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VR Supported Employment (SE) is a comprehensive service package for VR customers.
VR SE enables customers with the most significant disabilities to enter competitive integrated employment by:
Refer to VRSM C-1201: Legal Authorization for the definition of competitive integrated employment.
Before paying for VR services, the VR counselor will ensure that the customer is placed in competitive integrated employment. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) emphasizes the term "work unit" in the definition of competitive integrated employment. A work unit may refer to all employees in a job category or to a group of employees working together, depending on the employer's organizational structure (Federal Register Vol.81, at 55643). Individuals with disabilities experience differing levels of integration in various work environments, and those levels are dependent on the circumstances of the job within each work unit of an organization. Therefore, some jobs are considered to be in "integrated locations," and thus satisfy the definition of "competitive integrated employment," while others do not. If an individual with disabilities is placed with an employer that complies with a mandated direct labor-hour ratio of persons with disabilities, before benchmark payments are made, VR staff must complete a competitive integrated employment checklist to determine whether the employment is competitive integrated employment.
The VR Supported Employment Outcome-Based System uses the "Place, Then Train" model of employment placement to place customers in a job and then train them in order to help them find and keep long-term competitive integrated employment.
By being matched to a job first and then receiving ongoing supports and training, the customer develops job-readiness skills while on the job. An employer who hires a VR customer is expected to provide the same training to the VR customer as the employer would provide to other new employees, with help and support from the VR counselor and the SE specialist.
Customized employment practices develop the best job match for the customer using flexible strategies to meet the individual's needs and the employer's unmet business needs. These practices address the unique skills, interests, abilities, capabilities, and support needs of an individual with a most significant disability. Many times, jobs must be created and/or designed with flexible strategies to allow for a suitable job match.
SE services may be used for customers with any type of disability, but a customer must:
A VR counselor may purchase SE when the customer has a most significant disability and:
Benchmark outcome payments are made when the provider achieves the outcomes required for each benchmark. Each benchmark is paid only once for each customer between Active Status (customer has an IPE) and Closure Status of a VR case.
Any request to change any Supported Employment Service Definition, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
The customer's job must:
If a business hires a customer in a temp-to-hire position, the job is acceptable if not considered short-term or project specific employment that will end upon completion of the project. A customer can be employed by a third party such as a temp agency when this is a prerequisite for continued employment after the probationary period ends. Pro re nata (PRN) or "as needed" employment is allowed, as long as the customer can achieve all employment conditions outlined on the VR1642. VR will not accept seasonal employment placements, unless approved by the VR Director using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request form. Seasonal employment pertains to labor performed at certain seasons or periods of the year and which may not be continuous or carried out throughout the year.
VR pays for Supported Employment only if the customer is placed with an organization or business that is not owned, operated, controlled, or governed by the service provider providing the job placement service. Service providers that are state agencies, state universities, or facilities that are a part of a state university system are exempt from this requirement.
When a customer obtains a new position with the current employer or begins a new job with another employer, an updated VR1643, Supported Employment Services Plan 2, Placement, Job Analysis, & Training Plan (SESP-2) must be submitted to reflect the new position.
SE services may not exceed 24 months. Services may be extended if the customer needs additional time to reach job stabilization. VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services must be completed and submitted for approval if a customer's SE services will be provided for longer than 24 months. If an extension is granted, the SE provider receives a copy of the approved VR3472, and the VR counselor issues a new service authorization and sends it to the provider. The VR counselor and the customer must agree to extend services and document the approved extension in the customer's individualized plan for employment (IPE).
SE services must include ongoing support services, such as:
Ongoing support services must be provided in person at least twice monthly to monitor the customer at the work site and/or, as necessary, off-site to ensure the customer maintains successful competitive integrated employment. If under specific circumstances, especially at the request of the customer and with approval from the VR counselor, the required monitoring meetings may take place off-site and must occur at least twice monthly. If off-site monitoring is determined to be appropriate, at least one contact with the employer each month is required.
The following VR services may not be purchased while a customer is receiving SE services from an Employment Services Provider:
Before services are provided to customers, the director of the Employment Service Provider must approve the VR3455, Provider Staff Information, completed by each SE specialist and job skills trainer, and submit the approved form to the provider's assigned contract manager and to the assigned VR regional program specialist. The VR3455 must document staff qualifications and provide evidence that staff meets all qualifications by means of transcripts, diplomas, reference letters, credentials, or licenses.
Staff qualifications for each service are described in Sections 18.2.1 through 18.2.2. For information on the University of North Texas Workplace Inclusion and Sustainable Employment (UNTWISE) Texas Credentials, see Texas Credential Training.
A noncredentialled provider staff member may provide services to a VR customer only when the Temporary Waiver of Employment Services Credential Standards is followed. For more information, see VR-SFP Chapter 3: Basic Standards, 3.4.5 Temporary Waiver of Staff Qualifications.
The SE specialist:
An SE specialist must have a:
The required qualifications for a job skills trainer are set forth in VR-SFP Chapter 17: Basic Employment Services, 17.2.2 Job Skills Trainer General Qualifications.
The VR counselor completes the VR1640, Referral for Supported Employment Services, and submits it to the provider. The VR counselor may include pertinent information with the referral, including, but not limited to, a copy of the IPE, medical and/or psychological reports, vocational testing, and case notes. The VR counselor is responsible for overseeing the SE services provided to VR customers.
The SE provider must receive a:
All the required VR forms for SE services must be:
The VR1642, Supported Employment Services Plan – 1 (SESP-1), must be completed by VR staff in the Supported Employment Service Plan meeting and approved by the customer and VR counselor before job placement. Any meeting between the customer, provider, customer’s circle of supports, and VR staff may be conducted remotely. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.8 Remote Service Delivery.
The customer's satisfaction and service delivery as described in the VR-SFP can be verified by the customer's signature on the Supported Employment forms or by VR staff contact with the customer. For information on signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
Before signing a form, the provider reviews the applicable standards and the VR verification section of each form to ensure the report is complete and accurate before submission. If VR verification indicates the provider submitted inaccurate information, repayment of funds might be required.
The following are required when a provider submits an invoice:
The date on which a benchmark is achieved is the date of service on the invoice (for example, the date of the Supported Employment Assessment (SEA) meeting; the date that the SESP-1 is completed; the fifth, 28th, and 56th day or shift of paid employment; the date of the job stability meeting; and the 90th day after stability is achieved). The billing documentation must not be submitted until the day after achieving the service benchmark.
If at any point the customer loses his or her job, the customer's progression within the benchmark is frozen until:
If an invoice is incomplete or inaccurate, or if supporting documentation is incomplete or inaccurate, the provider will receive a VR3460, Vendor Invoice Additional Data Request. Payment will not be made until corrections are submitted.
Each benchmark is authorized only once per customer, unless VR determines it is in the customer's best interest to authorize a benchmark more than once. Any change to the benchmarks must be approved using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request.
VR SE includes the following benchmarks and components required for payment to providers:
When authorized, the following premiums must have a service authorization issued with the service authorization for Benchmark 1A and are invoiced at Benchmark 1B:
When authorized, the following premiums must have a service authorization issued with the service authorizations for Benchmarks 2–6 and are invoiced after achievement of Benchmark 6:
Before the completion of Benchmark 5: Job Stability, if the customer does not meet the nonnegotiable employment conditions on the SESP-1 within the workweek, the customer's progression within the benchmark is frozen until the customer returns to work and meets the nonnegotiable employment conditions outlined in the SESP-1.
If, at any point, the customer wants to change his or her targeted job tasks, negotiable employment conditions, or nonnegotiable employment conditions, an SESP-1 meeting must be held to update the VR1642, Supported Employment Services Plan - 1 (SESP-1). The Supported Employment Assessment (SEA) Review, SESP, and Job Stability meetings may be conducted remotely. For additional information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.8 Remote Service Delivery.
If the customer obtains a new position with the current employer or begins a new job with another employer, the customer must complete at least 30 cumulative days of employment in the new job before Benchmark 5 is established or reestablished.
Extended Services assist customers in maintaining long-term employment after intensive ongoing supports and training have achieved stabilization of the customer's employment. Extended Services can be provided either at the employment site or off-site when necessary to maintain employment. Examples of Extended Services include, but are not limited to:
VR counselors coordinate the provision of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) funding for long-term support services. HHSC-contracted providers may provide Extended Services for a customer at achievement of Benchmark 5: Job Stability, through Home and Community-Based Services Waivers Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS), Community First Choice (CFC), Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Home and Community-Based Services (HCS), Texas Home Living (TxHmL), Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) and STAR+PLUS and STAR Kids waivers. The Supported Employment Specialist coordinates with and trains all Extended Service providers before a case achieves Benchmark 5: Job Stability.
VR can provide Extended Services to VR customers who are youth with disabilities for up to four years or until the youth reaches age of 25 and no longer meets the definition of a "youth with a disability," whichever occurs first. See the glossary for the definition of "youth with disabilities."
Job Skills Training is how TWS-VR purchases Extended Service for a customer when all other available resources for Extended Services, such as Medicaid Waiver Programs, natural supports, other public agencies, and/or private nonprofit organizations are not available to the customer.
For information on how Job Skills Training can be used as an Extended Service, refer to VR-SFP Chapter 17, section 17.5.1.1 Purchasing Job Skills Training for Extended Services for Youth with Disabilities.
The completion of the Supported Employment Assessment (SEA), using the discovery process, and the SEA review meeting are required for Benchmark 1A.
The provider achieves Benchmark 1A when the provider:
Benchmark 1A is authorized only once per customer.
The SE specialist begins the process for achieving Benchmark 1A by completing the discovery process.
The discovery process helps the provider gather the information needed to answer all the questions on the VR1641, Supported Employment Assessment Report (SEA). The SEA report must clearly describe the customer and the customer's skills, abilities, and interests related to employment.
The following may be held remotely:
The customer and, as appropriate, the customer's representative must attend the SESP-1 meeting.
For more information about remote services, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.8 Remote Service Delivery.
The following cannot be held remotely:
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
VR recommends the person-centered planning process be used when collecting information for the SEA. The SEA is based on a person-centered planning approach to holistically assess all aspects of a customer's life.
The discovery process completed by the SE specialist includes:
Best practice indicates the discovery process takes 20 to 30 hours per customer.
When completing the VR1641, Supported Employment Assessment Report (SEA), the SE specialist incorporates information that is:
The VR1641 must include the following information:
If an Environmental Work Assessment (EWA) is purchased for a customer, the SEA must be prorated. The findings of the informational interview or work skills observations section of the SEA will not be completed, and information from the EWA will be used in place of this section in the SEA. For more information about fees, refer to 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
The SEA must be submitted to the VR counselor at least one week before the SEA review meeting. If the SEA does not meet the above-mentioned standards, the SEA is returned to the provider, so the necessary information can be added before the SEA review meeting.
The SEA review meeting is held after the discovery process and the VR1641, Supported Employment Assessment Report, have been completed. The SEA review meeting is held to determine whether an employment outcome for the customer can be achieved through SE or if no employment outcome will be pursued, and to identify the next steps that must take place.
The SEA review meeting may be held by teleconference.
The SEA review meeting must include the:
The SEA review meeting must:
The SESP-1 meeting to develop the Supported Employment Service Plan may be held immediately following the SEA review meeting and may be held remotely if the customer and, as appropriate, the customer's representative, are present. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.8 Remote Service Delivery.
Payment for Benchmark 1A is made after:
The SE specialist submits a complete, accurate, signed, and dated VR1641 that has been completed electronically. For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
On the VR1641, the SE specialist must clearly identify:
VR may contact the customer and/or the customer's circle of support to verify that information on the form is correct.
For information about fees, see 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule
SEA information and recommendations are used to develop the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1) .
The SESP-1 is used to identify:
Any meetings related to the Supported Employment Service Plan between the customer, provider, customer’s circle of supports and VR staff may be conducted remotely. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.8 Remote Service Delivery.
The VR counselor, SE specialist, customer, customer's circle of support, and identified extended support providers meet to develop and complete the VR1642.
Benchmark 1B is met by attending the SESP-1 meeting and signing the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1), after it is completed by VR staff at the SESP-1 meeting.
The VR1642 identifies the:
VR staff completes the VR1642 during the SESP-1 meeting. This meeting may be conducted remotely. For information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.8 Remote Service Delivery. The provider must not bring a completed VR1642 to the meeting or complete the VR1642 after the meeting. The customer leads the meeting with assistance from the team. All attendees must sign the VR1642 to complete the SESP-1 at the end of the meeting, indicating their agreement with the plan. For information on acceptable signatures, refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
The VR1642 must be:
When necessary, an updated VR1642 is completed during a new meeting with the VR counselor, provider, customer, and customer's representative, if applicable, before the achievement of any benchmark.
Payment for Benchmark 1B is made after the SESP-1 meeting and after the VR counselor receives and approves a complete, accurate, signed, initialed, and dated:
The VR1642, which must be filled out initially by VR staff, must then be submitted by the provider back to VR after the SESP-1 meeting, with the provider's credentials, signature, and invoice. The VR1642 must include:
For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
The VR1642 indicates whether the provider is eligible for any Employment Premium Service payments as approved by the VR counselor. A service authorization is required before any services are provided, including premiums; therefore, any premiums that would be paid at Benchmark 6 must be included with the service authorizations for Benchmarks 2–6.
For additional information on Employment Premium Services, see VR-SFP Chapter 20: Premiums.
For information about fees, see 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
The customer achieves Benchmark 2 when the customer:
Note: Do not start the day/shift count until the placement abides by the conditions of the SESP-1. If the customer begins employment in the middle of the employer's workweek, the days worked can count toward the five days/shifts as long as all other nonnegotiable hours/shifts criteria are met. Any updates to the SESP-1 must be approved and signed by the customer, provider, and VR counselor before starting the day count. See 18.5.2 Benchmark 1B: Supported Employment Services Plan – 1 Process and Procedure for further information.
The job in which the customer is placed must be in an organization or a business that is not owned, operated, controlled, or governed by the provider of SE services. Exception: State agencies, state universities, and facilities that are a part of a state university system that are also employment service providers are exempt from this requirement.
To achieve Benchmark 2, the SE specialist must have a minimum of two in-person visits with the customer at or away from the job site, and one contact with the employer to monitor the employer's satisfaction of the customer's performance during the benchmark period, and must:
For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
The SE specialist must collect all information needed to complete an accurate SESP-2 through interviews with and observations of the customer, employer, supervisor, and coworkers.
To achieve Benchmark 2, the SE specialist submits the VR1643, Supported Employment Services Plan – 2, Placement, Job Analysis, & Training Plan (SESP-2) matching the customer's employment criteria as indicated on the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1).
To achieve Benchmark 2, the SE specialist must assist the customer in activities related to gaining the job placement, such as, but not limited to:
Job leads may come from the customer's circle of support and other sources.
Services provided must be documented on VR1643, Supported Employment Services Plan – 2, Placement, Job Analysis, & Training Plan. Hours worked must be documented on the VR1644, Supported Employment Services, Time Tracking Log.
The information documented in the VR1643 must include the following:
The information included in the VR1643 must be unique and individualized for each customer. VR may contact the customer, customer's representative (if applicable), or employer to verify the employment conditions on the SESP-1 have been met and the SESP-2 information is accurate.
If the customer does not achieve 100 percent of the nonnegotiable employment conditions, at least 50 percent or more of the negotiable employment conditions, and at least one targeted job task listed on the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1), the VR1642 must be updated to be accurate through a new SESP-1 meeting before the count of days of employment can begin. (See the policy in 18.5 Benchmark 1B: Supported Employment Service Plan Part 1.) If the VR counselor and customer or the customer's representative do not choose to make changes to the original SESP-1, the customer does not achieve all the nonnegotiable conditions (at least 50 percent of the negotiable conditions) and at least one job task listed on the VR1642, VR will not accept the job placement.
Payment for Benchmark 2 is made when the VR counselor approves a complete, accurate, signed, and dated:
The SE specialist submits a fully complete, accurate, signed, and dated VR1643 that has been completed on a computer. For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
The VR1643 must verify and document that the customer:
The VR1643 must also document:
For information about fees, see 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
The customer achieves Benchmark 3, Four-Week Job Maintenance, when the customer:
The job must be consistent with the requirements of the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1) including:
The Supported Employment Specialist must have a minimum of two in-person visits with the customer at or away from the job site and one contact with the employer to monitor the employer's satisfaction with the customer's performance during the benchmark period, and address:
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
To complete Benchmark 3, the SE specialist:
When necessary, the VR1642 must be updated with changes to employment or job skills by means of a new SESP-1 meeting before the count of days of the benchmark period can begin or resume. For more information, see the policy in 18.5 Benchmark 1B: Supported Employment Services Plan Part 1.
To achieve Benchmark 3, the SE specialist completes the VR1645, Supported Employment Training and Progress Report , which describes:
Job skills training goals and other activities that help the customer adjust to the demands of the competitive integrated work environment include:
Payment for Benchmark 3 is made when the VR counselor approves a complete, accurate, and signed:
The customer must maintain employment for 28 cumulative days without a seven-day or greater break within a workweek that is consistent with the requirements of the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1, that 100 percent of the nonnegotiable requirements and at least 50 percent of the negotiable requirements were met, and at least one job task listed on the VR1642 was met.
The SE specialist monitors, arranges, and/or provides:
The SE specialist submits a fully complete, accurate, signed, and dated VR1645 that has been completed on a computer and collects all signatures. For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
The completed VR1645 describes the customer's identified goals and the training supports and accommodations used to assist the customer in maintaining competitive integrated employment. The SE specialist and/or the job skills trainer documents the goals and focus areas in descriptive terms. Goals and focus areas may include, but are not limited to:
The VR1645 also must document that the supported employment specialist met the customer in person at or away from the job site a minimum of two times and made one contact with the employer to monitor the employer's satisfaction with the customer's performance during the benchmark period.
The SE specialist records the customer's status at the 28th cumulative day of employment on the VR1645, listing any identified extended services. The VR1644 indicates the dates and hours worked and is completed by the SE specialist.
The information documented in the VR1645 must be unique and individualized for each customer. VR contacts the customer, the customer's representative (if applicable), or employer to verify the information in the VR1644 and VR1645 is accurate.
For information about fees, see 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
The customer achieves Benchmark 4, Eight-Week Job Maintenance, when the customer is employed by the employer listed on the most recent VR1643, Supported Employment Services Plan – 2, Placement, Job Analysis, & Training Plan (SESP-2) and:
The Supported Employment Specialist must have a minimum of two in-person visits with the customer at or away from the job site and one contact with the employer to monitor the employer's satisfaction with the customer's performance during the benchmark period, and address:
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
To complete Benchmark 4:
When necessary, the VR1642 must be updated with changes to employment or job skills by means of a new SESP-1 meeting before the count of days in the benchmark period can begin or resume. For more information, see 18.5 Benchmark 1B: Supported Employment Services Plan – 1 (SESP-1).
To achieve Benchmark 4, the SE specialist completes the VR1645, Supported Employment Training and Progress Report , which describes:
Activities that help the customer adjust to the demands of the competitive integrated work environment include:
The on- and off-jobsite supports from the SE specialist or job skills trainer begin to taper off until no support from the SE specialist and/or job skills trainer is needed, and support is being provided by the employer, natural supports, or extended service providers so the customer can achieve job stability.
Payment for Benchmark 4 is made when the VR counselor approves a complete, accurate, and signed:
The customer must maintain employment for a minimum of 56 cumulative days without a break of seven days or more, consistent with the requirements of the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1) that 100 percent of the nonnegotiable conditions and at least 50 percent of the negotiable conditions were met, and at least one job task listed on the VR1642 was accomplished.
The SE specialist must have at least two in-person visits with the customer at or away from the job site per 28 days.
The SE specialist monitors, arranges, and/or provides:
The completed VR1645, Supported Employment Training and Progress Report describes the customer's identified goals and the training supports and accommodations used to assist the customer in maintaining competitive integrated employment. The SE specialist or job skills trainer documents the goals and focus areas in descriptive terms. Goals and focus areas may include, but are not limited to:
The VR1645 also must document that the supported employment specialist met the customer in person at or away from the job site a minimum of two times and made one contact with the employer to monitor the employer's satisfaction with the customer's performance during the benchmark period.
The SE specialist records the customer's status at the 56th cumulative day of employment on the VR1645 listing any identified extended services. The VR1644, Supported Employment Services, Time Tracking Log indicating the dates and hours worked is also completed by the SE specialist.
The information documented in the VR1645 must be unique and individualized for each customer. VR contacts the customer, customer's representative (if applicable), or employer to verify the information on the VR1644 and VR1645 is accurate.
For information about fees, see 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
Benchmark 5 is achieved when the customer:
A Job Stability meeting between the customer, provider, customer’s circle of supports and VR staff may be conducted remotely.
The Supported Employment Specialist must have a minimum of two in-person visits with the customer at or away from the job site and one contact with the employer to monitor the employer's satisfaction with the customer's performance every 28 days until Job Stability is achieved, and address:
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
The Extended Services and long-term supports identified on the VR1646, Supported Employment Services, Job Stability Report, must be in place and working effectively before the VR counselor can determine whether the customer is stable in the job.
The employment service provider providing the Extended Services sponsored by TWC-VR for youth with disabilities must be identified on VR1646 as an Extended Services provider.
The customer must achieve Supported Employment Job Stability status before VR can purchase Job Skills Training for Extended Services. Extended Services may be purchased simultaneously with the Supported Employment Benchmark 6: Case Closure.
If the customer finds a new position, a new job, or requires additional supports from the SE specialist or job skills trainer, at least 30 cumulative days of employment must occur before job stability is reestablished.
Before job stability can be achieved, the SE specialist or job skills trainer must continue to provide on- and off-jobsite supports until extended services and long-term supports are being provided by the employer, natural supports, or extended service providers. The SE specialist must monitor the extended services and supports, as outlined in the VR1646, Supported Employment Services, Job Stability Report, to verify the supports are effective and to ensure the customer can maintain successful long-term competitive integrated employment.
The VR counselor makes the final decision in determining job stability status. A case is considered "job stable" once the job stability date is established in a job stability meeting.
If the customer does not work for seven or more days of the workweek after the achievement of Benchmark 5: Job Stability, a new job stability date must be established in a job stability meeting.
Payment for Benchmark 5 is made when the VR counselor approves a complete, accurate, and signed:
The customer must maintain employment for a minimum of 56 cumulative days, without a break of seven days or more and consistent with the requirements of the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1):100 percent of nonnegotiable employment conditions were met, at least 50 percent of negotiable employment conditions were met, and at least one job task listed on the VR1642 was accomplished.
The SE specialist must:
Neither the SE specialist nor the job skills trainer may provide the long-term support needs, training needs, and/or accommodations, unless funding from a source other than VR is secured.
The SE specialist submits a fully complete, accurate, signed, and dated VR1646 that has been completed electronically. For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
The completed form describes the customer's job placement, training supports, and accommodations.
The form must include:
If the customer gains a new position or new job, a minimum of 30 cumulative days of employment is required before the customer is eligible to be determined job stable.
The SE specialist records the customer's status of employment on the VR1646, listing all identified extended services (the customer's Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and Services Plan of Care for other state agencies have been establish or alternate funding, agencies, or people have been established to provide all extended services for the customer), after the VR counselor determines Job Stability. The SE specialist also completes VR1644, Supported Employment Services, Time Tracking Log, indicating the dates and hours worked. The information documented in the VR1646 must be unique and individualized for each customer. VR may contact the customer, customer's representative, or employer to verify that the VR1644 and VR1646 information is accurate.
For information about fees, see 18.11 Supported Employment Fee Schedule.
Benchmark 6 is achieved when the customer:
Satisfaction can be verified through either a signature on the VR1646, or a VR staff member's contact with the customer. Additionally, all extended services and support identified on the VR1646, Supported Employment Services, Job Stability Report, must be in place and working.
The SE specialist and the job skills trainer must not have provided any direct services for or on behalf of the customer, such as training the employer or Extended Service providers, after the job stability date has been set. The only exception is for youth with disabilities when VR has agreed to sponsor Extended Services because no other resource is available. Extended Services may be purchased simultaneously with the Supported Employment Benchmark 6: Case Closure for youth with disabilities when VR is purchasing Extended Services as identified on the IPE.
At Benchmark 6: Service Closure, the Extended Service providers, employer, and other supports must be in place and providing the necessary supports as defined on the VR1646, and must be documented on the VR1647, Supported Employment Closure Summary.
The SE specialist must have a minimum of two in-person visits at or away from the job site per month during the job stability period to:
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
The SE specialist must:
When a job skills trainer is used, the job skills trainer must not provide any direct services to the customer during the cumulative 90-day period between job stability and service closure.
The VR counselor determines whether the customer maintained the required 90 cumulative days of job stability from the most recently established job stability date. Ninety cumulative days of job stability are necessary to achieve Benchmark 6: Service Closure.
If the customer does not work because of illness, injury, vacation, or short-term disability for seven or more days of a workweek after the achievement of Benchmark 5: Job Stability, a new job stability date must be established in a job stability meeting before a new cumulative 90-day count starts for the achievement of Benchmark 6: Service Closure. If a customer does not work during the time periods for Benchmarks 5 and 6, but then returns to work and is still stable, a VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services may be submitted to allow for the period of time to be "frozen" so that a new start of the cumulative 90-day count is not required.
Any request to change a Supported Employment Service Description, Process and Procedure, or Outcomes Required for Payment must be documented and approved by the VR director, using the VR3472, Contracted Service Modification Request for Job Placement, Job Skills Training, and Supported Employment Services, before the change is implemented. The approved VR3472 must be maintained in the provider’s customer case file. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.11 Contracted Services Modification Request.
If at any time it becomes necessary to provide direct services to the customer; to train or extensively consult with the extended service provider, the employer, or the customer's natural supports; or to address issues related to the customer's performance, employment situation, or transportation, the current job stability period ends.
If the customer finds a new position or a new job or requires additional supports from the SE specialist or job skills trainer, a minimum of 30 cumulative days of employment must occur before job stability is reestablished and a new 90-day count is started toward the achievement of Benchmark 6: Service Closure.
If the customer works more than 32 weeks, the VR counselor uses the VR1644, Supported Employment Services, Time Tracking Log, the same form used to record earlier employment. VR1644 is used to record all employment hours until Benchmark 6: Service Closure is achieved.
Payment for Benchmark 6 is made when the VR counselor approves a complete, accurate, and signed:
The customer must be job stable for a cumulative 90-day period of employment, without a break of seven days or more and consistent with the requirements of the VR1642, Supported Employment Service Plan – 1 (SESP-1): 100 percent of nonnegotiable employment conditions were met, at least 50 percent of negotiable employment conditions were met, and at least one job task listed on the VR1642 was accomplished.
The SE specialist must:
The SE specialist submits a fully complete, accurate, signed, and dated VR1647, Supported Employment Closure Summary, that was completed electronically. The customer must be employed on the date the customer signs the VR1647. For information on acceptable signatures refer to VR-SFP sections 3.2.14 Documentation and 3.2.16 Signatures.
The completed forms describe the customer's job placement and extended services.
The forms must include:
Satisfaction can be verified through either a signature on the VR1646, or VR staff member contact with the customer.
If the customer obtains a new position, changes employers, or has significant challenges in the job, a new job stability meeting must be held, after the customer is job stable, to set a new 90-day count for achievement of Benchmark 6.
The SE specialist must have at least two monitoring contacts per month with the customer, employer, extended service provider, and/or individuals providing natural supports, as described in the VR1647, to ensure that the customer can maintain a successful long-term competitive integrated employment outcome.
The SE specialist records the customer's status at 90 cumulative days from the final job stability date on the VR1647.
The information documented on the VR1647 must be unique and individualized for each customer. VR may contact the customer, customer's representative, or employer to verify the information on the VR1644 and VR1647 is accurate.
If the VR1642 indicates the provider is eligible for any Employment Premium Service, and if VR staff has verified the required outcomes have been achieved, payment is made at the achievement of Benchmark 6.
For information about fees, see the following fee schedule.
Supported Employment Service |
Unit Rate |
Comment |
---|---|---|
Benchmark 1A: Supported Employment Assessment (SEA) |
$1,194.00 |
Not paid until after the VR counselor, customer, customer representative (if any), and SE specialist have met to discuss the results and recommendations of the SEA |
Benchmark 1A: Supported Employment Assessment (SEA) is prorated when the Environmental Work Assessment (EWA) has been completed. |
$643.00 |
Used when an EWA is completed before the SEA |
Benchmark 1B: Supported Employment Services Plan – 1 (SESP-1) |
$184.00 |
Benchmark is paid only once, even if multiple SESP meetings occur. |
Benchmark 2: Job Placement and SESP-2 |
$1,838.00 |
Customer must work five days or shifts before achievement of the benchmark. |
Benchmark 3: Four-Week Job Maintenance |
$1,838.00 |
Customer must work 28 cumulative calendar days from the first day of paid employment. |
Benchmark 4: Eight-Week Job Maintenance |
$919.00 |
Customer must work 56 cumulative days from the first day of paid employment. |
Benchmark 5: Job Stability |
$919.00 |
The stability meeting must take place and the VR counselor must establish the stability date before payment of the benchmark. The period between achievement of Benchmark 4 and Benchmark 5 is not defined. Customer may have multiple stability dates, but benchmark is paid only once. |
Benchmark 6: Service Closure |
$3,675.00 |
Customer must have maintained employment 90 days from most recent job stability date with no support or assistance from the SE specialist. Supports must be provided by the employer, extended service providers, long-term supports, and/or natural supports. |
Premium Services may be available for Supported Employment Services. Premium Services are paid after all deliverables for the service have been made. For more information, refer to Chapter 20: Premiums.