Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Operating Manual
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Section 66 - Vocational Planning
Purpose
The purpose of vocational planning is to utilize the information obtained in the intake and assessment phases to assist the participant to select a realistic and achievable vocational goal and to identify the services and sequential actions necessary to achieve that goal.
Process
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities provides for the purchase of goods and services which are directly related to attainment of the participant’s vocational goal. Therefore, the Vocational Counsellor is required to be familiar with the various vocational services, training and educational programs, and to ensure that appropriate services and/or training are reviewed with the participant.
Prior to submitting a request for funding, the Vocational Counsellor should be reasonably confident that, with the provision of relevant supports and services, a) the participant has the ability to complete their plan and b) that employment upon completion of the participant’s goal is supported by current labour market analysis.
The vocational plan is developed through a process of mutual participation involving the Vocational Counsellor, the participant and, where appropriate, other stakeholders. The Individualized Vocational Plan Form found in Appendix VIII is completed in conjunction with the participant who is required to sign the form. For more details on the procedures for completing the form, see Section 111.1. The Vocational Counsellor is the designated authority to represent the participant when seeking financial support from the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Individualized Training Fund.
The Vocational Counsellor is responsible for obtaining approval to coordinate the purchase of goods and services on behalf of the participant for the portions of the Vocational Plan which require Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Individualized Training Fund funding. The goods and services to be purchased on behalf of the participant will help to remove the barriers to employment and facilitate the participant's efforts to pursue, secure and maintain employment.
Goods and services required to meet the training objectives and the vocational goal of a program participant, are normally limited to services purchased from agencies, training institutions and employers in the Province of Manitoba.
Development of the Individual Vocational Plan
Establishing the Vocational Goal
A critical element of the Individual Vocational Plan is the process of developing and focusing on the vocational goal. The vocational goal is defined as a specific job or occupation with identifiable job tasks.
In establishing the vocational goal, it may be necessary or advisable to assess the individual's preparedness to participate in various training activities. A clearly defined vocational goal is not required in the following instances:
- Assessment(s) – unpaid work experiences up to the equivalent of four weeks full-time (160 hours at any one site) may be used to assist in the development of a vocational goal. Alternatively, or in addition to unpaid work experiences, the participant may be supported in an educational or skills training setting on a part-time or short-term basis to assist with the development of a clear vocational goal.
- Educational Training - may be used for assessment purposes, however enrolment is limited to 120 hours of scheduled classroom instruction at a Community College or Adult Education Program being offered by the secondary school system. Alternatively, the equivalent of two full credit courses at a university level, including distance education, may also be used for assessment purposes.
Participating in an Educational Assessment is conditional upon available funding and does not provide the individual with priority status should they decide to pursue further training.
In all other situations, a vocational goal is required and must be more definitive than a general statement such as "competitive or remunerative employment".
Changing the Vocational Goal
While it is important to establish a vocational goal early in the vocational process, it is understood that vocational goals may change, for a variety of reasons including:
- shifts in the job or labour market;
- changes in the participant's disabling condition or personal situation;
- changes in the participant's level of confidence, abilities or limitations which may either expand or reduce the realistic vocational choices; or
- availability of training.
Amendments to the Individual Vocational Training Plan must be approved when the Vocational Goal changes. Caution should be exercised to avoid supporting participants who change Vocational Goals frequently or do so primarily for academic pursuits.
Funding the Individual Vocational Training Plan
The Individual Vocational Plan should support or demonstrate how the actions to be undertaken will serve to achieve the Vocational Goal or employment. All services and supports required at that point should be outlined in the Individual Vocational Plan.
The actual request for Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Individualized Training Fund funding may cover expenditures for up to one year. Plans designed to exceed more than one year should be identified as such, but requests for funding must be submitted and approved on an annual basis, subject to available funding. Participants should always be informed that cost commitments cannot exceed a one-year period.
Although it is intended that the Individual Vocational Plan and requested funding take into account all necessary costs, it is also recognized that this is not always possible or even advisable. Therefore, modifications or amendments to the plan may be made as required. This flexibility is aimed at meeting the needs of the participant, subject to meeting funding criteria and availability.
Options, Services and Supports
Following an assessment by the Vocational Counsellor as described in Section 55.1, the Vocational Counsellor and the participant may or may not have developed a clear vocational goal. The Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities Operating Manual describes a wide variety of options, services and supports that will facilitate the development of a clear vocational goal and the implementation of that goal once it has been established. These operating guidelines must be considered in the development of an Individual Vocational Plan.
Standards
The following standards apply to the development of Individual Vocational Plans:
- The participant should be actively involved in the development of their Individual Vocational Plan.
- The Vocational Plan identifies a Vocational Goal unless the participant is involved in an assessment or educational training for the purposes of assessment.
- Plan identifies services and supports for which funding may be required. Requests for funding are time limited.
- Plan identifies situations in which achievement of the vocational goal involves a multi-year plan.
- Plan is in writing and signed by the participant.
- Plan is based upon an assessment of the participant's situation, needs, goals and is supported by current labour market analysis.
- A plan contains a clear statement of objectives and outlines the implementation of action steps and proposed training or services to be funded. The plan must be recorded on the Individual Vocational Plan Form or similar document and a copy shall be provided to the participant and, where appropriate, significant others.
- The first Individual Vocational Plan is required to be completed within six months of case opening.
- In situations where no progress has been made toward formalizing a vocational plan within six months the file should be reviewed for case closure until the participant is ready to move forward with Vocational Planning.