Informational Interviewing

1
Informational Interviewing

• Case Management and Rehabilitation Counseling
  (BCE 541)
• Dr. Dunn
• September 17, 2002

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Why do you Need to Gather Information?

• Learning about the Consumer
• Background
• Function/Capacities
• Goals
• Understanding of self and world of work
• What are some variables in each of these?

3
First Source of Information File Review

• Existing Information
• Medical reports
• Psychological Reports
• Previous vocational testing
• Educational History

4
Medical Reports

• Look For
• Diagnosis
• Effect on Function
• Stability
• Treatment Alternatives

5
Psychological Report

• Look for
• Diagnosis
• Functional Implications
• Testing Results (Personality, Intelligence,
  Interest)

6
Educational Reports

• Look For
• Grades Completed
• Subjects Studied
• Type of Diploma, if Any
• Disciplinary Problems

7
The Vocational Interview
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Purposes of the Vocational Interview

• Clarification
• Elaboration
• Exploration
• (Orientation)
• (Empowerment)

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DISCREPENCIES IN INFORMATION

• You are learning the CONSUMERS point of view,
  which can conflict with the information you have
  in the file.
• You will need to clarify any discrepancies.

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Things to Discuss

• Physical Factors
• Adjustment
• Family/Friends/ Social Activities

• Education
• Work History
• Economic Factors
• Career Plans

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Physical Factors

• What are the impairments?
• What caused them, and when did they occur?
• Previous Treatment

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Physical Factors, cont.

• Worsening? How quickly? How much?
• Medications (name, dosage?)
• Daily function? (May want to ask specific
  questions).
• Does physicians report (if available) make sense?

13
Personal Adjustment

• Psychological Treatment (Type, reason, when,
  why?)
• Situations that make individual uncomfortable
• Psychiatric Medications (tranquilizers, sleeping
  pills)

14
Family and Social Relationships

• Marital status, living arrangements, children,
  siblings, parents?
• Quality of relationships
• Support for rehabilitation?

15
Family/Social Relationships, Cont.

• Close friends?
• Describe a typical day
• Satisfaction with social life? Why?

16
Educational/Training History

• How far did they get in school?
• Likes and dislikes about school.
• Diploma, GED, Degree, Certificate?
• Relevance and value of information to specific
  jobs.
• Acceptance of further remediation/training?

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Work History

• Previous Occupations, if any.
• Content/Duties
• Salary
• How Long employed and specific dates of
  employment
• Likes/Dislikes
• Things done well and not done well
• Reason for leaving

18
Work History, Cont.

• When was consumer last employed? (If not
  presently working)
• Go back at least 15 years in work history, longer
  if necessary.

19
Economic Issues and Concerns

• Sources of income.
• Minimum Financial needs (Bills, debts, other
  obligations)
• Workers Compensation?
• SSI/SSDI
• Benefits (especially medical insurance)

20
Vocational Development, Interests and Goals

• What does the consumer see as their strengths and
  limitations in a vocational sense?
• What would the consumer like to do?
• Do they understand the process of gathering the
  necessary skills for this occupation?

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Using the Information

• What do you now know about the consumers
  personal, educational and vocational background?
• What are the consumers goals, aspirations,
  needs?
• Is the consumer vocationally mature?
• Do vocational goals fit consumers other
  values?
• What do you still need to find out?

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Next Steps

• What other evaluations do you need?
• Vocational
• Medical
• Psychological
• The Point Establish Eligibility
• Develop a Vocational Goal
• Develop a Rehabilitation Plan

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Determining a Vocational Goal

• Work with the consumer
• Consider information you have obtained
• Identify a range of vocational alternatives
• Develop a goal through informed choice.
• Write the Rehabilitation Plan (IPE) based upon
  the choice the consumer makes.