Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Operating Manual
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Section 33 - Role of the Counsellor
Purpose
The Vocational Counsellor is normally responsible for counselling and service coordination. Although agencies may vary in their delivery of services, the functions of service coordination are carried out to ensure that:
- a comprehensive assessment is completed such that the participant's options are identified and a realistic and achievable Vocational Plan is developed;
- there is coordination of services to maintain participant movement toward identified goals as stated in the Vocational Plan; and
- regular reviews and evaluation of the Vocational Plan are conducted and revisions to the plan are made as required.
Process
Coordination of the vocational process by the Vocational Counsellor involves the following sequence of steps:
- Intake – to determine eligibility and/or referrals to other more appropriate services. (May be done by an Intake Specialist and/or Supervisor prior to assignment to a Vocational Counsellor.)
- Assessment – to determine the following:
- the participant's abilities, limitations, and special interests or aptitudes;
- their likelihood of benefiting from vocational services; and
- the goods and services required to assist in achievement of their Vocational Goal.
- that a participant’s Vocational Goal is supported by current labour market analysis particularly if a period of post-secondary education or training is required.
- Development of an Individual Vocational Training Plan – to identify and confirm the Vocational Goal, document the goods and services required and the sequential actions necessary to achieve the goal. The plan should be amended as changes occur.
- Vocational Counselling – to provide the participant with encouragement, support, and problem solving assistance through a professional relationship with regard to making vocational choices and achieving their Vocational Goal.
- Implementation – to provide the following:
- assistance to the participant in the implementation of the agreed upon activities through coordination of services in support of their Vocational Goal;
- initiation, completion, processing and maintenance of all required documentation throughout the service coordination process; and
- assistance to the participant in identifying suitable employment opportunities and in establishing necessary employer contacts.
- Employment Monitoring – to provide support to the participant during the transition to employment and for several months after employment has been obtained.
- Case Closure – to determine the appropriate timing for case closure and referal to other, more appropriate, services, if required.
The foregoing process may be modified in individual situations. Case closure may occur at any point in the process and normally occurs when the participant has successfully made the transition to the work force or determination is made that the participant is no longer eligible for EAPD services, able to participate, or interested in pursuing a Vocational Goal.
