The Vocational Unit Meeting takes place weekly, during which team members share ideas and information about individuals receiving IPS services. All IPS team members participate equally in the meeting, which involves problem-solving about individuals’ job searches, job placements, follow-along support, and assertive engagement.
The meeting provides an opportunity to review the various aspects of the service. For example, employment specialists might bring in a completed Career Profile, job search plan, or follow-along plan and discuss how to improve these tools in depth. This process allows for additional consideration of the types of employment opportunities and/or the types of support needed to sustain employment. It is crucial to prioritize problem-solving over administrative tasks or merely providing updates on individuals.
Team members also utilize this time to share job leads and identify specific cases that would best suit the job leads. The meeting also celebrates successes, such as obtaining an interview, securing employment, or maintaining employment. The meeting also reviews the employment goals of individuals receiving services and progress toward achieving those goals.
Additionally, the team leader facilitates the ongoing discussion, reviewing specific team outcomes as well as the performance of each employment specialist. Specific and concrete goals for improvement should be developed at least quarterly. Although employment specialists should have discrete caseloads, they should provide backup coverage to other team members as needed.