Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
Department of Psychosis, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore, 539747, Singapore.
J Occup Rehabil. 2021 Jun;31(2):405-418. doi: 10.1007/s10926-020-09930-x.
Purpose The present study aimed to understand the roles, effective strategies and facilitators, and challenges of employment support specialists (ESS) in assisting young people with mental health conditions (MHCs) gain and sustain employment in Singapore. Methods An interpretative qualitative design using an inductive approach was adopted for this study. Using a semi-structured interview guide, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty ESS employed with mental health service providers or other community-based centers. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were thematically analyzed using inductive methods. ESS were broadly classified as "any professionals providing employment-related support to people with MHCs". Results Majority of the ESS were employed at a tertiary psychiatric institute. Participants included vocational and occupational specialists, case managers and other clinical professionals. Three key themes emerged from the data: (i) descriptions of roles undertaken by the ESS depicting a wide range of services and requisite skillsets; (ii) facilitators that benefit young people with MHCs' in terms of job placement, for example, ESS' attitudes and attributes, and their clients' disposition; and (iii) challenges that deter effective job placements, such as factors pertaining to the ESS themselves, their clients, and clients' employers. Under this theme, ESS also proposed ways to improve employment opportunities of people with MHCs. Conclusions This study provided insight into a range of tasks performed and challenges faced by ESS in Singapore while assisting their clients. There is a need to address ESS' challenges and expectations in order to enhance their efficiency and aid reintegration of young people with MHCs into the workforce and the society.
目的 本研究旨在了解就业支持专家（ESS）在协助有心理健康状况（MHC）的年轻人获得和维持就业方面的角色、有效策略和促进因素以及挑战。
方法 本研究采用解释性定性设计，采用归纳法。使用半结构化访谈指南，对 20 名受雇于精神卫生服务提供者或其他社区中心的 ESS 进行了深入访谈。使用归纳法对访谈的逐字记录进行了主题分析。ESS 被广泛归类为“为 MHC 患者提供与就业相关支持的任何专业人员”。
结果 大多数 ESS 受雇于三级精神病院。参与者包括职业和职业专家、案例经理和其他临床专业人员。从数据中出现了三个关键主题：（i）ESS 所承担的角色描述，描绘了广泛的服务和必要的技能；（ii）促进年轻人 MHC 就业的因素，例如 ESS 的态度和属性，以及他们客户的性格；（iii）阻碍有效就业安置的挑战，例如与 ESS 本身、他们的客户及其客户的雇主有关的因素。在这一主题下，ESS 还提出了改善 MHC 患者就业机会的方法。
结论 本研究深入了解了新加坡 ESS 在协助客户时所执行的一系列任务和面临的挑战。需要解决 ESS 的挑战和期望，以提高他们的效率，并帮助有 MHC 的年轻人重新融入劳动力市场和社会。
