Positive employment service - facilitating employment for people living with HIV

Abstract

As treatments and therapies develop and improve, enhancing life expectancy, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been described by some as a long term chronic condition rather than an acute life threatening illness. As this change occurs, new issues become relevant for the person living with HIV, employment being one of these. In light of this, the Positive Employment Service was developed and implemented to explore and address some of the issues related to employment for people living with HIV. The original concept for the service was primarily focused on vocational rehabilitation; however, it soon became clear that there was a need for a prevocational service facilitating transition and adjustment to productivity roles. The service was developed using approaches from Vocational and Occupational Therapy Models of Practice. This article discusses the challenges of developing and implementing this service and explores the unique perspective that occupational therapy brings to a position of this kind.