A Norwegian approach to supported employment: Arbeid med bistand

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Angelika Schafft, | \Oystein Spjelkavik,

Affiliations: Work Research Institute, Oslo, Norway

Note: [] Parts of this article are drawn from reports, written by Randi Blystad and \Oystein Spjelkavik (1995, 1997). Correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to Angelika Schafft/\Oystein Spjelkavik, Work Research Institute, WRI, P.O.Box 8171 Dep., N-0034 Oslo, Norway

Abstract: This article sums up and discusses central aspects of a three year Norwegian pilot project on supported employment, initiated by the Ministry of Local Government and Labour, and called ``Arbeid med bistand'' (AB). The Work Research Institute was hired by the Ministry to carry out the evaluation of the pilot project. Project activity started in the Autumn of 1992 and was completed by the end of 1995. The main objective of AB was to develop new approaches for integrating people with vocational disabilities in ordinary jobs. The new element in AB has been integrated support and a total person orientation. In addition to giving support in finding a job and in working on that job, job coaches also gave the participants support in issues to do with living conditions and leisure activities. Experiences from the project showed that flexibility in approach is an important criterion for success in vocational rehabilitation. On this basis, the project evaluation asserts that the quality of vocational rehabilitation can be better assured when there is room for reflection and exchange of experiences, than by setting standards and creating routines. It is also asserted that the main principles of AB should be fundamental in all vocational rehabilitation. From January 1996, AB became established as one of the ordinary vocational rehabilitation services offered by the state. Preliminary findings from recent and ongoing research on these services indicate that AB has undergone some modifications concerning some of the original principles. The article ends up with a brief discussion of that issue.

Keywords: work with support, norway supported employment, arbeid med bistand

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 147-158, 1999