| Citation: |
Corbière, M., Brouwers, E., Lanctôt, N. & van Weeghel, J. (2014). Employment specialist competencies for supported employment programs.
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 24
(3),
484-497.
|
| Title: |
Employment specialist competencies for supported employment programs |
| Authors: |
Corbière, M., Brouwers, E., Lanctôt, N. & van Weeghel, J. |
| Year: |
2014 |
|
Journal/Publication:
|
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation |
| Publisher: |
|
| DOI: |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-013-9482-5
|
| Full text: |
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10926-013-9482-5
|
| Peer-reviewed? |
Yes
|
| NIDILRR-funded? |
No
|
| Background: |
Overall, we need to better understand how vocational successes in SE programs are affected by employment specialist competencies. To the researcher’s knowledge, the IPS-Q is the only measure that evaluates employment specialist knowledge but it does not address other important competency components such as attitudes and behaviors. A more comprehensive tool for assessing employment specialist competencies should also identify this professional’s training needs to improve SE program outcomes in any country |
|
Purpose:
|
The main objectives of this study were to develop a questionnaire measuring the behaviors, attitudes and knowledge of employment specialists working in SE programs and to link specific competencies to vocational outcomes. Methods A total of 153 employment specialists working in Canadian and Dutch supported employment programs completed the Behaviors, Attitudes, and Knowledge in Employment Specialists (BAKES) questionnaire and provided information about their clients’ vocational outcomes |
|
Setting:
|
The Canadian participants were recruited from a larger study on the implementation of SE programs in three Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec). The Dutch participants were recruited from 12 mental health care institutions and/or vocational rehabilitation agencies in the Netherlands. |
|
Study sample: |
Employment specialists in two countries, Canada and the Netherlands. |
|
Data collection and analysis:
|
Exploratory factor analyses, MANOVA with Tukey’s-b post hoc test and linear regression equations |
|
Findings:
|
Exploratory Factor Analyses results found 90 items over 12 subscales (e.g., Relationships with employers and supervisors). Regression analyses indicated that the two most useful subscales for predicting vocational success were: (1) Relationships with employers and supervisors, and (2) support and client-centered approach. |
|
Conclusions:
|
Employment specialists require specific competencies to help people with severe mental illness obtain and maintain competitive employment. Validating the BAKES will better define the broad range of competencies expected for this position, and this tool may facilitate training of employment specialists. |
