1. Determine with the client if the following requirements have been met.

   • Outcome Achieved. The client has achieved the employment outcome described in the IPE.

     • If the 2 digit SOC Code for the Job at Outcome does not match the first 2 digits of the SOC Code of the IPE Job Goal complete the IPE-Amendment for Job Goal at Outcome or Termination of Service.

   • Duration and Stability on the Job. The client has successfully completed a minimum of 90 days of employment in the same job with the same employer.

     • Any days the client participated in a VR funded OJT or rapid engagement activity shall not count as part of the 90 days in Activity: Employment Follow up. Throughout a VR funded OJT, the client's QE2 record should be in Milestone: Services Initiated and Activity: VR Services.
     • Employment in Temporary/Seasonal Jobs or an OJT funded by another program may be a successful outcome when the position is expected to last a minimum of 6 months, the client agrees and all other requirements are met.

   • Wage Requirement. The client is being compensated at or above minimum wage, but not less than the customary or usual wage and benefits provided by the employer to other employees for the same or similar work.

     • Clients not receiving minimum wage (i.e. in home babysitting, newspaper delivery, etc.) may be successful outcome but are not considered competitive employment.

   • Matches Personal Traits. The job is consistent with the client’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.
   • Integrated Setting. The job is in the most integrated setting possible, consistent with the client’s informed choice.
   • No Further Service Needs. The client no longer needs vocational rehabilitation services.
   • Job Satisfaction. The client, the rehabilitation specialist, and when appropriate the employer consider the employment outcome to be satisfactory and agree that the client is performing well in the employment.

     • When appropriate, inform the employer to contact VR if there are future employment issues.

   • VR Services Contributed. Services provided by VR contributed to the employment outcome.
   • Authorization(s) completed. All authorization ends dates must be reached before closure can be approved. This includes authorizations that have a $0 balance because of an unencumbrance. Exceptions: authorizations that have been paid in full (original authorized amount = payment amount) or authorizations for supported employment services.

2. Verify with the client his or her current contact information (address, phone number, email, etc.). This is extremely important for Post Employment Monitoring and Services.
3. Inform client that he or she will begin receiving Post Employment Monitoring follow-up contacts from Easter Seals. Explain Nebraska VR’s interest in his or her long-term employment and how monitoring will help VR in addressing in a timely manner any issues that jeopardize his or her continued employment.

   • Also inform the client that at the first monitoring contact if successfully reached by phone, the client will have an opportunity to respond to the Client Satisfaction Survey. Emphasize with the client that VR values their feedback about their experience with VR.
   • Clients can choose to stop receiving follow-up contacts after the first follow-up contact.

4. Document the last contact with the client in the task notes. In some cases personal contact with the client may be very difficult. In those cases verify the employment and other requirements through family, friends, employers, other programs, etc. Attempts to contact the client or other individuals must be documented in the QE2 task notes.
5. Inactivate the case within one week from the last contact by completing the Employment Outcome Determination. Select the appropriate type of employment outcome.

   • Competitive Employment – Unsupported
   • Competitive Employment – Supported
   • Self Employment – Business Ownership
   • Self Employment Independent Contracting
   • Self Employment – Telecommuting
   • Self Employment – Homemaker

6. Send client a Successful Employment Outcome Letter.

A Successful Employment Outcome Letter shall be sent to each client upon his or her case being inactivated as a successful employment outcome.

A Successful Employment Outcome for a student in high school with an approved IPE can be taken if the student has maintained a job for 90 days. This may include ongoing part-time work during the school year, or full-time summer employment that continues on a part-time basis during the student’s senior year.

The successful employment outcome must meet all of the successful employment outcome requirements, including the provision of substantial services and stability for at least 90 days. The job goal at closure must be amended as appropriate.

All successful outcome closures for students still in high school must be approved by the Office Director; however, it is not appropriate to take a successful outcome if 1) the student plans to attend a post-secondary program, 2) VR approves of the appropriateness of the program, and 3) the summer/part-time work is identified as a step, or services, to be provided in pursuit of the long-term job goal as identified on the IPE.

A successful employment outcome can be taken if a client obtains employment during a rapid engagement activity before or after eligibility and after the client has been verified as eligible, a plan has been developed, and if substantial services are provided, including the provision of retention services. While Rapid Engagement activities are a substantial assessment service, at a minimum employment followup and retention services must be planned for and provided in order to have a successful employment outcome. Substantial employment followup and retention services means documented followup with both the client and the employer consistent with the contact standards in the Employment Followup and Retention section of the Employment Services chapter.

Note: Any days the individual participated in a rapid engagement activity prior or after the approval date of the IPE does not count as part of the 90 day employment followup.

Employment outcome means, with respect to an individual, entering or retaining full-time or, if appropriate, part-time competitive employment in the integrated labor market to the greatest extent practicable; supported employment; or any other type of employment, including self-employment, telecommuting, or business ownership, that is consistent with an individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

Types of Employment: When completing the successful employment outcome in QE2 you will record the type of employment. The choices are:

1. Competitive Employment – Unsupported: Work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting. The individual is compensated at or above 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 individuals who are not disabled.
2. Competitive Employment – Supported: Competitive employment in an integrated setting in which the individual requires ongoing support services to maintain the job. See the Supported Employment chapter.
3. Self Employment – Business Ownership
4. Self Employment Independent Contracting: Contracting to provide goods or services to a business entity. An example would be an individual who contracts with a bank to provide lunches during business meetings. Not an employee of the firm.
5. Self Employment – Telecommuting: Working as an employee for a company from ones home.
6. Self Employment – Homemaker: Manages own household or the household of his or her own family which serves as his or her primary occupation for which no income is earned.