VOCATIONAL EVALUATIONS:
The Glenwood Testing Center has been performing vocational evaluations for over 25 years. Vocational testing is appropriate for the following populations:
-students beginning as early as Grade 7 through college
-the unemployed
-underemployed
-career-changers at any age
-new workers
-down-sized workers
-vocationally disabled individuals (emotional: stress, etc)
-litigated matters
-fitness-for-duty questions
-personal injury
-matrimonial dispute
-anyone making career decisions.
Vocational testing helps take the “Trial and Error” out of the job search process by measuring an individual's personal and vocational characteristics. Such factors are defined in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and include: Vocational Interests, Aptitudes (general learning ability, verbal, numerical, spatial, form, clerical perception, motor coordination, finger dexterity, manual dexterity, eye-hand-foot coordination, color discrimination), Education (reasoning, mathematical, language), Employment Training, Temperaments, Employment History (Transferable Skills), Vocational Skills, Physical Abilities and Functional Limitations, Language Skills, Cognitive Abilities.
There are dozens of acceptable tests available to the Glenwood Psychologists. Each test is like one piece of a jig-saw puzzle. No one instrument is used, by itself, to make decisions about vocational aptitudes and suitability for various career paths. Each test or test battery is simply one tool among many. They are all integrated to provide the client with direction leading to an appropriate vocational plan and/or career path. In finalizing the written report, the psychologist considers physical capacities and aptitudes/abilities that tell what a client can do as well as interests and attitudes towards work that tell what the client wants to do. Assessment of an individual's interests, abilities, and preferences is crucial to obtaining and being successful in a job or training program. Such a comprehensive process allows for the best opportunity for success in the world of work.
The Vocational Assessment/Evaluation Report will contain all the Personal and Vocational Characteristics of the individual. In addition, the report includes psychosocial and background information regarding the client, and provide test results in specific terms. The report will also contain recommendations to assist the client, vocational counselor, insurance adjuster or others in completing the rehabilitation plan or the treatment plan. This includes realistic occupational options, including job suitability.
Following the completion of all interviews and testing, the client will meet with the psychologist for an "Interpretation" session where all test scores, results, conclusions and recommendations are discussed. The client will receive all of this data in the form of a comprehensive, written vocational/career report, as well.
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WORKERS' COMPENSATION EVALUATIONS:
Glenwood Psychologists have performed hundreds of evaluations to determine to what extent, if any, work conditions contributed to a worker's psychological disability.
Workers' Compensation laws are designed to ensure that employees who are injured or disabled on the job are provided money to live on while they cannot work. Many of these disabling conditions are psychological and include job related stress reactions that cause work related anxiety or depressive disorders, post traumatic stress disorder or transient, situational stress.
In addition, Drs. Cushing have worked with scores of companies and individuals in providing mental health treatment to improve workers' ability to once again, function well in the workplace. By using goal-directed, brief intervention methods in which work is the primary focus, we have been successful in restoring psychological health and in returning workers to their jobs as soon as possible.
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SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY EVALUATIONS:
Glenwood Center Psychologists have been completing Disability Evaluations for the Department of Health and Human Services and for private attorneys and clients for over 25 years. Dr. Frank Cushing has been designated a Vocational Expert by the Social Security Administration and has testified at more than 100 Social Security Disability Hearings.
The role of psychological testing in disability assessments is to help answer questions as to whether or not the worker is unable to engage in any substantial, gainful employment by reason of MENTAL IMPAIRMENT that has, or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
In order to meet the Social Security standards, a person's mental abilities and/or impairments must be measured. When we assess mental abilities, we consider factors such as ability to understand, carry out, and remember instructions, and ability to respond appropriately to supervision, co-workers, and work pressures in a work setting. Specifically, we assess the ability to:
-Remember locations and work-like procedures
-Understand and remember very short and simple instructions
-Understand and remember detailed instructions
-Carry out very short and simple instructions
-Carry out detailed instructions
-Maintain attention and concentration for extended periods
-Perform activities within a schedule
-Maintain regular attendance, and be punctual within customary tolerances
-Sustain an ordinary routine without special supervision
-Work in coordination with or proximity to others without being distracted by them
-Make simple work-related decisions
-Complete a normal workday and workweek without interruptions from psychologically based symptoms
-Perform at a consistent pace without an unreasonable number and length of rest periods
-Interact appropriately with the general public
-Ask simple questions or request assistance
-Accept instructions and respond appropriately to criticism from supervisors
-Get along with coworkers or peers without distracting them or exhibiting behavioral extremes
-Maintain socially appropriate behavior and adhere to basic standards of neatness and cleanliness
-Respond appropriately to changes in the work setting
-Be aware of normal hazards and take appropriate precautions
-Travel in unfamiliar places or use public transportation
-Set realistic goals or make plans independently of others
Upon completion of the interviewing and testing, a comprehensive written psychological report will be available that will outline all of the test scores, findings, conclusions and an opinion about whether or not there is a Mental Impairment that sufficiently hinders the worker in areas listed above so as to make them disabled. This report is usually presented to attorneys and the Administrative Law Judge who conducts the Disability Hearing. The psychologists are available to testify at such hearings as needed.
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CAREER COUNSELING:
Often, workers are frustrated about some aspects of their job or career path. Most people don't actually choose their jobs. Their jobs choose them! Because there is little career planning involved in middle schools and high schools, most of us have never had the advantage of a structured career plan and don't know how to move forward. Some suffer "burnout" and wish to pursue other opportunities but don't know what area of work might suit them best. For those seeking direction and career advice, Glenwood psychologists can provide guidance and counseling to point out an appropriate occupational path that best fits the person's personality, interests and aptitudes. Those considering a job or career change are often helped by job search advice. Career planning starts with finding out about yourself. What do you like to do? What do you want to do? What jobs are available that are in line with your interests and values? These are all questions a consultation and perhaps, an interest-based career test can help answer. With the insights gained in career counseling and testing, you will be better able to unlock the door to a fulfilling occupation. You can gain the confidence and backing to break out of past habits that have led to frustration and burnout and to move into a career that is truly fulfilling and enjoyable.
In addition, Drs. Cushing have provided Vocational rehabilitation Counseling and Consulting since 1973. Counseling injured, disabled, or unemployed persons to return to work and to understand and cope with their personal situation has been a service offered by the Glenwood Testing Center. We work with individuals, corporations, community agencies and school districts. Such counseling has assisted clients in the development of realistic career goals.
The primary purpose of vocational rehabilitation is to enable each individual to reach his/her highest level of achievement, personally and vocationally. Enabling clients to return to work is a major goal of the rehab counseling. How this is done, and the extent of the involvement and type of services required depends on the barriers to employment faced by the client. Successful return-to-work transition planning may be linked to a good vocational assessment. The question is, what type of assessment/evaluation provides the information needed to achieve these important outcomes. Formal psychometric approaches such as occupational interest inventories and vocational aptitude batteries are commonly used.
Services tailored to the unique needs of special populations (i.e. injured or unemployed workers, rehabilitation clients, developmentally disabled persons, etc.) are also available through the Glenwood Testing Center.
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IMPAIRED PROFESSIONAL & FITNESS FOR DUTY EVALUATIONS:
There are times when emotional problems and/or substance abuse interferes with a professional's ability to function appropriately on the job. Physicians, lawyers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, police, fire, and other public safety workers can become impaired to the degree that someone questions whether or not they are capable of safely and thoroughly performing the responsibilities of their job. In such cases, Drs. Cushing have completed scores of Psychological Fitness for Duty evaluations that help determine if the employee is fit to continue or return to work. These evaluations consist of a gathering of available information from the workplace including a job description, incident reports and complaints of performance and records of any current or past mental health treatment. The evaluation culminates in the preparation of a comprehensive, written report that offers an opinion as to the professional's fitness and outlines accommodations and/or recommendations that may assist in returning the worker to the workplace, if and when that is appropriate.
Specifically, the Fitness Evaluation uses the review of documents, clinical interviews, and psychological testing to help determine the possible presence or extent of the following:
-Inability to sustain ordinary routine without special supervision.
-Inability to make simple work related decisions.
-Inability to complete normal workday or workweek without interruption from mental symptoms and to perform at a consistent pace without unreasonable number of rest periods.
-Inability to accept instructions and respond appropriately to criticism from supervisors.
-Inability to maintain socially appropriate behavior and to adhere to the basic standards of neatness and cleanliness.
-Ability to respond appropriately to changes in the work setting.
-Ability to make appropriate professional judgements and decisions.
-Ability to maintain a low threshold for anger.
-Ability to keep any anger that is felt or expressed proportionate to the situation.
-Ability to not exhibit erratic, unpredictable, or bizarre behavior?
-Ability to not risk the safety, health, comfort or integrity of clients, customers, patients, co-workers or supervisors.
-Impaired ability to accept supervision and respond appropriately to criticism.
-Any mental impairment that is likely to result in inappropriate anger and inability to tolerate criticism.
-Ability to control and not exhibit grossly inappropriate social behavior at work.
-Avoid proneness to outbursts and tendencies to alienate clients or consumers.
-Ability to conform behavior to be compatible with public contact.
Based upon the results of the evaluation, written recommendations can be made for accommodation that would permit the person to continue employment. Such recommendations could include those that would significantly reduce or eliminate the incompatible/impaired behavior including use of medication and supportive psychotherapeutic treatment, social skills training and/or assigning the employee to position where his or her impairment will not negatively affect job performance, if possible.
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PUBLIC SAFETY (Police, Fire, Security)APPLICANT SCREENING
Pre-employment psychological screenings of applicants for high-risk positions are a service offered by the Glenwood Testing Center since 1980. Psychologists at the Center have evaluated thousands of police, fire, nuclear power plant, corrections and security personnel in order to assist communities and companies in making hiring decisions. A Psychological Screening Report is produced at the end of each evaluation which rates each candidate as to their level of risk for future performance difficulties on the job. The report also states an opinion as to whether or not the examinee presents "no apparent risk", "some risk", "moderate risk" or "serious risk. Do not recommend.", "very serious risk. Do not recommend." based on comparisons of his/her profiles with the profiles of professionals in the field.
The evaluation consists of a Clinical Interview and psychological testing including the use of instruments specifically designed for Public Safety candidates and applicants for high risk positions. The testing aids in the identification of negative behavior patterns such as alcohol and drug use, trouble with the law and society, job difficulties, absence abuse, and interpersonal difficulties that lead to problems handling responsibilities in the workplace.
The interview and testing provide insight into the following areas of applicant functioning:
Apparent motivation for the job
Job stability/performance history
Arrests/driving Problemd/antisocial behavior history
Drug/alcohol use
Family and peer relationships/interpersonal skills
Illness/health concerns/phobias/depression/unusual experiences or behavior
For information regarding the scheduling of candidates for evaluation, please contact the Glenwood Testing Center: (815) 968-8133.
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