Moving clients forward: a grounded theory of disability employment specialists’ views and practices

Abstract

Purpose This study sought to better understand the views and practices of disability employment specialists working with clients with mental illness. Specifically, it explored what helps and hinders employment specialists in their work. Materials and methods A constructivist grounded theory methodology was used. Semi-structured interviews with 16 disability employment specialists from four employment service providers in Victoria, Australia, were transcribed and analysed through initial coding, focused coding, and constant comparative methods. Results Analysis led to the substantive grounded theory of “moving clients forward.” The key themes included “taking a firm but fair approach,” “meeting clients where they are at,” “getting clients ready for work,” “managing the interface between clients and employers,” and as a consequence, “working under pressure.” Conclusions These findings contribute the first grounded theory of how Australian disability employment specialists work with clients with mental illness and enhance understanding of employment specialists' notions of job readiness and their use of discretion in implementing seemingly contradictory employment-related policies. Practice tensions for these employment specialists could be reduced by modifying disability employment policies, and through training to deliver evidence-based practices that offer varied vocational services, pathways, and adjunct interventions tailored to clients’ interests, needs and readiness for change. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Australian disability employment specialists experience tensions between meeting the needs of clients with mental illness and feeling pressured to adhere to performance-based funding and disability employment policies. Greater emphasis on evidence-based, individualised vocational interventions would better align with a recovery orientation and offer vocational options tailored to the needs and goals of job seekers with mental illness Further training and systemic support is needed for disability employment specialists to adopt evidence-based practices in their work with jobseekers with mental illness. Since Australian disability employment specialists describe considering the “job readiness” of clients in practice, the usefulness of this concept merits further investigation.