Quality Indicator #7: Well Coordinated Job Retention System

The provision of ongoing supports as long as needed after employment is the core characteristic of supported employment that differentiates it from other employment services. There is strong evidence that the maintenance of ongoing supports after employment is a characteristic of successful supported employment programs that generate better employment outcomes (Bond, Becker, Drake, Rapp, Meisler, Lehman, Bell, & Blyer, 2001).

Well coordinated job retention systems provide ongoing individualized supports that assist the employee with a disability in areas such as structuring needed workplace accommodations, monitoring and assessing job stability, adjusting supports to address changing needs both at and away from the job site, and providing other supports that enhance job retention (Ridgway & Rapp, 1998). Well coordinated job retention systems provide replacement assistance in situations of job loss or job enhancement.

Supported employment providers face a substantial challenge in operating a well coordinated job retention system that extends into the extended services phase of supported employment services after the time limited funding from Vocational Rehabilitation ends. Although there are very few studies that have focused on extended services, there is evidence that many supported employment providers have very limited access to funding for extended services. Extended services funding provided to agencies frequently does not cover the cost for providing these services. and monthly follow along services are often funded from other program revenues (West, Johnson, Cone, Hernandez, & Revell, 1998).

This limited commitment of funding agencies to extended services continues despite the findings from a recent study citing clear evidence that maintaining employment supports well into the job tenure and beyond the limited period of VR funding is often critical to addressing work related problems. This same study noted the increases in the contact time that occur in extended services during the 3-6 month tenure in employment to address non-work related problems and career advancement interests ((West, Wehman, & Revell, 2002). Although funding for job retention services continues to be a problem for supported employment agencies, it is clear that the most successful supported employment programs are those that can operate a well coordinated job retention service.

Programs can analyze the quality of their job retention efforts for customers working in competitive employment by answering the following questions:

What percent of individuals placed into employment retain their jobs for less than 90 days; for 90 to180 days; for more than 180 days?

What is the replacement rate for those individuals who do not retain employment and what is the average time span between job loss and replacement?

For those individuals placed into employment who do not retain their jobs, what specifically are the reasons for separation from employment?

Does the program maintain a job retention contact schedule with its employed customers that involves regular contact to monitor job stability?

Is there clearly identifiable extended services funding in place with the program that supports both planned and unplanned responses to retention issues?