DRS Standards for Providers

Revised 12/08

Chapter 2: Standards for Work-Oriented CRPs

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2.1 Fees

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General Community Rehabilitation Program Fees

Table 2-1 shows fees for all types of Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP).

Service / Fee
… / …
Job Quest Training, Job Application Training / $35
Job Quest Training, Interviewing Skills Training / $106
Job Quest Training, Job Seeking Training / $35
Job Quest Training, Résumé Development / up to $53
Job Placement / Tier I
  • Benchmark A: Job Placement—1 day, $900
  • Benchmark B: Job Placement—45 days, $250
  • Benchmark C: Job Placement—90 days, $900
  • Professional Placement Premium—$500
Tier II
  • Benchmark A: Job Placement —1 day, $1,100
  • Benchmark B: Job Placement—45 days, $350
  • Benchmark C: Job Placement—90 days, $1,200
  • Professional Placement Premium—$500
$353 upon employment
After 90 days of employment, 100% of the consumer's last full week's gross earnings, not to exceed
$500 with a check or check stub, or
  • $200 without a check or check stub.

2.2 Staff Qualifications

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Placement SpecialistJob Quest Trainer

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Required Qualifications

  • bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing, or related human services, and one year of documented experience providing employment services to individuals, or
  • a high school diploma or GED, and at least three years of documented experience providing employment services to individuals, and
  • (if providing service to consumers who are deaf) proficiency in expressive and receptive sign language communication with the deaf.

Note: Completion of an approved training program may substitute for one year of required experience providing employment services. Contact the CRP specialist for a list of approved training programs.

“Grandfathering”

If a provider representative attended a “DRS Job Placement Services Rollout” presentation, staff members of that provider who met qualifications for Job Quest Trainer before December 1, 2008, will be considered to have met the qualifications above, as long as they work for that provider. If a person begins working for a new provider after December 1, 2008, he or she must meet the qualifications above.

The Job Quest Trainer must have:

a high school diploma or GED;

a varied and successful work history;

knowledge of employer expectations and local job market;

the ability to demonstrate and teach effective job seeking and job keeping skills; AND (if providing service to consumers who are deaf)

proficiency in expressive and receptive sign language communication with deaf individuals.

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2.6 Job Quest Training (JQT)

Effective December 1, 2008, the DARS Division for Rehabilitation Services no longer purchases Job Quest Training.

Overview

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Job Quest Training is a complex of services, some or all of which may be provided to prepare the consumer for the job search. These services are:

Job Application Training

Interviewing Skills Training

Job Seeking Skills Training

Résumé Development.

Note: There are no minimum or maximum hours for this training.

Job Application Training

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Assist and/or train the consumer in the skills necessary to accurately complete job application.

Description of services/outcome:

Consumer develops a data sheet.

Consumer demonstrates the ability to use the data sheet and other prompts necessary to complete the job application.

Documentation/Fees

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The DARS DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider upon receipt of a copy of consumer data sheet and job application and invoice (see Fee Schedule 2-0005).

Interviewing Skills Training

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This training reinforces essential skills and teaches new skills necessary for conducting a successful job interview.

Description of Service/Outcome: The consumer demonstrates the skills necessary for conducting a successful job interview. The provider supplies a narrative report stating that

the provider and the consumer have viewed the three video and audio-recorded interviews together,

there was face-to-face discussion after each recorded interview, and

areas that need improvement were discussed after each recorded interview.

Examples of areas covered include appearance, attentiveness, confidence, motivation, and communication skills.

Documentation/Fees

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The DARS DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider upon receipt of signed narrative report which documents face-to-face discussion and evaluation of the mock interviews with the consumer and invoice (see Fee Schedule 2-0005).

Prior to payment, the counselor or designated DARS DRS staff will verify with the consumer that services were provided and documents in DARS DRS case notes.

Job Seeking Skills Training

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This service is designed to assist the consumer in development of those skills necessary to conduct a job search.

Description of service/outcome:

Consumer lists people and resources that can help the consumer obtain a job (e.g., family, friends, past employers and co-workers, Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), yellow pages, classifieds).

Consumer calls contact person, describing the consumer's skills and/or experience, and asks the contact to help, e.g.,

owrite a letter of reference,

obe used as a reference, and/or

onotify consumer about job openings.

Consumer demonstrates the skills necessary to develop job leads through the utilization of job postings, classifieds, TWC, etc.

Consumer demonstrates the ability to research prospective employers.

Documentation/Fees

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The DARS DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider upon receipt of a narrative report signed by the provider that includes the services provided and any invoice (see Fee Schedule 2-0005).

Prior to payment the counselor or designated DARS DRS staff verifies with the consumer that services were provided and documents in DARS DRS case notes.

Résumé Development

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A service designed to assist the consumer in developing a completed résumé.

Documentation/Fees

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The DARS DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider upon receipt of a copy of résumé, cover letter, references and invoice (see Fee Schedule 2-0005).

2.7 Job Placement

Overview

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The Job Placement provider supplies the necessary assistance or training for the consumer to conduct the job search and/or be placed in competitive employment, and maintain the employment for 90 days. There are no minimum or maximum hours for this assistance, training, or support.

Description of Service/Outcome

A consumer is referred to and hired by an employer and employment is maintained for 90 days. Placement must be within an organization or business that is not owned, operated, controlled, or governed by the CRP providing the service.

Documentation/Fees—Upon First Day of Paid Employment

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The DARS DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider if the consumer is placed in and begins employment with earnings of at least minimum wage (see Fee Schedule 2-0005).

Under certain circumstances, it is necessary to place the consumer in one or more subsequent jobs. In order for payment to be made for the succeeding placements, prior approval in the form of a DARS DRS purchase order from the DARS DRS counselor is required.

Along with the invoice, the provider includes a statement which shows that the consumer is employed in a job which is consistent with the employment goal agreed to by the consumer and counselor. This statement must be signed by the provider.

The following information must be included in this statement:

Services provided by this vendor which directly resulted in the consumer obtaining this employment

Consumer's name and SSN

Consumer's current address

Consumer's current phone number

Employer's name

Employer's address

Employer's phone number

Date consumer began paid employment

Job title or position

Number of hours worked per week

Weekly gross earnings

Estimated number of employees

Supervisor name

Supervisor phone number

Before payment is made, the counselor or designated DARS DRS staff verifies with the consumer that the details in the statement from the provider are correct. This is documented in the DARS DRS case record.

Documentation/Fees—After 90 days of Employment

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DARS DRS staff verifies employment by contacting consumer or employer and documents this contact in the DARS DRS case record.

DARS DRS pays the provider a job placement fee (see Fee Schedule 2-0005). The service provider must provide a copy of the most recent check or check stub. If a check or check stub is not available, or is not provided, the fee limits change.

The provider furnishes a statement with the following questions answered "yes" or "no" to the best of the provider's knowledge.

Consumer and employer are satisfied with the job, and agree that consumer is performing well.

Job is consistent with employment goal agreed to by consumer and counselor.

Wage and working conditions conform to federal and state laws including laws regarding minimum wage.

Consumer's wage and benefits are not less than those paid by the employer to similar workers without disabilities.

Description of Service and Outcome

As a result of the services rendered by the provider, the consumer is adequately prepared to seek employment and is placed in a job that is consistent with his or her

  • unique strengths, interests, abilities, and capabilities;
  • desired employment conditions, and
  • employment goal.

There is a reasonable expectation that the job is permanent rather than temporary.

The DRS counselor and the consumer discuss and determine the consumer’s support and assistance needs, identify a Job Placement Services Provider, and complete the DARS3430, Job Placement Services—Referral.

The DRS counselor sends a copy of the DARS3430, Job Placement Services—Referral, and other pertinent information, reports, and testing to the provider before the Job Placement Services planning meeting.

The Job Placement Services planning meeting with the consumer, counselor, and provider can be held in personor through phone conference, video relay, or any method that allows all parties to actively participate in the discussion. The purpose of the meeting is to

  • review and clarify the employment training needs identified in the referral;
  • identify skills, abilities, experiences, training, and/or education that may relate to the placement;
  • identify employment conditions that will need to be considered when helping the consumer find employment;
  • identify potential positions and/or employers related to the placement; and
  • verify the employment goal.

During the meeting, the DRS counselor completes the DARS3431, Job Placement Services–Plan, which will then serve as a “blueprint” of the requirements for the placement. This may include

  • helping or training the consumer to accurately complete job applications;
  • helping or training the consumer in developing a résumé;
  • reinforcing essential skills and teaching new skills necessary for conducting a successful job interview;
  • helping the consumer develop skills necessary to conduct a job search; and/or
  • providing support necessary for the consumer during the job-seeking process and the first 90 days of employment.

The DARS3431 must be updated as needed based on follow-up meetings with the counselor, consumer, and provider, especially if the consumer identifies different or additional employment conditions and/or a new employment goal.

Placement must be within an organization or business that is not owned, operated, controlled, or governed by the CRP providing the service.

Placement Tiers

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Because it is more challenging to find employment and support for some consumers than others, there are two payment schedules, based on the amount of assistance that the consumer requires. Some consumers learn through time how to customize the job search, applications, résumés, and interviews to particular jobs. Others require repeated assistance throughout the job search and require some additional supports to maintain the job.

The payment schedules are based on a combination of factors and are determined by the VR Counselor. The following represent some of the factors used in determining the most appropriate tier.

Tier I—Consumer Characteristics:

  • has transferable skills that link directly to other jobs;
  • needs initial assistance completing applications, but is able to generalize learning;
  • needs initial assistance learning how to tailor skills and abilities to jobs for which he or she isapplying, but is able to generalize learning; and/or
  • must have access to a provider to problem-solve or address workor work-related issues if they arise.

Tier II—Consumer Characteristics:

  • has no work history or very limited work history;
  • has limited transferable skills;
  • requires repeated direct assistance in completing applications;
  • requires repeated direct assistance to tailor skills and abilities to jobs for which he or she is applying;
  • requires frequent and ongoing contact with the provider to address work or work-related issues (such as conflict resolution, motivation, social issues, co-worker issues, etc.);
  • has other life factors negatively impacting work prospects (such as family issues, living, economic, or Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) below 50.
Benchmark A: Job Placement – After First Day of Paid Employment
Service Description

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Assistance, training, or supports provided may include

  • writing résumés and proposals to assist in placement;
  • contacting employers from target lists and developing consumer jobs;
  • performing a job analysis;
  • reviewing job match information;
  • assisting the consumer with job applications, preemployment forms, practice interviews, and preemployment testing or physicals;
  • accompanying the consumer to interviews and company visits;
  • assisting the employer with the Work Opportunity Tax Credit; and
  • training the consumer to travel to and from the job.

Activities related to obtaining a placement can be taught to the consumer, completed with the consumer, or done for the consumer based on the consumer’s abilities.

The placement obtained must meet the employment conditions and employment goal outlined on DARS3431,Job Placement Services—Plan to the consumer’s satisfaction.

Documentation and Fees – Benchmark A

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The DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider when the consumer

  • is placed in and begins employment in a job that is consistent with the employment goal and a majority of the employment conditions outlined and agreed to on the DARS3431, Job Placement Services —Plan
  • is earning at least minimum wage,
  • has been employed a total of 1 day, and
  • is satisfied withhis or her job.

(See Fee Schedule 2-0005).

Benchmark A is generally paid only one time per consumer, per provider. However, under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to place the consumer in one or more subsequent jobs. In order for payment to be made for the succeeding placements, prior approval in the form of a purchase order is required.

With the invoice, include the DARS3432, Job Placement Services—Support Summary, completing the employment information and summary of services sections for Benchmark A. This form must be signed by the provider and consumer or consumer’s legally authorized representative.

Before payment is made, the counselor or designated DRS staff member verifies with the consumer or employer that the details in the form are correct.

Benchmark B: Job Placement – After 45 Days of Paid Employment
Service Description

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Assistance, training, or supports may include

  • educating the employer and employees on disability-related issues,
  • setting up accommodations at the worksite,
  • ensuring that job accommodation(s) meet consumer’s needs,
  • ensuring that documentation of accommodation needs are recorded in the consumer or employee’s personnel file and accurately meet the needs of the consumer,
  • evaluating the effectiveness of accommodations at the worksite and making any adjustment to ensure the consumer’s success,
  • advocating with and/or for the consumer to ensure that he or she maintains the hours, wage, and position hired for and is given the opportunity for advancement, and
  • recommending job coach services if needed to ensure that needs of the consumer and employer are met.

Providers should routinely meet with the consumer on or off the worksite between initial placement and the 45-day benchmark to discuss and resolve any issues related to the job.

Documentation and Fees – Benchmark B

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The DRS counselor is authorized to pay the provider when the consumer

  • is placed in and maintains employment in a position that is consistent with the employment goal and a majority of the employment conditions outlined and agreed to on the DARS3431, Job Placement Services—Plan,
  • is earning at least minimum wage,
  • has been employed a total of 45 cumulative calendar days, and
  • is satisfied with his orher job.

(See Fee Schedule 2-0005).

Along with the invoice, include the DARS3432, Job Placement Services—Support Summary, completing the employment information and summary of services sections for Benchmark B. This form must be signed by the provider and consumer or consumer’s legally authorized representative.

Before payment is made, the counselor or designated DRS staff member verifies with the consumer or employer that the details in the form are correct.

Note: Employment is considered "cumulative" so long as any gaps are not due to the consumer’s disability. If a consumer loses a job before the 45 days benchmark and it is not due to the disability, the consumer’s progression within the 45 days benchmark is “frozen” until he or she becomes employed again, at which time the progression towards completion of the benchmark begins again.

Any gap in employment greater than eight weeks results in a new employment period.

Benchmark C: Job Placement – After 90 Days of Paid Employment
Service Description

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Assistance, training, or supports may include

  • assisting the employer and its employees on disability related issues;
  • setting up accommodations at the worksite;
  • ensuring that job accommodation(s) meet consumer’s needs;
  • evaluating the effectiveness of accommodations at the worksite and making any adjustment to ensure the consumer’s success;
  • advocating with and/or for the consumer to ensure that he or she maintains the hours, wage, and position hired for and is given the opportunity for advancement; and
  • recommending job coach services if needed to ensure that needs of the consumer and employer are met.

Providers should routinely meet with the consumer on or off the worksite between the 45 day and 90 day benchmarks to discuss issues related to job.

Documentation and Fees – Benchmark C