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Supported Employment

Status: Archived

Approved Date: November 27, 2023

Process

  1. Follow the same VR processes as with non-Supported Employment cases.
    • Referral
    • Employment Discussion & Application
    • Eligibility
    • Benefits Orientation
    • Career Exploration
    • Discovery used for ID/DD Customized Employment
    • Individualized Plan for Employment
    • Must be a Priority 1 with a diagnosis that is appropriate to the planned Supported Employment Program
    • Consider all disabilities a client has when developing an IPE and needed supports
  2. Complete the provider referral form.
  3. Send copies of IPE-SE, any pertinent re-releasable records verifying primary and secondary disabilities impacting employment, or a letter verifying disability(s) and names of diagnosing medical personnel, benefits orientation/analysis summary, vocational assessment information, the Discover the Job that Works for You booklet or other career planning/work history documents and the Nebraska VR ABI Screen form if one was completed.
  4. Send Copy of IPE and all Milestone Reporting Form and the 30 Day Reporting Form must be sent to the DD Service Coordinator.
  5. Authorize for the Supported Employment Service Milestones that will likely be completed in the current fiscal year, per the appropriate milestone schedule for the client's diagnosed disability:
    • Behavioral Health (including Transitional Employment) - up to a total of $4000
    • ABI & Autism - up to a total of $7,000
    • Intellectual Disabilities (ID)  Supported Employment-up to a total of $6000
    • Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Customized Employment-up to a total of $7000
  6. Move the case into the appropriate milestone and activity in QE2 as the case progresses through the SE Milestones.
    • Consult the appropriate Supported Employment Milestone Payment Schedule for the appropriate QE2 Milestone and Activity.
    • Track and authorize for additional milestones in sequence as the case progresses.
  7. Meet with the Supported Employment Provider a minimum of monthly to review client progress.
    • Enter a monthly progress task note in QE 2.
  8. Meet with the client face to face/telephone a minimum of every 90 days to verify his/her progress and satisfaction.
    • Enter a meeting summary task note in QE 2.
  9. Approve payments of provider invoices only if accompanied by the specified Milestone Reporting forms.
    • Consult the appropriate Supported Employment Payment Schedule for reporting requirements.
  10. Contact the client prior to successful outcome or termination closure.

Policy

Individuals served in the Supported Employment must be in Priority Group 1.  All disabilities must be explored for impact on employment.

Compensation must be at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by non-disabled individuals, at the time of transition to long-term support services.  

Any limitations in work hours or level of pay must result directly from the client’s disability-related impediments that cannot be overcome by services.

Benefits include worker's compensation, paid holidays, paid vacations, paid sick time, health insurance, etc. The client must receive the same benefits available to any other employee of the company or service provider (when the service provider is the employer).

Employment must be competitive and integrated.  

Job placement must be in an integrated setting means a setting typically found in community competitive employment in which individuals with disabilities interact with non-disabled individuals (other than those who are providing services to them) to the same extent that non-disabled individuals in comparable positions interact with other individuals.

Background & Training Information

Supported employment services are intended for those individuals for whom, because the severity of his/her disabilities, competitive employment has not been achieved, or has been intermittent or interrupted, and who will need continuing support to maintain integrated competitive employment.

The concept of “place and train” is central to supported employment. The individual is placed into an integrated competitive employment setting, and then provided with the necessary training and other supports and services needed to acquire job performance skills.

Customized Supported Employment is based on individual determination of the client's strengths, needs and interests that is designed to meet both the individual's needs and the business needs of the employer.  The Service Provider customizes a job description.

The primary role of vocational rehabilitation in supported employment is to fund the initial training and other supports and services needed to achieve stable job performance. Other agencies, organizations, and individuals (including natural supports at the workplace or in the community) have the primary role of providing the long-term support services needed to maintain the employment and stable job performance. Before completing an IPE for supported employment services, VR staff, the client, the client’s parent or guardian and service provider should explore and identify all possible sources of long-term support including funding sources, and document them in the client’s case file. In some cases, a combination of supports may best meet the client’s needs. Benefits Orientation/Analysis may be helpful in identifying long-term support options and funding sources. The client, parent or guardian and supported employment service provider should clearly understand that if no source of continuing support is identified or if there is no reasonable expectation that the source(s) will become available, that VR is not able to provide or fund continuing support services.

Forms Associated to This Chapter


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