Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Operating Manual
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Section 77 - Implementation of the Individual Vocational Plan
Purpose
The implementation of the Individual Vocational Plan (EAPD IVP) brings together the training, support, Employment Services and Employment Supports that have been identified in the plan as necessary to realize the participant's vocational goal. The Vocational Counsellor is responsible for coordinating the implementation and purchase of these services.
Process
Where funding is required from the Individual Training Fund, the implementation of the Individual Vocational Plan is initiated with a funding submission that seeks approval to purchase Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities eligible goods and services that are identified in the plan.
Once the funding request has been approved, the Vocational Counsellor coordinates and supports the participant's implementation of the approved plan. For details on the process and procedures for funding requests and approvals, refer to Section 111.1.
The Vocational Counsellor must notify appropriate people, agencies, and support service providers who will have a role in the participant's vocational process. The Counsellor should also assist the participant to mobilize his or her personal network of resources. These sources of service and assistance, together with supportive counselling, are crucial to the successful completion of the plan.
Throughout the implementation phase, there must be regular and frequent monitoring with both the participant and service providers. The purpose of monitoring is to evaluate progress, encourage the participant, and determine supports and counselling that may be necessary to meet the participant's needs.
Monitoring activities may occur in many different ways, but are generally best accomplished with on-site visits—ideally on a monthly basis. Phone calls, correspondence and contact with other service providers is also helpful. In certain situations, monitoring is conducted by an external service provider or other staff on behalf of the Vocational Counsellor, but the Vocational Counsellor who is responsible for case coordination is to remain aware of the nature of these activities and is responsible for ensuring proper documentation of them. This process will help to ensure the participant is provided with appropriate and timely goods and services to facilitate the development of vocational skills and adaptive behaviour necessary to successfully pursue employment.
The Individual Vocational Plan should be reviewed at minimum once per year and, if necessary, revised to reflect any new developments or modifications. Refer to Section 111.1 for guidelines on when an Individual Vocational Plan requires an amendment or a new plan is to be developed.
Standards
The following standards apply to the process of approval and implementation of the Individual Vocational Plan:
- Individual Vocational Plans must be approved by appropriate parties before Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities funding can be requested. (See Section 111.1 for Process, Procedures, and Standards).
- Funding requests for services provided by an Employment and Training Centre may be approved by Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Managers and the Designated Service Providers.
- Only expenditures identified or described on the Individual Vocational Plan may be approved for funding through completion of appropriate funding request forms, see Appendix IX - Funding Request and Approval Forms.
- It is the Vocational Counsellor's responsibility to notify participants, agencies or other service providers of the specific funding levels that have been approved.
- The Vocational Counsellor’s Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that recommended and approved funding requests are forwarded to EAPD 350-800 Portage Avenue for processing.
- The Vocational Counsellor’s Supervisor is responsible for ensuring approved funding requests are distributed to the service providers and a copy placed on the participant’s file.
- It is the responsibility of the Vocational Counsellor to monitor and document participant progress on a quarterly basis.
- Where funding for the Individual Vocational Plan is not approved, the processes outlined in Section 180 must be followed in regard to notification to the participant.
