Consumers as Colleagues CASRA

Today’s staff In all positions, consumers of mental health services are encouraged to apply. –Administrative Assistant –Job Coach –Relief Counselor –Community support worker –Program Manager –Case Manager –Case Manager Assistant

Core Issues –Preparing the workforce –Training –Supports on the job –Supervision –Administrative issues

Preparing the workforce Staff Issues  Core values  Confidentiality  Role confusion  Inclusion  Supervision Consumer issues  Acceptance  Boundary issues  Confidence  Fear of losing benefits

Training Peer Counseling, PSR certificate, or Human Services Certificate preferred Experience relevant to the job Teams are integrated – people with different backgrounds are in the same positions

Difficulties on the Job

Supports on the Job Ongoing training opportunities Reasonable Accommodations Supervisory support Team support

Supports on the job Training opportunities –New Staff orientation –Monthly in-service trainings –Ongoing training development to meet their needs Resilience Training

Reasonable Accommodations Human Assistance Utilizing a job coach Providing additional individualized training. Designating a co-worker as peer support. Pairing workers with mentors. Peer support groups. Benefits counseling.

Flexible Scheduling Job sharing Allowing workers to shift hours for appointments Leave during a hospitalization Reasonable Accommodations

Most Requested Supports on the Job

Supervision Assigning a worker to a supportive supervisor. Training supervisors to offer praise, positive reinforcement, clear direction and constructive feedback. Educate managers about the ADA and reasonable accommodations. Utilize written agreements between workers and supervisors for short term performance goals.

Supervision Create a supervisor’s forum. –Supervisors needed support to talk out the issues. –Learning to navigate the balance between extra support up front and maintaining job expectations.

Administrative issues Job development Job descriptions Providing career ladder opportunities Providing opportunities to increase education and training –20/20 programs

Administrative issues Flexibility in enforcing traditional policies. –Permitting phone calls to supports during work hours. Providing a quiet work space like an enclosed office to entry-level employees who are vulnerable to distractions

Team Support Using a team approach allows everyone to benefit from the group wisdom and experience Trainings provide opportunity to connect and support