Regulations - 361.45(b)(1)

Nebraska VR will conduct an assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs for each eligible client or for each eligibile client served if under an Order of Selection.

Definition

Career planning is a personalized, time-limited process that assists clients in identifying employment goals, assessing skills, and establishing a roadmap for competitive, integrated employment.

Purpose

The assessment is conducted in order to determine the appropriate employment outcome and the nature and scope of services to be included in the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

Foundational Work-Capacity Belief

Nebraska VR will operate under the foundational assumption that every client has the potential to work, including those with significant disabilities. (See VR Foundational Concepts Chapter)

Informed Choice Partnership (See VR Foundational Concepts Chapter)

Nebraska VR is responsible to help clients make informed choices about job goals, services, and service providers. These decisions are made together by the client, the specialist, and the authorized representative, as applicable. 

Career Planning Framework

Nebraska VR will provide career planning services in a manner that enables each client to:

• Explore and identify personal strengths, resources, concerns, and priorities
• Assess abilities, capabilities, and interests
• Review relevant labor market information

Goals of Career Planning

Career planning will support clients in:

• Determining a career direction
• Developing a strategic plan to achieve competitive, integrated employment

Scope of Career Planning Activities

Career Planning is offered at any point during the VR Process and may include, but is not limited to:

• Medical/clinical assessment of impairment-related impediments to employment
• Informational Interviews and other progressive employment activities
• Career counseling sessions
• Standardized and unstandardized assessments
• Simulated work activities
• Worksite experiences

The Career Planning process is not intended to be linear. Each heading identifies required areas to be addressed. Activities must be individualized to the needs of the client and can occur in any order.

Document all career planning meetings via the "Document Team Service" button for the Career Planning service on the case home screen. Address the pertinent topics and specific information used to make informed decisions. Required documentation includes identified interests, assets, concerns, as well as applicable labor market information and documentation of any resources provided, as appropriate.

Initial Career Planning Activities

• Discuss vocational interests and determine with the client if additional assessments may be needed.
• Use planning tools available in the Job Planning Resources Guide to support planning activities, including but not limited to:
  • Job Planning Factors & Job Planning Discussion
  • IPE Guide
  • Discovery Activity: Work Considerations
  • Career Planning Preferences (for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability)

Benefits Orientation (if applicable)

• Ensure the client has been referred to a trained Benefits Orientation Specialist (See Eligibility Chapter)
• Continue career planning while benefits services are in progress so as not to delay the IPE Approval timeline

Explore Job Goals

• Ensure the client's work history has been entered in QE2.
• Identify strengths and any transferrable skills
• Address ongoing planning factors or impediments to employment and discuss VR supports to accommodate, as appropriate
• Use tools like the Career Planning Preference form, CareerScope, O*Net, eSkill, and others available in the Job Planning Resources Guide
• Consider Progressive Employment Activities such as job shadowing, informational interviews, volunteer work, business tours, mock interviews, On-the-Job Evaluations (See On-the-Job Evaluation Chapter). 
  • Assess interests, skills, and accomodation needs throughout the client's participation in the activities. 
  • See the VR Foundational Concepts Chapter for more information on Progressive Employment activities.
• Refer for Vocational Evaluation if needed. Follow the process outlined in the Vocational Evaluation chapter. If your team does not have an Evaluator and additional assessments is beyond your scope of practice, please contact the Program Director for Evaluation for next steps
• Confirm work authorization documents. See Individualized Plan for Employment Chapter for information about these documents.

Education and Training

• Determine if further education or training is needed for interest areas identified
• Explore options aligned with the client's identified career pathway:
  • Employer-based training, upskill or opportunities for advancement
  • Apprenticeships
  • Certificate, diploma, or advance degree programs
  • Additional coursework or non-credit classes
  • Volunteer opportunities

Explore Labor Market Information

• Verify with the client if employment opportunities are available in the local job market and any specific labor market factors unique to local employers and the client's community
• To gather this information use:
  • QE2's Employer Database
  • WIN meetings
  • Informational interviews
  • Business tours
  • Online resources including NEWorks and O*NET
• Document these activities and information gathered in a task note

Address Barriers

• Identify and address work-related planning factors that may present impediments such as functional capacities, financial and legal concerns, and any daily living needs.
• Use the Discovery Activity: Work Considerations guide as a tool to discuss planning factors, if needed.
• Consider a referral to the Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP) to explore accommodations and assistive devices available. 
• Address disability disclosure and self-advocacy, and how VR helps clients develop or strengthen these skills. 

Set Next Steps

• With the client, establish next steps including defining VR services and supports needed to achieve the job goal
• Review evaluation criteria, responsibilities, and cost participation. As appropriate, discuss strategies to assume cost in the future.

Finalize the Job Goal and IPE Services

• Mutually agree upon employment goals, services and supports required
• Document decisions, justifications and strategies (See Documentation Chapter) and the way in which the specific goal was determined through informed choice.
• Write the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) See Individualized Plan for Employment Chapter

Strategies for Resolving Job Goal Impasse with Clients

Nebraska VR staff members have a responsibility to do everything possible to arrive at a mutually agreed upon job goal with a client. However, if an impasse occurs, consider the following strategies to work toward resolution:

• Provide upfront and honest options and feedback
• Use Motivational Interviewing skills to better understand the client's priorities and motivation
• Provide a career pathways breakdown through a career cluster to help demonstrate anticipated growth over time with experience gained and skills layered
• Arrange a Progressive Employment activity to introduce the client to a subject-matter expert
• Staff challenges with the team, Office Director, Program Director, during a WIN metting, and/or with a Business Account Manager
• If additional mediation or consultation is needed, consider support from the Client Appeal Rights, Procedures (See Client Appeal Rights, Procedures Chapter)

Assessment Services

Career Planning Preferences - English

Discovery Activity: Application for Employment - English

Discovery Activity: Family Support Network - English

Discovery Activity: Family Support Network - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Job Skills - English

Discovery Activity: Job Skills - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Make Sure - English

Discovery Activity: Make Sure - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Non-Paid Work Experiences - English

Discovery Activity: Non-Paid Work Experiences - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Work Considerations - English

Discovery Activity: Work Considerations - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Work Interests - English

Discovery Activity: Work Interests - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Work Preferences - English

Discovery Activity: Work Preferences - Spanish

Discovery Activity: Work Values - English

Discovery Activity: Work Values - Spanish

IPE Guide

Initial Meeting to Next Step Guide

Job Planning Factors & Job Planning Discussion

Job Readiness Factors & Initial Meeting - A Guide for Staff

Summary of Initial Meeting

VR Process Chart