National Best Practice Awards 2011
The purpose of the awards is to take the opportunity to show case the excellent work that is been undertaken by member organisations, service personnel, company mentors and people with disability in the workplace. The Best Practice Award will highlight the achievements and success of people with disabilities through the supported employment model as well as challenges and barriers to employment that have been overcome. Applications will be invited in June 2011.
Award Categories
Job Coach of the Year
The Supported Employment Job Coach should maintain the highest levels of competence in their work. They must be fair, honest and respectful professionals that conduct their activities in ways that inspire trust and confidence.
The Job Coach should be sensitive and responsive to individual differences among employees and provide equality of opportunity and our outcomes for all individuals.
Job Coaches have a social responsibility to be aware of the impact they have on the lives of people and on the communities of which they are a member of.
They must ensure that confidential or sensitive information is protected and they have an obligation to promote the maximum participation and decision making of individuals within the supported employment process.
The Job Coach should be able to demonstrate a good working knowledge of the Model of Supported employment. They must utilise effective skills that ensure suitable jobs are found for individuals based on their individual needs and ensure the preparation of an individual plan for the jobseeker.
They must provide on the job training and support for the employee in order for them to maximize their job performance and social inclusion.
The Job Coach should be knowledgeable in the area of providing accurate and confidential advice in relation to relevant welfare and benefits.
The Job Coach should be aware of the mission, role and objectives of their organisation and commit to excellence at all times.
Supported Employment Service of the Year
The organisation should set a clear direction that leads to the delivery of a very high quality Supported Employment Service by:
- Committing to integrated employment and community inclusion.
- Offering a range of job roles which reflect integrated employment and related community supports in keeping with the principles of Supported Employment.
The organisation recognises, promotes and values stakeholder involvement in planning and decision making at all levels within the organsiation.
The organsiation should be committed to protecting and promoting the rights of people who are disadvantaged.
The Employment Service should ensure that the jobseeker has received all the information needed to decide about using the Supported Employment provider.
They should support job seekers to make informed and realistic choices about work and their future career development.
Company Mentor of the Year
The Mentor offers support to their co-worker - The Company Mentor is a key person at a work site/company who provides natural support to a person with disability to enable them seceded in the workplace. Natural supports can be any assistance, relationships, or interactions that allow a person to work in a job of his or her choice in ways similar to other employees.
Natural supports are based on ordinary social relationships at work and in the community. They may occur spontaneously, although the Supported Employment process will often facilitate natural support relationships at a worksite.
In many cases the company mentor is the reason a person with disability succeeds at work and maintains a job in the long term, this award category was designed to acknowledge mentors who have taken on the support role and have ensured the supported employment model is successful for the individuals who they work with.
Employee of the Year
This award is an opportunity to demonstrate, recognise, and publicise the achievements of outstanding employees with disabilities who have made significant contributions to the workplace through the model of Supported Employment.
Supported Employment should encourage the employee to view their employment as worthwhile, meaningful and provide them with the opportunity for social inclusion and fulfillment.