Utilizing your clients’ social networks to partner with business

1. Utilizing your clients’ social networks to partner with business Andrzej Walz-Chojnacki Macey Chovaz

2. Overview • We’ll review strategies that we’ve used to learn more about our consumers’ networks as well as business needs. • We will also review how to successfully match networks and needs • Examples will be provided!

3. It’s important to know… • It’s important to know that job development is an art-not a science! It’s important to look at every job seeker as an individual and determine if it would be best to utilize their networks! • Take away message: work with the job seeker IN THE COMMUNITY rather than just doing it for them. (This will also help show the consumer and the family that job development is a very time intensive process)

4. Let us introduce you to…. • Stuart! • Sofia! • Kari! • Lauren!

5. Obtaining and Utilizing Social Networks • Networking is how most people obtain employment!

6. Strategies • Networking worksheet: This is a helpful visual for some people. It’s a good idea to review this when you first start working with someone and again as their trust in you grows. Oftentimes job seekers and their families will protect their network until they get to know a bit better and/or they will remember more and more people who could help them!

8. Everybody likes an activity! • We need an example of a job goal!

9. Strategies • Speaking with family and friends: These are the people who know this person best!

10. Strategies • Accompanying the individual in the community: You will learn so much. You might observe skills you did not know the person had (money, customer service) and you’ll never know who you will meet while you are with the person

11. Strategies • Going to businesses in the individual’s community: the job seeker will often do your job for you! Employers will oftentimes know the individual you are with • It is important to keep in mind that you do not want your first conversation with an employer to be asking if they are hiring-you want to keep the conversation open ended

12. How we were able to obtain social networks! Stuart • Used the networking sheet as a guide and information was gathered over a period of a few weeks. • Visited businesses that Stuart frequented

13. How we were able to obtain social networks! • Sofia • Used the networking sheet as a guide, however because Sofia’s parents are very active in her community we spent a great deal of time on the “relatives” section! • Accompanied Sofia when she visited “her” Walgreens

14. How we were able to obtain social networks! • Kari • Kari had a very specific job goal in mind! • As we learned more and more about Kari it became very apparent that she had natural attention to detail, hence her comment on the need for better organization at her local Bonton retail outlet

15. How we were able to obtain social networks! • Lauren • Accompanied her in the community at her volunteer position. • Witnessed her confidence in this position as well as her thorough knowledge of the hospital

16. Discovering the needs of the business • This part of the process is all about the business-not the organization you work with! • Understanding the needs of the business is often overlooked in the supported employment field. • It is important to ensure that the job seeker’s position is of importance in the business-not a charity hire!

17. Strategies • Job Board: no need to reinvent the wheel! You can learn about the business by the positions they post for including shift needs, responsibilities and requirements • Don’t stop here!

18. Strategies • Secret Shopper: go to the business and observe employees, customers, environment, etc. • Another way to familiarize yourself with the environment and unmet needs. • Gather employees names, get feedback from them about climate • Secret shop at different times of the day/shift!

19. Strategies • Tours: This is a great way to demonstrate that you are interested in understanding the business!

20. Strategies • Job Shadows: They are not always for the client! This is a great way to learn of unmet needs (ensuring job security for the individual!) • May be a good chance to compare managers account of needs in informational interview to actual situation • When job shadowing with clients you will learn even more about the individual and their abilities as well as gauging how the business responds to working with a person with a disability in an employment setting

21. Strategies • Site Assessment: Thoroughly understanding each aspect of the job will ensure that the individual is qualified and capable. • Gathering information on environmental factors and work culture, special procedures (check in, uniform, etc), a full job analysis of the position including the skills needed and acquired, number of supervisors, sub environment job is performed in, etc

22. Strategies • Informational Interviews: Can be conducted formally or informally. • These are different from job shadows in that you get a one on one, potentially more honest account. • Be prepared with questions of your own to draw out unmet needs, seasonal rushes/busy times, high turnover positions, etc

23. How we discovered business needs • Stuart • Visited a local movie theater with Stuart and immediately 3 employees said “hi” to him (great social network!) • We were able to speak to an employee (Stuart’s friend) regarding busiest times, needs and that many employees were heading back to college (informal informational interview) • A quick site survey and a referral to the manager

24. How we discovered business needs • Sofia • The manager had some ideas of unmet needs but was open to suggestions • Informational interview and job shadows of managers and different positions • A full site and job analysis was done • Done at different times of the day and at different stores

25. How we discovered business needs • Kari • Tour revealed an unmet need • Job analysis to ensure understanding the needs of the Boston Store

26. How we discovered business needs • Lauren • Classic example of a network in action • Job Board revealed an open position at the business where Lauren was currently volunteering at!

27. Matching networks and needs • This can be the easiest and hardest part of the process • Someone may really want to work at a specific business but after learning more about the individual and/or business needs you find out that it will not be a good match • Putting the work in on obtaining networks and discovering needs can make this step seamless!

28. Strategies • Temporary Work Experiences (internships) • Agreement so that all parties are informed and on the same page! • ½ and final evaluations done by employer • A final internship evaluation done by the job developer to summarize experience, employer evaluations as well as recommendations • Can confirm match for both parties

29. Strategies • Working within your organization • You have more than 1 person doing job development in an organization-use your team members! • Occasionally the match with the person you had in mind does not work out-bring it back to your organization; someone else might have a better fit • Maintain the relationship with the employer!

30. Strategies • Introductions Introductions Introductions Introductions! • This cannot be stressed enough-make sure that the new intern/employee knows their job coach as well as their new supervisor as well as the job coach knowing the supervisor • Review the job coaches role with the supervisor!

31. Strategies • Presenting a possible match to both the employer and the individual: make sure all parties involved make their own decision on whether or not they want to proceed and accept an internship or permanent position (don’t force it!)

32. Strategies • Recognize the business! Something simple as a small certificate acknowledging them as a business that works with people with disabilities

33. Strategies • Matching does not stop once permanent hire happens!

34. How we made a successful match • Stuart • Internship • Short meeting with the employer, Stuart, job coach and job developer-introductions • The business had prepared task list and because Stuart and job developer had done a good job at learning about the business they were able to present more tasks to the list that the business had forgotten/not thought of from the ‘secret shopping’ that was done • Reviewed job coach’s role

35. How we made a successful match • Sofia • After completing a job shadow Sofia was offered a permanent position. She was assigned duties not originally in her job description as it became clear she was ready for more • The ongoing support and CEO’s dedication to ensuring value-adding performances resulted in referrals to other Walgreen’s locations which in turn lead to further investigation of needs, necessitating further job and task analysis

36. How we made a successful Match • Kari • Confirmed through an internship • She has been happily employed here for two years and is currently expanding her role into a different department, this is an example of the fact that discovering the businesses needs and learning more about your client never stops!

37. How we made a successful Match • Lauren • Assisted Lauren with the application that was located on the job board

38. Important take home messages: Discover Business needs Business Partnership Successful Match

39. Important take home messages • If an individual does not have a social network-help them build one! • Bring the people you serve with you in the community! • Educate the individual and their supports on the importance of doing things in the community-whether it’s grocery shopping, taking a class at the community center to volunteering

40. Questions?

41. Contact Information • Andrzej Walz-Chojnacki, Macey Chovaz & Mary Henschel: 414-277-8506 • andrzej@ceomke.com • macey@ceomke.com • mary@ceomke.com