Activities of the Employment Assessment Working Team Toward Introducing the Support for Employment Choices

Takahiko Aoyama
President, Social Welfare Corporation Soyu

Introduction

In Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, to prepare for the introduction of the Support for Employment Choices, we have undergone repeated trials and errors since FY2021 to build a system centered on the Council. Here, I would like to introduce the activities of the “Employment Assessment Working Team” (hereinafter referred to as the “Working Team”), which began as one of the national model projects in FY2023.

1. Overview of the Working Team

The Working Team was established as a subordinate organization under the Employment Support Study Team (Employment Support Subcommittee) of the Welfare Professional Subcommittee (Council) within the Matsue City Social Welfare Commission. Its objective is to improve and disseminate assessment of persons with disabilities, and to systematize their skill levels to guide them toward suitable employment through the employment assessment system. This process aims to deepen their self-awareness and enable them to utilize their inherent strengths.

The implementing organizations are the city and the Employment and Living Support Center for Persons with Disabilities. The operational secretariat is the Core Consultation Support Center, and its members comprise a wide range of organizations such as consultation support offices, employment-related welfare service providers for persons with disabilities, psychiatric clinics, regional vocational centers for persons with disabilities, public employment security office, and the Association of Small Business Entrepreneurs. Monthly regular meetings were held to conduct collaboration on model cases and discussions on system development.

2. Model Case Collaboration

This is a pilot project to conduct vocational assessments collaboratively across the entire workforce, transcending the boundaries of individual workplaces and agencies. As a common tool, we use the “Assessment Sheet for Employment Support” developed by the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers. The goal is to accumulate experience and consolidate know-how of methods for each process and of multi-agency collaboration.

Specifically, we collaborated on all aspects — task allotment, selecting work settings, actual work, case reviews, exchanging opinions, and compiling results — for three cases raised by the Working Team members (a person receiving the Employment Transition Support, a registered user at a Work/Life Support Center for Persons with Disabilities, and a user of Continuous Support for Employment – Type B). Thanks to the guidance and active participation of staff from the Main Consultation Support Center and the Local Vocational Centers for Persons with Disabilities, we experienced firsthand how assessments developed. We feel confident this activity has contributed to enhancing assessment capabilities and improving the quality of support.

3. Discussions on System Development

We shared information and held study sessions on the Support for Employment Choices, and engaged in various exchanges of views, including building a common understanding of operational aspects through case studies of current employment assessments and considering improvement measures. We confirmed that the Working Team’s initiatives aligned with the Council’s six functions (namely, information, coordination, development, education, advocacy, and evaluation), identifying potential for community development. We gained clarity on the Council’s role after the Support for Employment Choices began with activities to ensure neutrality and quality, and examined concrete collaboration models.The Working Team has continued its activities beyond FY2024. We have engaged in various training sessions, opinion exchanges, case reports, assessments of the overall regional situation, and group discussions on individual challenges. Through the Working Team’s activities, the recognition of the Support for Employment Choices is gradually being shared in the community, and we feel the level of enthusiasm has grown significantly.

In conclusion

The Support for Employment Choices is an extremely challenging service requiring a very high level of expertise. I think that the efforts of a single agency alone have their limits. To make it function effectively, we need to revitalize the regional council and establish mechanisms to ensure neutrality and quality. In Matsue City, we will continue to sustain and develop our Working Team initiatives. As the Council, we intend to collaborate with the service providers for the Support for Employment Choices, providing assistance and support while undertaking activities to ensure the services function effectively.