Vocational Rehabilitation Unit
Country
Cyprus
Description
This Vocational Rehabilitation Unit (V.R.U.) was established in Nicosia 4 years ago and is run by the State Mental Health Services.
Project Aims
The V.R.U. aims at assisting the individual with mental health problems to enter employment in the following ways:
- by making the opportunity for employment available;
- by offering evaluation for employment potential;
- by assisting in applying for work (with discovering placements, with applications, interviews, negotiations);
- by raising the awareness of employers about stigma and prejudice;
- by assisting in training people at their place of work and supervising and supporting their progress.
Area
Employment
Effectiveness
In the last four years the V.R.U. has assisted about 40 people per year to enter employment with beneficial results with regard to the social inclusion of these people. Some people have remained in long-term paid employment and others used the centre's services more than once. The practice is easily accessible to those people with mental health problems who have received care from state mental health services, but not readily accessible to any person with mental health problems living in the community due to various problems (for example, lack of information, lack of mobility).
Sustainability
All local studies and evaluations point out to the need that people with mental health problems be given opportunities for paid employment as a means of protecting their dignity and self-esteem and as a means for wider social inclusion. Improvement in these areas is the practices anticipated impact. At a cost of about 2000 Euro per year per person served, the practice is viable and efficient provided that a substantial number of the persons served remain in employment for at least a few years or that the experience they receive enables them to have useful years of employment in the future. At this moment detailed statistics are not available.
Innovation
This is the first vocational rehabilitation centre to provide services to people with mental health problems in Cyprus. Particularly innovative may be the part that both prevocational and vocational training take place at the actual work setting, with the active involvement of the V.R.U. staff. During the first two weeks the trainee works part-time together with a supervisor (who is a functionary of the centre) while the employer is given time to evaluate the trainee. The supervisor remains with the trainee at the place of work for a further two weeks. Employees enter employment in a protected manner and while being in a relatively secure environment.
Added Value
The practice's activities, methodologies and impacts make a significant contribution with regard to access to employment and social inclusion. At the same time, employers are being helped to become more sensitive to the human rights and actual employment potentiality of people with mental health problems and therefore prejudice is being combated in an important field with multiplying effects.
Transferability
The practice is potentially transferable to other countries and communities and can be adapted to local conditions, especially with regard to such a centre's co-operation with other existing governmental and non-governmental employment agencies and can be tested in a variety of working environments. In larger cities and communities, with greater numbers of people with mental health problems in need of work, the practice may be more cost effective. In Cyprus, there is scope for establishing a similar centre in every major town.
Mainstreaming Potential
In view of the experience gained by the V.R.U. national and local policies should encourage people with mental health problems to be in employment and also encourage employers to give employment opportunities to these people.
Cost of the Project
Approximately 83000 Euro per year.
People involved in the Project
1 Project Co-ordinator (Clinical Psychologist)
1 Psychologist (part-time)
1 Psychiatric Nurse
1 Occupational Therapist
2 Job Coaches
Strengths and weaknesses of the Project
Strengths: Vocational evaluation/guidance and training at the actual place of employment with continuous support is seen to be effective.
Weaknesses: There is the need for more incentives to be given to prospective employers (for example tax exemptions or the subsidy of productivity). Some people with mental health problems are discouraged from seeking employment, as their monetary allowance from the state will be withdrawn if they enter employment. Therefore allowance policies must be revised (for example, allowance could be withdrawn gradually and after they are well settled in paid employment). Inspectors are needed to monitor and evaluate the long-term progress of people using the centre's services. A web page has been established to inform people of the centre's services.
Contact Person for the Project
Dr. Costas Kiranides
00357-22-402101