Organisation: New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
(c)NLPRA
New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (NLPRA) is one of the largest NGOs in Hong Kong, providing a comprehensive range of community-based rehabilitation services for persons with psychiatric disabilities. The association currently operates 33 service units and 20 social enterprises in Hong Kong, and serves more than 12,000 service users every year, catering for their residential, vocational and social needs.
The initiative to assist persons with psychiatric disabilities to open employment was started in 1994 through the setting up of a “supported employment” service. Experience informed us that, though persons with psychiatric disabilities were equipped with different sorts of vocational skills, the reason why they could not sustain jobs in open employment was the adjustment difficulties in coping with the real work environment. To meet the challenge, the association adopted a “Place- Train-Place” model.
A service team composed of Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Placement Officers and Instructors provide comprehensive training to service users. The “Place-Train-Placeî” approach includes:
- work training in real work settings
- diversified training such as retailing, catering and cleaning ñ to match the vocational needs and preferences of service users
- strengthening work attitudes and habits through training
- ongoing support according to individualised
rehabilitation plans
When work skills have been enhanced, service users are “placed” in the open market. Our placement officers provide both job interview and soft skills training to enhance work-related manners and skills. Workplace visits are also arranged for persons with psychiatric disabilities to facilitate their better adjustment. The model was proven to be effective in terms of both the better adjustment of persons with psychiatric disabilities and the better employment opportunities open to them. For example, Disneyland HK employed six of our service users in January 2011.
Internet: www.nlpra.org.hk
