self-awareness, so they have realistic expectations about their abilities, competencies, and occupations in which they could work.

Once hiring begins, specific training in job tasks is essential (acquiring the necessary speed, ensuring the task is done correctly, etc.).

The most satisfying aspect with companies is when they understand what it means to hire a person with a disability, the adaptations they need, and agree to implement the Supported Employment Methodology in the workplace. The company must be involved in the worker’s development and ensure they can progress within the company, and when this happens, it is very satisfying.

The most challenging task is convincing companies of the effectiveness of the work people with disabilities can do and assigning a position with the necessary adjustments for their employment.

Training must take place both: inside and outside the workplace and must be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities and the companies. It is also necessary to train the companies.

The support is continuously evaluated and adjusted. They are known to be effective when the worker works autonomously and efficiently, and after the withdrawal of the supports, this efficiency is maintained.

It can also be measured by the results. Success can be seen in two scenarios: 1) either the hired person extends their contract with the company, or once the contract ends, 2) they maintain an active job-seeking attitude, can find a new job, and no longer need the previous supports, or if they need support, it is not as intense as in a previous experience.

“It is necessary to have the resources to maintain these programs. This methodology should also be extended to other groups who, although they do not have a recognized disability, may have social and labor deficiencies, lack of experience, etc. The training of job coaches can also be improved”.

PEOPLE HIRED THROUGH SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT OPINIONS
«Supported employment allowed me to find a job. It has been a great opportunity for me. I learned how to attend customers, handle payments, manage money, clean utensils properly, etc. The job coach advised me and gave me tips to improve in my position and make decisions on my own.

Gradually, I was given more tasks in the company. After this experience, I continued training and worked as a forestry officer. Now I work in a press distribution company and also freelance in cleaning and maintaining plots of land. With my savings, I have more independence and can maintain a motorcycle that I use to get around the nearby towns».