Employment specialists’ perspectives on implementing supported employment with young adults

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: Youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions have particularly poor records of stable employment, but stable employment is a key to recovery. Employment specialists have a key role in supported employment services in assisting them with employment. This article describes the thoughts and concerns of employment specialists about finding and supporting employment for youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions. Method: The authors undertook 12 intensive interviews with supported employment specialists in two states. These interviews were transcribed and coded by the authors. A number of themes were identified and prototypical examples identified and included in the findings. Results: Although the employment specialists varied in their enthusiasm and optimism about the job, they agreed on key problems that they face in supporting employment for young adults that include employer resistance to hiring people with mental illness, increasing use of online appli...