1. Complete the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) Job Goal Form.

• Original or Amended –  Select "Original"  
• Job Goal – The job goal is the job the client wants to have when they are finished with VR. The job goal should be as specific as possible. Record any important details about the job. Only one job goal may be identified on the IPE Job Goal section. If the client is considering several job goals or an immediate and long term job goal the client and VR staff will mutually agree upon a primary job goal and that job goal will be listed. Any other job goals the client wants reflected on the IPE Job Goal/Supported Employment Form will be listed in the Comments/Responsibilities section of the form.
• Comments/Responsibilities - Allows the client and/or VR staff to note any additional comments regarding the job goal, unique responsibilities, or things to consider during service provision.
• Expected Date to Be Working – In estimating the date the client will be working in his/her job goal consider the following.
  • When the client will have completed the services on his/her plan (or decides he/she does not need  more help).
  • The client will have been working at least 90 days in the job goal.
  • When the client thinks his/her work is satisfactory and his/her employer is satisfied with the client's job performance.
  • This date should be at least six months from the date the IPE is signed.
  • Weekly Work Hours - Indicate the number of hours the client expects to work each week.
  • Agreement and Approval - Thoroughly review the text in this section with the client. It is important the client understands and is in agreement with the conclusions and action to be taken that are outlined in this section.
• Supported Employment – See the Supported Employment Chapter for a detailed description of Supported Employment requirements and procedures. Only individuals with a Most Significant Disability (Priority Group 1) can have a Supported Employment Job Goal.
  • Type of Supported Employment – Identify the type of SE program.
    • Individual Supported Employment 
    • Customized Employment
  • Continuing Help – Identify the type(s) of continuing help the client will need to do well on the job. Check all the boxes that apply. If the help the client needs is not on the list, use the "Other" box to describe the help needed. Use more pages if necessary.
  • Provider – Identify the provider(s) that provide and/or pay for the help needed. If an advocacy or support group, family member, or other source will provide or pay for the continuing help specify who that will be.
    • The provider must meet with the client at least 2 times a month to determine how the client is doing on the job and what the client needs. It is the client's choice as to whether this meeting is at the work place or away from the work place.

2. Complete the appropriate IPE VR Provided Services, IPE Community Services, and IPE Supports forms. (Note: The forms are not required for clients with a Supported Employment Job Goal unless a service and/or support is needed that is outside the scope of Supported Employment). Provide copies to the client.

• VR Provided Services – Identify the VR staff providing the services the client will need to achieve his/her job goal. Indicate the following:
  • The estimated start and end date of the service.
  • The VR staff member (name or title/role) who will provide the service.
• Community Services – Identify the community services the client will need to achieve his/her job goal. Indicate the following:
  • Where will the client get the community service.
  • Who will pay for the community service.
  • The estimated start and end date of each of the community services.
• Supports – Identify the support services the client will need to achieve his/her job goal. Indicate the following:
  • Where will the client get the support.
  • Who will pay for the support.
  • The estimated start and end date of each of the supports.

3. Review the Individualized Plan for Employment(IPE)-Important Information for You with the client and guardian or parent as appropriate to ensure the client fully understands the expectations, requirements, rights and responsibilities prior to signing his/her IPE. Summarizing the content under each major heading is recommended.

4. Obtain signatures of the client, and parent or guardian as appropriate, who will sign the IPE first. The IPE becomes effective when the VR Rehab Specialist signs the IPE. The date the VR Rehab Specialist signs the IPE is the date entered into QE2.

• If a VR Service Specialist has worked with the client to develop the IPE, the Service Specialist signs as the VR Contact. The IPE will then need to be reviewed and approved by a VR Rehab Specialist or Office Director. If approved, the VR Rehab Specialist or Office Director will sign in the Vocational Rehabilitation Approval section of the form.
• The original IPE Job Goal form, IPE - Community Services, IPE -Supports and IPE - VR Provided Services forms is retained in the VR case record. Photocopies are given to the client along with the Individualized Plan for Employment(IPE)-Important Information for You. There is no need to maintain a copy of the Individualized Plan for Employment(IPE)-Important Information for You in the VR case record.

The IPE is to be completed within 90 days of the date the client was determined eligible for VR. If the IPE is approved 91 days or more after the Eligibility Decision VR must:

• Obtain the client's agreement to the extension
• Identify the date when the IPE will be completed
• Provide an explanation as to why the time required for IPE Approval has exceeded 90 days must be documented.

This explanation is documented by answering the first question of the IPE Approval Determination.

Alcohol or drug abuse (including marijuana):

VR will not provide employment related services and supports to an individual who is actively using. VR specialist will:

• Discuss potential consequences of substance use.
• Discuss implication of passing a drug screen.
• Discuss community resource options for recovery and support groups.
• Inform the individual that services and supports can resume after he/she is abstaining from use (Please refer to Background and Training Information section of Eligibility-Non SS Recipients: http://webforms.vr.ne.gov/vr_forms/program_manual_chapters/287)
• Discuss whether adequate progress toward plan development/career planning is occurring.  This should be a factor for decision-making regarding keeping a case open or case closure. Examples of possible situations:
  • Consumer showing up for VR appointments under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Missing VR appointments regularly due to alcohol or drug use
  • Consumer stating he/she is using alcohol or drugs
  • Consumer is currently working part-time or full-time job and is missing work or dismissed from work due to drinking
• Document discussion in a task note.

Transition Students entering the Employment Program are exempt from the 90 day requirement for completing the IPE. Transition Students entering the Employment Program must have their IPE completed prior to exiting the educational setting.

The date the VR Rehab Specialist signs or approves the IPE is the date used to record the IPE in QE2.

An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) shall be developed and implemented in a manner that affords eligible individuals the opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting an employment outcome, the specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided under the plan, the entity that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods used to procure the services.

Clients may choose to write their IPE in collaboration with a VR Specialist or may choose to write their IPE on their own. If they choose to write their own IPE they must be provided with the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)-Important Information You Need to Know When Writing Your Own IPE.

If the client writes their own plan or in collaboration with a VR Specialist the job goal, services provided, and employment outcome will be consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the eligible individual.

VR staff must seek out and utilize all comparable services and benefits to meet, in whole or part, the costs of required and necessary services. The Federal Rules and Regulations state:

• Comparable services and benefits means services and benefits that are provided or paid for, in whole or in part, by other Federal, State, or local public agencies, by health insurance, or by employee benefits;
  • Available to the individual at the time needed to ensure the progress of the individual toward achieving the employment outcome in the individual’s individualized plan for employment; and
  • Commensurate to the services that the individual would otherwise receive from the designated State Vocational Rehabilitation agency.
  • For the purposes of this definition, comparable benefits do not include awards and scholarships based on merit.

An SSA approved Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) does not constitute a comparable benefit or service. A PASS is a Social Security work incentive that allows an SSI recipient to set aside income and/or resources for a specified time in order to achieve an employment goal. While funds from a PASS cannot be considered a comparable benefit, PASS resources can complement VR services, particularly to cover additional costs of services, such as home and vehicle modifications, post secondary training, and self employment. The development and submittal of a PASS should be encouraged but the choice to do so is the recipient’s decision and is strictly voluntary. The recipient’s decision to not pursue a PASS will have no impact on VR funding for appropriate and necessary goods and services.