It can be very difficult for a person with a mental health condition to get back on their feet. Minor adjustments and a supportive work environment could be just what they need to get them started on the road to recovery. Michael's mental illness condition lead to behaviours that could have cost him his job in other firms. However, SoFA was able to make simple changes to Michael's management to overcome all these difficulties.
Michael finally finished his Bachelor degree after ten years of University and was finding his need for part time work and a supportive environment near impossible for him to secure work. Michael was finally given a go working for a company called Social Firms Australia (SoFA). SoFA is an organisation whose aim is to ‘“create accessible employment for people of all abilities‘. When Michael first started he began with basic office duties such as preparing mail outs.
Michael’s needs include regular feedback, detailed direction on the order of tasks, monitoring of inappropriate behaviours and help with recognising the appropriate path for communicating with management. He also has a short attention span.
SoFA supported Michael by scheduling regular meetings allowing Michael to discuss his work with his managers and to receive the level of feedback he required. These meetings also gave Michael the opportunity to let his managers know when he was ready to take on more complex tasks.
By providing clear reporting procedures Michael stopped contacting senior management inappropriately on minor issues. Flexible working hours have also allowed Michael to work when he is concentrating well and to take breaks when he feels that he is less productive.
Over time these modifications have allowed Michael to become more confident in his abilities and therefore able to take on more complicated tasks. Michael is now involved in research projects and report writing. He is currently employed part time as an advocacy project worker. Part of his role is to persuade other employers of the benefits of employing people with mental health conditions in the workforce.
The confidence Michael gained at SoFA helped him believe in himself and that other types of employment are achievable. Michael decided to continue his studies and has embarked on a tax accounting course. This new level of confidence, combined with his work experience at SoFA has enabled him to secure a second part time job over the income tax season as a tax agent consultant.
Michael believes that without the initial helping hand he would still be unemployed or at best collecting trolleys or delivering papers.
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