How Higher Performing Employment Specialists Engage and Support Job-Seekers with Psychiatric Disabilities

In this qualitative study seventy-six Australian employment specialists who predominantly work with individuals with psychiatric disabilities were classified as either higher or lower performers based on their job-seekers' employment outcomes. Key differentiating practices related to job-seeker engagement and support, were identified between higher and lower performers when assisting individuals with psychiatric disabilities. A range of specific practices were identified that promise to inform future training of employment specialists to better engage and support job-seekers. Investigations of measurement reliability and predictive validity are now needed to quantify the extent that these specific engagement and support practices can translate into better employment outcomes for job seekers with psychiatric disabilities.