The objective of the intake stage for the client is to establish whether the project meets his/her expectations.


Operating methods adopted by the job coach

Operating methods should be geared to the client’s abilities, focused on getting acquainted with one another and on obtaining information on the proposed continuation of the project. They include discussions with the client, consultations with third parties, dossier analysis and the preparation of reports.

An insight is gained into the (im)possibilities for support towards employment in accordance with the client’s desires and skills. What is the motivation, what intention is there to participate, where does the desire to work originate and how long has it been in existence? The intake is staged depending on the amount of preliminary information that is available.

A minimum of three to four discussion sessions will be arranged. The initial interview will focus on providing information, providing an insight into (im)possibilities, clarifying roles and checking information introduced at the interview. The next work related interview (one to two meetings) will analyse the desire to work and the feasibility of participation in the support project. The final interview will cover the results of the analysis and include a (provisional) project proposal. It is important to provide a quiet room and invite appropriate discussion partners. Tools such as flip charts, written agreements (by mail) and a project plan are used during this stage.

- Motivation profile

- Competency analysis

- Intake details

- Jobcoach report


Job coach approach

The job coach will be familiar with autism. He/she will adopt a welcoming approach and focus on mutual contact. This reciprocity will be promoted by checking information, monitoring non-verbal behaviour (codes) and asking for confirmation (reflection). The job coach will seek to make a connection with the client’s account and ask for approval to gather information.

The job coach’s actions will be realistic, unequivocal and decisive. The key principle is that he/she will act for the benefit of the client and work on the assumption that the client is willing to work. The job coach will aim to cooperate, and take the initiative, with the personal and professional network. He/she will formulate, and be responsible for, the project.

The job coach will allow the client to take control, but will take into account the client’s limitations with respect to the overall picture (caused by autism). Specific behaviour in clients resulting from the autistic disorder, can be perceived as irritable by the job coach. It is essential that the latter recognises this and discusses it with his/her colleagues.

- Tutor and counsellor qualifications


Structuring information

The job coach submits a clear invitation with an overview of the proposed interview (timing) and associated expectations. He/she verifies what the actual intentions are and makes links to situations. It is important to summarise information and check that the client has understood. During the interview the job coach will use flip charts to visualise information and submit (even small) agreements in writing (by mail).

He/she will use additional tools such as business cards, brochures, a project overview and a staged plan. The duration of the interview will be monitored. Information processing can be stressful for clients with autism.

- Dialogue

- Projectplan


Success factors

The client’s active involvement will increase when he/she understands what is happening and feels understood. The job coach’s personal approach and the observation of agreements are particularly important. The client’s acceptance of his/her autism and self-knowledge will help to promote the employment support project. The client’s openness to suggestions has a positive effect as it provides something to go by when lending support and it is a sign of learning ability. A consistent supply of money is another favourable precondition. Cooperation from all parties involved will contribute to the targeted creation of the support project.


Pitfalls

A limited ability to cope with the workload (e.g. maximum two hours work per day) will complicate matters for the client. A large discrepancy between language skills, insight in own functioning and practical actions will make the search for realistic options more difficult for both the job coach and the client. The job coach will not get a clear picture if there is too much generalisation on the basis of earlier experiences in people will autism. However, too much reliance on his/her own evaluation, and loosing sight of the general significance, is also risky. The functional working relationship during the employment support period can also be adversely affected if the job coach fails to keep a suitable distance.

The objective of the intake stage for the personal network is to gain an insight into the project opportunities.


Operating methods adopted by the job coach

It is advisable to invite members of the client’s personal network to attend the first and last interviews (with agreement from the client). They can provide additional information during the discussions and offer support to the client (security). During the intake stage the job coach must establish what ideas the personal network has about work and the client. The personal network will play a supportive role when the client is allocated tasks.


Job coach approach

The job aims to cooperate, and take the initiative, with the personal network for the benefit of the client. He/she is familiar with, and respects, the fact that the network knows the client well.

Structuring information

The job coach sets up agreements, for example, with parents or home assistants, on who will provide what kind of information. This includes personal information, information relating to the client’s past, information on the network itself, brothers and sisters, schools, daytime pursuits, etc.

It should also be made clear where and how the network can be contacted. Who is part of the network, what are the telephone numbers, what is the best way to contact them, who acts as a contact point? It is necessary to gather as much information as possible, as the network also acts as a contact point for additional information, and to check information on the client. Parents of clients may also have autistic disorders and this could have an impact on their role in the process.


Succes factors

The involvement and cooperation of the personal network will help to structure the employment support project. A network that accepts the handicaps associated with autism will be in a better position to formulate, and adjust, expectations.


Pitfalls

The realistic implementation of the project will be inhibited if the personal network has excessively high expectations and expects to realise objectives too soon.

The objective of the intake stage for the professional network will depend on the significance allocated to the project and its position therein.


Operating methods adopted by the job coach

The actual involvement of the professional network is minimal during the intake stage. Where necessary initial introductions are made, i.e. who is involved, what role will they play in the project and what might be their input?

The job coach will investigate whether the network can provide a degree of support for the client or, in the event of employment experts, for the project.

Job coach approach

The job coach takes the initiative and is familiar with the subject matter. He/she has a representative role and explores the available options. He/she respects the confidentiality of the information on the client supplied by the professional network.

Structuring information

The job coach will liase with the school, day centre and reintegration company to establish who to contact, where to contact them and what information they will be able to supply.

First of all he/she will chart who is part of the professional network, then set up agreements on involvement, on what information will be exchanged and, where appropriate, when the client will be transferred. All parties involved must know how to contact the job coach.


Success factors

The involvement and cooperation of the professional network will help to structure the employment support project. A network that accepts the handicaps associated with autism will be in a better position to formulate, and adjust, expectations.


Pitfalls

Underestimation of the nature of the handicap and its implications for the work environment will have an adverse effect on the process.