disability employment We provide a Disability Employment Service (DES) for jobseekers with disabilities and high support needs.The DES provides specialist assistance to job seekers with disabilities who require ongoing support to find and maintain employment. A job seeker may be referred to DES if s/he: •has a permanent (or likely to be permanent) disability and •has a reduced capacity for communication, learning or mobility and •requires support for more than six months after placement in employment. We currently provide a DES service from the following offices: Bondi Junction: Suite 1d, 79 Oxford St, Bondi Junction Broadway: Grnd Lvl, 255 The Broadway, Broadway Brookvale: Suite 209, 20 Dale St, Brookvale Marrickville: 220 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville Maroubra: Lvl 1, 806-812 Anzac Pde, Maroubra Rockdale: Suite 8, Level 2, 10 King Street, Rockdale Miranda: Suite 15, Lvl 1, 29 Kiora Rd Miranda OUR MODEL OF SERVICE DELIVERY Xcelerate has developed a new model of service that addresses not only the needs of clients with disabilities but also specifically caters for the needs of clients with mental health issues. We have implemented a new model of service delivery taking into account the information captured from local community organisations and containing the following features: • We have employed a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) with special expertise in working with clients with Mental Illness. Our CNC had been involved in training new psychiatric nurses at Prince of Wales and St George Hospitals on managing clients with mental illness. The CNC is involved in the Induction of new staff, assistance with development of strategies to move clients with mental illness towards independence, counselling/motivation and in the initial assessment process. She heads the Rehabilitation and Support Team, and the Specialist Assessment Team. • We have introduced a Specialist Assessment Team (SAT) approach employing the CNC and Psychologists to conduct comprehensive assessments that identify suicide risk factors, drug and alcohol dependency, psychological and mood disorders and current functional and employability skills. We have introduced a new suite of assessment tools including the MHOAT and Mental State Examination. The SAT writes a comprehensive report detailing Background History, Observations of Behaviour, Development, Current Functioning, Cognitive and Intellectual Functioning, Coping Skills, Risk Factors and a summary of the assessment including Key Competencies, Current Barriers and Interventions. This report is given to the Case Manager prior to the second appointment with the jobseeker so that the Case Manager has critical information to assist in the development of an Employment Pathway Plan (EPP) to begin working with the jobseeker. • The Assessment report from the SAT then guides the development of the EPP in vocational and non-vocational activities. The EPP is developed in collaboration with the jobseeker. An innovative approach we have applied at the local level is the implementation of one week Psycho-education and Training (PET) workshop programs which are written into the EPP and involve all jobseekers where this is deemed to be appropriate. • We have designed and developed a range of one week PET workshop programs for our DES clients that directly address the deficits identified in the assessment process. These have been implemented by our training arm, Xcelerate Learning P/L, which employs specialists in rehabilitation and training. DES clients participate in workshops in groups of 6 to 8 within the first two months of their time with us. We have developed the following workshops: ADAPT (Drug and Alcohol), ACE (Anger Management Conflict and Emotion), MYNE (Managing negative emotions), RAISE (self-esteem and self-image), PASS (Social skills training). Each workshop program has a four phase approach: Assessment-Education-Management-Support. We provide clients with information that directly informs them of the aetiology of the issues they face, how this is linked into shaping their daily lives, how their self-talk and internal cues reinforce the irrational/inappropriate beliefs they hold and how there are mechanisms to positively changing this process. • We use cognitive-behavioural techniques for the Management phase to directly teach participants how to recognise and anticipate likely problems, we use visual plans to train them to adopt strategies for taking control of their behaviour and we train them to reward themselves for successfully using these strategies. • Following the Management phase, Jobseekers who require more intensive and individualised support will be seen by our Rehabilitation and Support Team; (RST) a dedicated team of allied health professionals with extensive experience working with mental health and disability. The RST will offer ongoing flexible individualised assistance to the jobseeker, and will work collaboratively with the CM and marketing consultants to move the jobseeker along the employment continuum. • Since September 2009 Xcelerate Learning has been delivering these PET programs for Stream 4 highly disadvantaged clients of MTC Work Solutions across their Sydney offices. We have received positive feedback from participants and case managers on the efficacy of this model of service in assisting clients to take control of their presenting problems and to become more independent and job ready. Ian Jacobs, Employment Services Manager for MTC Work Solutions has contracted Xcelerate Learning to deliver these programs to their sites in Sydney. We have used these presentations with MTC to hone and adapt our workshops so that they remain relevant and effective for our clients with disabilities. • We work actively with our clients to prepare them to become independent in their functioning and move them along the employment continuum. • Our CNC works collaboratively with local Mental Health Facilities to provide a joint service. • Emphasis is placed on job expectations, working with co-workers and listening/organising/checking on the job. | 
