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Supported Employment - Community Support Program

Status: Archived

Approved Date: May 12, 2017

  • Acknowledge receipt of referral from a DD Service Coordinator
  • Follow the same VR processes as with a non-Supported Employment case from referral through outcome/termination.
  • Refer a client who receives Social Security Benefits for a Benefits Orientation.
  • Confirm QE2 case is in Priority I.
  • Convene a meeting with client, parent or guardian, DD Service Coordinator and the CSP provider(s) to agree on supported employment as an appropriate service, to ensure CSP provider(s) have the skill and resources to provide the SE services, and to confirm and document DHSS-DDS has completed a background check on the CSP provider(s).
  • Develop the IPE – Supported Employment. The plan mutually developed by the client, DD Service Coordinator, CSP provider and VR Specialist should include other needed VR services.
    • Refer as needed for other services such as Assistive Technology, Benefits Analysis, etc.
  • Enter IPE in QE2.
  • Develop and approve a Service Agreement with the selected CSP provider.
  • Provide the packet of information to the CSP provider.
  • Authorize the total amount for the Supported Employment Service.
    • Intellectual Disabilities (DD) - Service Agreement SE Fee Schedule (Based on projected total hours of employment)
  • Provider submits Standard Reporting Forms for payment for each milestone.
    • Intellectual Disabilities Supported Employment Fee Schedule
  • Move client to “Services Initiated: Employment Services” in QE 2.
  • Use appropriate Milestone Payment Standards as a guide to process payments and QE 2 services.
  • VR liaison meets with CSP provider monthly for client progress reports. Enter client progress QE 2 task notes.
  • VR liaison meets with client face to face/telephone a minimum of every 90 days to verify progress and satisfaction with services.
  • VR liaison agrees with CSP provider to every milestone payment and to successful outcome or discharge from the Supported Employment Program.
  • VR Specialist must have contact with client prior to closure to ensure job satisfaction and the move to long-term supports.
    • Successful Closure: Follow the VR Program Manual: Closing the Case-Successful Outcome.
    • Termination: VR Specialist must agree to any discharge from the SE program. Follow VR Program Manual: Closing the Case-Termination.
  1. Acknowledge receipt of referral from a DD Service Coordinator of a client interested in work with Nebraska VR and using the CSP service model.
  2. Follow the same VR processes as with non-Supported Employment cases.
    • Referral
    • Employment Discussion & Application
    • Eligibility
    • Benefits Orientation
    • Career Exploration
    • Individualized Plan for Employment
  3. Convene a meeting with the client, parent or guardian, DD Service Coordinator, and the CSP provider(s).
    • Agree on supported employment as an appropriate employment outcome for the client considering skill level, employment opportunities in the community, transportation, and other critical factors.
    • Ensure the CSP provider(s) selected by the client has the skill and resources to provide the needed service considering his/her work record, knowledge of the community, and skills to provide job coaching.
    • Confirm and document in a QE2 task note that DHSS-DDS has completed a background check on the CSP provider(s).
  4. Confirm QE2 case is coded as a Priority 1 and develop IPE.
  5. Develop and approve a Service Agreement with the selected CSP provider.
    • NOTE: The Service Agreement will be with the CSP provider who will be the sole or primary provider of service. If there are multiple providers a primary provider will be designated. The SE Milestone/Outcome payments will be paid to the primary provider. The primary provider will be responsible for determining the appropriate amount of the Milestone/Outcome payment the other providers will receive and will pay them directly for the services they provided. VR staff will explain in detail the payment process to the CSP providers.
  6. Provide a packet of information for the CSP provider that includes:
      1. Overview of Nebraska VR’s Supported Employment Services
      1. Definition of Terms
      1. Intellectual Disabilities-Supported Employment Fee Schedule
      1. CSP Report Forms
      1. Billing Billing Forms
      1. Job Coach Training Manual
  7. Develop and approve the IPE. 8.Authorize the total amount for the Supported Employment services using the Intellectual Disabilities Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
  8. Move the case into the appropriate milestone and activity in QE2 as the case progresses through the SE Milestones.
    • Intellectual Disabilities Supported Employment Fee Schedule
  9. Meet with the CSP provider a minimum of monthly to review the client’s progress.
    • Enter a monthly progress task note in QE 2.
  10. Meet with the client every 90 days to verify his/her progress and satisfaction.
    • Enter a meeting summary task note in QE 2.
  11. Approve payments of provider invoices only if accompanied by the specified reporting forms for each milestone payment.
    • Consult the Nebraska VR Supported Employment Milestone Payment Schedule – Behavioral Health Employment
  12. Contact the client prior to completing a successful outcome or termination.

Individuals served in the Supported Employment using the CSP service model must be in Priority Group 1 and be eligible for funding and services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

VR does not participate in the selection of the CSP provider other than ensuring the CSP provider has the skill and resources to provide the needed services.

VR would not participate in job placement assistance.

VR will accept the DHSS background check. Confirmation that the background check was completed and the CSP provider has been approved by DHSS can be obtained by contacting the local DHSS Service Coordinator. A task entry stating confirmation has been obtained will be entered into QE2.

If DHSS is terminating a service contract with a CSP SE Provider the local DHSS Service Coordinator will provide the local VR Office with written notification in the form of an email. The email will include the name of the CSP SE Provider, his/her address, Social Security Number, type of termination, and the date of the termination. The email should be printed and placed in the client's case record. The email should then be forwarded to Cathy Callaway. She will be responsible for formally notifying the CSP SE Provider that VR is terminating its Service Agreement with them. VR cannot provide payments to a CSP SE Provider for milestones occurring

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).

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.

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.

Supported employment services may also be provided for a client who has selected the Community Supports Program (CSP) placement option through Health and Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities. This option allows a client to select and hire his/her own provider, such as a family member, neighbor, or other trusted person in the community to provide the initial job coaching and necessary ongoing supports. The provider selected does not have to be a specialized provider. Supported employment would be included under the “Community Living and Day Supports” service category available under the CSP service model.

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.

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.


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