Section 530.130  Programs and Services

 

a)         Program Definitions

            For the purposes of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

1)         Evaluation

 

A)        Functional Vocational Assessment – a limited survey of an individual's vocational interests and abilities based on a curriculum and DHS-ORS counselor's requests.

 

B)        Vocational Evaluation – an assessment of an individual's ability to function in a single area (e.g., clerical) or a broad-based assessment of the individual's interests and abilities utilizing a variety of tests, work samples, and situational assessments.

 

C)        Psycho-social Evaluation – a vocational assessment which includes intensive counseling and case management in support of clinical services.

 

D)        Community Based Work Assessment – observation of an individual in a community work setting by assessing his/her work skills, work habits and attitudes, social and personal characteristics, vocational interest, employment preferences, family support, and other needs.

 

2)         Training

 

A)        Work Adjustment Training (WAT) – transitional, time limited training using individual or group situations.  The goal of WAT is to assist the individual in understanding the meaning, value and demands of work and to develop the necessary skills and work attitudes necessary to achieve his/her employment outcome.

 

B)        Psycho-social Rehabilitation – an approach to rehabilitation, usually used in the programming for the chronically mentally ill, that combines psychological, medical, vocational, educational and social components with an assertive outreach approach to develop, maximize and maintain the optimal level of functioning for the individual.  The goal of psycho-social rehabilitation is obtaining or maintaining competitive, supported or sheltered employment.

 

C)        Skills Training – a formal training program of instruction with a written curriculum that develops skills and knowledge for a specific occupation or job family.  Training may be in a community or non-community job site.

 

D)        Transitional Employment – services provided to an individual at a community worksite which leads to competitive integrated employment.

 

E)        Job Seeking Skills Training – training to assist an individual to obtain the skills and knowledge to choose a reasonable employment objective and competitive employment.

 

3)         Placement

 

A)        Competitive Placement Services – a group of community-based services designed to assist an individual in obtaining a competitive employment outcome.  Services include:

 

i)          Assessment – services to assist an individual through observation of job readiness, transferable skills, social and personal characteristics, vocational interest, employment preferences, retention skills, and coping skills;

 

ii)         Job Development and Placement – services to assist an individual in identifying specific jobs that are available to him/her using job match techniques;

 

iii)        On-the-job Training – specific training on a specific job to assist an individual in obtaining specific skills and experience in that job; and

 

iv)        Follow-up Services – time limited services which provide direct and indirect support to an individual and/or employer to allow for adequate job adjustment and retention, or further job development and placement.

 

B)        Supported Employment Placement Services – services provided to any individual with a significant or most significant disability to support a customer in the supported employment setting.

 

b)         The following are required components of all programs and services to be certified.

 

1)         All individuals referred for services shall receive a personal interview that includes an explanation of why the individual was referred, service opportunities available to the individual, and any rights and remedies the individual may have, including the appeal process and the time frames associated with the individual's appeal rights.

 

2)         Confidential case records shall be kept secure and shall be available only to authorized personnel.

 

3)         There shall be a designated staff member or group that is responsible for making admission decisions.

 

4)         Individuals referred for services shall be notified in writing of their acceptance or nonacceptance into the program.

 

5)         Persons on waiting lists shall be contacted monthly, apprised of their status, and given sufficient information to decide whether to remain on the waiting list or seek services elsewhere.

 

6)         There shall be clearly written entrance and exit criteria for each service offered by the agency.

 

c)         Individual Choices

 

1)         Each person shall be presented with goal and service options that would assist in choosing an employment goal.

 

2)         Each person shall be enabled to choose his/her employment goal and services and express his/her degree of satisfaction with the results achieved.

 

d)         Individual Service Plans

 

1)         Individual service plans shall be developed for each person served that address the person's preferences and needs for services and their expected outcomes.

 

2)         All persons involved in the development of the plan shall receive a copy of the plan within 5 working days after its development.

 

3)         Each service plan shall identify:

 

A)        an employment goal which is identified by at least a three digit Dictionary of Occupational Titles job family;

 

B)        understandable, measurable objectives that need to be reached in order to achieve the person's employment goal;

 

C)        the services needed to meet the objectives;

 

D)        time frames needed to achieve the goal and each objective;

 

E)        measures to assess the outcome of each objective, including review dates; and

 

F)         the persons responsible for implementing the plan.

 

e)         Staffings

 

1)         Before entering any program, each person shall be afforded a staffing to develop a service plan in concert with the DHS-ORS counselor and the agency.

 

2)         Staffings shall be held on a scheduled basis to allow for review and discussion of the person's progress towards achieving his/her employment goal and objectives, as follows:

 

A)        at the completion of evaluation;

 

B)        at least once every eight weeks for training and placement services up to the date of successful employment;

 

C)        at least once every three months for persons receiving Extended Services.

 

3)         The person served must be given the opportunity at each staffing to express his/her thoughts about his/her service plan.

 

f)         Reports

 

1)         All persons involved in the development of the plan shall receive a copy of each staffing report within ten working days after the staffing.

 

2)         A final evaluation report shall be written for each person who completes an evaluation that includes the following:

 

A)        background information regarding the person;

 

B)        interpersonal/personal observations made by agency staff;

 

C)        a vocational appraisal of the person;

 

D)        a recommended employment goal;

 

E)        recommended objectives and services to attain the stated employment goal; and

 

F)         a summary of the staffing conducted, including customer comments.

 

3)         A training and placement report shall be written at least every eight weeks, or quarterly if the customer is receiving Extended Services, that summarizes the following:

 

A)        accomplishment of the objectives;

 

B)        remaining services needed by the customer to achieve the employment goal; and

 

C)        a summary of the staffings conducted, including the customer's comments.

 

4)         When a successful placement has been achieved, the report shall also address the following:

 

A)        place of employment;

 

B)        date of job placement;

 

C)        job title;

 

D)        wages;

 

E)        hours of work per week;

 

F)         customer satisfaction with all aspects of the placement; and

 

G)        any post-employment services needed.

 

g)         Individual Program Standards

 

1)         Evaluation

 

A)        Evaluation methods, techniques and work sites shall be relevant to the customer's needs.

 

B)        The customer shall be able to choose an employment goal and a service plan as a result of the evaluation services provided.

 

2)         Training

 

A)        Individually designed services shall be provided that meet the customer's specific needs and desires and are consistent with his/her employment goal.

 

B)        The customer shall be able to achieve his/her employment goal as a direct result of service provided.

 

3)         Placement

 

A)        Each customer shall be provided a vocational assessment service that will assist him/her in identifying and understanding:

 

i)          his/her vocational assets;

 

ii)         his/her vocational needs, including income, hours of employment, and transportation;

 

iii)        specific characteristics of an employment area; and

 

iv)        potential employment opportunities, including a listing of the potential employers.

 

B)        The employment goal established for the customer shall include the number of hours of employment per week.

 

C)        Job search activities shall include the customer whenever possible and shall be consistent with the customer's employment goal and safety and accessibility needs.

 

D)        Documentation of each employer contact made on behalf of the customer shall be maintained.

 

E)        Follow-up services, including when appropriate on-site job coaching services and off-site job retention counseling, shall be provided in accordance with the customer's needs and are designed to ensure the customer's successful job retention.

 

4)         Work Services

 

A)        Each customer shall be offered at least 20 hours of paid work per week.

 

B)        Within one year after entering employment, each customer shall be provided with the same benefits provided comparably classified employees.

 

C)        The agency shall ensure there are no charges to customers for the privilege of employment.

 

D)        All charges for optional or additional rehabilitation services shall be made in advance and with the agreement of the customer.

 

E)        The agency must reassess each customer's potential for community employment at least annually.