EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
CS JOBS
If a member’s plan calls for it, he or she may be invited
to work outside the Clubhouse at a job site that Liberty
House has contracted with. We call these Contract Service
or “CS Jobs”: we provide a service for another independent
agency or business. Usually that service is office cleaning.
A team of 3 to 5 members and one staff member will clean
the establishment: vacuum and/or sweep and mop, dust, take
out garbage, clean restrooms, etc. The jobs usually start
around 7:30 a.m., although we have one that works from 1:15
p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Once Spring rolls around, Liberty House has many contracts
with customers for whom we provide a lawn service. We try
to set out in the morning (while it is still cool) and mow,
trim and sometimes rake the customer’s yard.
More situational assessments are done on the CS jobs. Now,
however, the staff can access one’s vocational skills in
a new environment with a new task: can the member adapt
to new tasks and environments? Members are paid for their
work on the CS jobs and the staff member will show you when,
where and how to sign in to ensure that you get paid for
the job.
TEP JOBS
A member’s vocational goals often call for integrated and
competitive employment experience. Frequently this experience
begins with the Transitional Employment Program or “TEP
Jobs”. TEPs are supported employment opportunities at area
businesses. The TEPs are arranged in cooperation with the
business community and are designed to provide six month
assignments. This allows the member to gain some work experience
while building a solid work history, and enjoy the flexibility
of a short term commitment. It also allows Liberty House
to maintain rotating open positions in the community: Every
six months a new member can have the opportunity to explore
the position and gain some experience.
Some of the employers who have provided supported employment
opportunities through Liberty House are: Kentucky Fried
Chicken, Hannaford stores on both Quaker Road and Broad
Street, K Mart, Walmart, Price Chopper, and others. For
the duration of these TEPs, members are regular employees
of the employer. They receive the same pay and must maintain
the same standards as any other employee. We refer to jobs
of this type as integrated and competitive jobs. The typical
work schedule for a TEP worker is twenty hours per week.
TEP jobs also allow a member to explore several vocational
options/directions. One member may have a maintenance TEP,
then a clerical TEP, then a food service TEP before deciding
on which vocational direction to pursue. The members working
in Liberty House TEP positions are asked to maintain regular
attendance at Liberty House when not scheduled. This allows
an opportunity to discuss issues or concerns with staff,
report the hours and days they may be working and report
the wages earned at the TEP so that Liberty House can report
the income to the Social Security Administration (another
service Liberty House provides!).
The TEP jobs are supported employment. This means that
a staff member is going to assist a Liberty House member
with the transition to competitive employment. A member
will be assigned a “job coach”. The job coach is “placement
manager” as they know the requirements of the TEP job very
well. The job coach will train the member on the functions
and responsibilities of the position. After the member is
“up and rolling” on the job, the placement manager will
continue to monitor the member’s progress through periodic
“site visits”: touching base with a member’s supervisor(s)
and/or the member themselves and addressing any issues or
concerns that may arise.
ACE JOBS
Another form of supported employment is Assisted Competitive
Employment (ACE Jobs). An important difference between ACE
and TEP jobs is that the ACE job has no set time limit on
it: An ACE job may carry on for years with a successful
working relationship between the member and employer.
Site visits are still done by the placement manager and
all of Liberty House services are still available for the
ACE working member. ACE employment may be up to 40 hours
per week.
IND JOBS
Some members initiate an independent job search. In this
case, Liberty House staff will still offer vocational counseling
services to the member upon request. A member who is engaged
in Independent Employment still maintains all other rights
of Liberty House membership. This level of Independent Employment
is recommended only for those who have demonstrated enough
work-ready skills to be successful in such endeavors.
TVP JOBS
Still other members choose to volunteer their time. The
Transitional Volunteer Program (TVP) portion of Liberty
House can provide volunteer placement advocacy for those
who may not be ready for competitive paid employment, or
for certain circumstances cannot earn a wage. TVP positions
have frequently led to paid employment.
