The Salvation Army’s transitional employment program is in it for the long haul-be it six months or six years

“If I don’t get this job, I don’t know who they’re looking for,” Reg Rambarran said to his wife when The Salvation Army interviewed him for the post of director of the fledgling transitional employment program. That was 20 years ago, and Reg is still there, doing the job he loves with a passion.

Reg is uniquely qualified for the post. An emigrant from Guyana, he worked in numerous factory and office employment settings and was also the owner of his own business. He received an MA from Tyndale College, Toronto, and his intention was to go back into pastoral work until he applied for the post.
Salvationist interviewed Reg at his office in Toronto.

How long has the transitional employment program been in existence?
Since May 1986. That’s when I came on board with The Salvation Army. Prior to that, there was a sheltered workshop, and individuals were being taken out periodically into the workforce. It was decided that a separate program was needed to work with individuals and support them directly in the marketplace. That decision marked the birth of the transitional employment program.

What does the program consist of?
We serve individuals with prolonged and persistent mental health issues, issues that prevent them from obtaining and maintaining employment in the community.

How are clients referred to the program?
Clients are referred to us from Army workshops, community agencies, hospitals, psychiatrists, doctors, friends, family, one client telling another.

Who is eligible?
Clients must have a psychiatric limitation disability, some kind of a vocational barrier. They must be ready and willing to work and must be prepared to be actively engaged in looking for employment themselves. And they must be willing to follow simple instructions in terms of practising job interviews and resumé preparation. Appropriate individuals are then referred to employment opportunities as they become available. Our waiting list can be as long as a year.

A lot depends on the person’s flexibility. Some are very rigid and only want to do a certain type of work. Obviously that limits their options. The more flexible they are to try different opportunities, the more chance they have of entering the program. At the moment, we have 45 clients in the program and there are three full-time staff including myself.

What kind of services does the program offer?
We offer resumé preparation, job placement and ongoing support and counselling. We help individuals identify their vocational strengths and barriers, then work with them on their vocational choices.

Who hires your clients?
The Bay, Tim Hortons, the YMCA and Sobeys, to give some examples. We have also had clients move on to a law firm, various manufacturing companies, Shoppers Drug Mart, two restaurants and some Salvation Army facilities.

It must have taken a while to drum up such a wide network.
It takes a long time to cultivate relationships with employers. There’s still a stigma associated with mental illness and, although it is getting better, there’s still some hesitation.

Special arrangements are also sometimes required for successful employment. As staff, we have to advocate for those accommodations, then train the individuals on the jobsite, as well as provide ongoing support and monitoring. If there is a problem on the jobsite, employers will call us and we’ll deal with the situation.

For example, a job might start at 7:30 a.m., but our client has a hard time being at work that early. I might say to the employer, “For the first several weeks, can we start an hour later, then work our way back?” Other accommodations might concern doctor appointments where the client would need time off in the middle of the day.

Do you still encounter resistance from employers? How do you respond?
I remind them that our clients are willing, dependable and hard-working. In time, their performance will be up to par if given the chance.

That must be gratifying.
Extremely gratifying, and very humbling because it takes a lot of work, much of it behind the scenes. It’s not nine-to-five (laughs). Yesterday, for example, I was talking with two clients on the telephone until 8 p.m., finding out how things were, what issues they were having, troubleshooting with them. Often, we’ll meet with clients on weekends.

We see this as a ministry and, over the years, I’ve been blessed with staff who have shared that vision. It makes a world of difference. Our staff go well beyond the call of duty and don’t expect anything in return.
What is the success rate of the program?

Success in our terms is defined differently. Success means that the individuals are not re-admitted to the hospitals, and they are doing something meaningful, whether it’s full-time, part-time or casual employment. They’re making a positive contribution to society. Of the 45 clients on our roll at the moment, 38 are actively engaged in some form of paid employment.

Are there any comparable programs in the rest of the territory or is this unique?
It’s unique program because we offer a lot of options. We don’t just place a client and abandon them. We give them support for as long as necessary-some six months, some 12 years.

We’ve discharged clients, then two or three years later their employers contact us because situations have developed and they want us to intervene, otherwise the client would lose his job.

So they get taken back into the system.
Absolutely.

Your job never ends. It must be wonderful for clients to know that there is someone out there looking after them.
That’s the beauty of the program. If something happens to them six years down the road and they lose their job-and it has happened-they’re not flushed out into the cold. They can call someone. And that’s something I’m personally so thankful for, that The Salvation Army has permitted and accommodated this.

It’s an amazing ministry. We’re serving individuals who are often neglected, who are often not understood in the community. We’re able to offer hope and support so they can regain some control in their lives and get back on their feet again.

by Ken Ramstead, Associate Editor, Faith & Friends