EFA Employment for All ©

EFA Employment for All© 2 Planning is not Discovery During planning we are no longer searching for information We have a pretty clear picture of the individual applicant Who they are How they learn What they need for support What they will contribute to an employer

EFA Employment for All© 3 Purpose of the planning meeting The purpose of the planning meeting is to create a plan for job development that includes: Identified conditions Identified preferences Identified contributions Task list Employer list Priorities Contacts

EFA Employment for All© 4 We will plan by identifying job tasks. We will match the job tasks to area employers. We will further match the employers to the interests of the applicant, the location, the type of work and the co- workers. We will prioritize the list and ask for connections.

EFA Employment for All© 5 Advantages of customized planning Only employers who will most likely match the contributions and wishes of the applicant are contacted. This eliminates cold calls – only 10% of cold calls lead to employment This leads to more discreet and directed steps for contacting businesses.

EFA Employment for All© 6 The Meeting The meeting belongs to the individual. It is often necessary to determine who holds “trumps” at the meeting. The individual and family should determine the timing of the meeting as well as who should attend There should be a balance between paid and non-paid persons invited to attend people is a good number of invitees.

EFA Employment for All© 7 The meeting usually lasts between 1 ½- 2 ½ hours The individual and family should be able to review and amend the written profile in advance of the meeting. The meeting is about employment, not if employment is feasible. This meeting is best held in a meeting type room rather than in a living room or kitchen.

EFA Employment for All© 8 Meeting facilitator It is usually best to have the person who compiled the profile facilitate the planning meeting. This allows for more participation by the individual and family. The facilitator can keep the meeting on task.

EFA Employment for All© 9 You will need… Flip chart paper – preferably “post it” paper that will self stick on the wall An easel to hold the paper – have an easel that is sturdy and tall enough to easily write on Markers that are dark in color and have a wide printing service – preferably dark blue, black or red

EFA Employment for All© 10 Getting bogged down New information will come to light during the planning meeting Record it but keep the meeting focused You don’t need every bit of information before you begin to plan You need to have enough information to give you a clear picture of what the applicant is able to contribute and to outline the terms of negotiation for the applicant’s job. If you don’t have this information, you are not ready to plan and you need further discovery.

EFA Employment for All© 11 The Meeting flow Introduce everyone and review the goals and guidelines for the meeting: a. Employment is the goal. b. The focus will be on employment possibilities that fit the person. c. Other, non-related, issues will be discussed at another time.

EFA Employment for All© 12 The Profile Planning Meeting Flow Section 1: To get the meeting started, begin with a What Works/What Doesn’t Work activity, charting responses from the group. This activity serves to break the ice, to welcome input from members and to set the tone that the meeting belongs to the individual.

EFA Employment for All© 13 What Works/What Doesn’t What WorksWhat Doesn’t 1.Outside 2.Physical work 3.Taking the bus 4.Working with my hands 5.My mom and dad 6.Spending money 7.Exercise 8.Playing pin ball 1.Being cold 2.People who are impatient 3.Always depending on someone for a ride 4.Not working 5.Lots of confusion 6.Spelling 7.Loud noises

EFA Employment for All© 14 Characteristics of an Ideal Job Section 2: Ask the applicant, with assistance as necessary, to describe characteristics of his/her ideal job. Write on the flip chart the key information that is given. Define the ideal job in terms of the applicant’s: Conditions Preferences/Interests Contributions

EFA Employment for All© 15 Conditions are characteristics of any job developed for the applicant. Conditions refer to issues such as days of work, pay, benefits, location of the job, inside/outside work, time of day, hours per week, etc. While it is possible to have too many conditions, these are extremely important considerations in customizing a job. Target go/no go conditions for priority consideration.

EFA Employment for All© 16 Conditions for Employment:  Four days a week – 9:00-3:00, Monday- Saturday  On the bus line  Outside work  Inside during Dec-February  Minimum wage or above  Medical insurance  No Sunday work

EFA Employment for All© 17 Preferences/Interests are characteristics of an ideal job that gives direction toward a certain area of work interest. These should be stated in the broadest possible manner, allowable by the applicant. Preferences might include: working around boats, office work or working in a retail setting. Do not confuse work preferences with preferentially- stated conditions. Avoid using job titles.

EFA Employment for All© 18 Preferences & Interest Areas:  Working with flowers and plants  Working with tools  Working with animals  Working with lumber

EFA Employment for All© 19 Contributions refer to the applicant’s characteristics that will be offered to employers. These might include: Skills Credentials Experiences Recommendations Personality characteristics

EFA Employment for All© 20 Contributions: Skills (Work tasks applicant currently can perform or has knowledge about)  Takes care of plants  Knows how to plant seedlings  Cuts the grass at home  Whittles  Bathes animals  Walks dogs

EFA Employment for All© 21 Contributions: Credentials  High school diploma Contributions: Experiences  Worked at PetCo, stocking shelves  Walks dogs for neighbors  Mows lawns in the neighborhood  Class on plants and flowers in high school Contributions: Recommendations  High school teacher  neighbor

EFA Employment for All© 22 Contributions: Personality Characteristics  Always on time  Careful and respectful of others possessions  Friendly and outgoing  Organized and thorough

EFA Employment for All© 23 Development of a Task List Section 3: The task list represents the job tasks that can be performed by the applicant and that are likely to be negotiated on behalf of the applicant.

EFA Employment for All© 24 Tasks  Watering plants  Planting seedlings  Weeding  Helping to plant gardens  Cleaning gardening tools  Lawn mowing  Stocking plants Stocking shelves Feeding animals Bathing animals Helping customers with lumber/tools

EFA Employment for All© 25 Specific Employer List Section 4: Identify specific employers in the area who might need those types of job tasks. Be specific, naming businesses in the area. Be sure all of these businesses meet the key information identified in the applicant's ideal characteristics and task list. Try to identify from 15 – 25 employers at this meeting. Identify personal connections.

EFA Employment for All© 26 Employers Contacts  Landscape design Center Nancy  Boone’s Landscaping Joe Boone  Luv it LandscapingJim  Ruiez Lawn ServiceBen  Target  Lowe’s  Home Depot  K Mart  WalmartMr. Trisk  PetCo  Groomingdale’s  Mighty DogJo

EFA Employment for All© 27 Prioritizing the employer call list Prioritize the list by asking the applicant and family to identify the employers that are preferences, which ones should be contacted first and the order for subsequent calls.

EFA Employment for All© 28 The Profile Planning Meeting Flow Record the information from the meeting on the Profile Planning Meeting worksheets and, when the meeting is over, type up all of the information and mail it out to participants.