La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § VII-113

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section VII-113 - Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)

A. Purpose of the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). The Individualized Plan for Employment, hereafter referred to as IPE, and all subsequent amendments assure that each individual determined eligible for vocational rehabilitation services or determined appropriate for extended evaluation services shall have a formal plan, for services.

B. Client Choice and Client Participation

1. The format of the IPE, to the maximum extent possible, will be in the language or mode of communication understood by the individual. Each individual's IPE will assure that the plan was developed in a manner empowering the individual with the ability to make an informed choice relative to the selection of an employment goal, intermediate objectives, services and service providers.

2. The client (or where appropriate, the client's parent, guardian or other representative) must sign the IPE and must receive a copy of the original IPE and all subsequent amendments.

C. Options for Developing an IPE

1. After completion of the assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs (comprehensive assessment), LRS shall provide the eligible individual, or the individual's representative, in writing, and in an appropriate mode of communication, with information on the individual's options for developing an IPE including the following:

a. information on the availability of technical assistance, to the extent determined to be appropriate by the eligible individual, from a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor in developing all or part of the IPE;

b. a description of the full range of components that shall be included in an IPE;

c. as appropriate, an explanation of agency guidelines and criteria associated with financial commitments concerning an IPE;

d. as appropriate, additional information the eligible individual requests or LRS determines necessary; and

e. as appropriate, information on the availability of assistance in completing designated LRS forms required in developing an IPE.

D. Mandatory Components of an IPE

1. Regardless of the approach selected by an eligible individual to develop an IPE, an IPE shall, at a minimum, contain components consisting of the following:

a. the specific employment goal chosen by the eligible individual, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of the eligible individual resulting unemployment, and to the maximum extent appropriate, in an integrated setting;

b. the specific vocational rehabilitation services (provided in the most integrated setting appropriate for the service and consistent with the individual's informed choice) needed to achieve the employment goal, including as appropriate, the provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, and personal assistance services, including training and management of such services;

c. the approximate dates for the initiation of each service and the anticipated date for the completion of each service;

d. a time frame for the achievement of the employment goal;

e. the entity chosen to provide the vocational rehabilitation service and the methods to procure such services;

f. the criteria to evaluate the individual's progress towards achievement of the employment goal;

g. the terms and conditions of the IPE, including, as appropriate, information describing:

i. responsibilities of LRS;

ii. responsibilities of the eligible individual including those responsibilities the individual will assume in relation to the employment goal;

iii. if applicable, the participation of the eligible individual in paying for the costs of the planned services;

iv. responsibility of the eligible individual with regard to applying for and securing comparable benefits;

v. if applicable, the responsibilities of any other entities as the result of arrangements made pursuant to comparable services and benefits;

h. for an eligible individual with the most significant disabilities for whom an employment goal is in a supported employment setting, information identifying:

i. the extended services needed;

ii. the source of extended services, or to the extent that the source of extended services cannot be identified at the time of development of the IPE, a description of the basis for concluding that there is reasonable expectation that such source will become available;

i. a statement of the projected need for post-employment services;

j. the rights and remedies available to the individual through the Appeal Process and information regarding the availability of the Client Assistance Program.

E. Review and Amendment

1. The IPE shall be reviewed as least annually by a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor and the eligible individual, or as appropriate, the individual's representative; and

2. amended, as necessary, by the individual, or as appropriate, the individual's representative, in collaboration with a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor, (if there are substantive changes in the employment goal; the vocational rehabilitation services to be provided; or the service providers of the services (which amendments shall not take effect until agreed to and signed by the eligible individual, or as appropriate, the individual's representative, and a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor employment by LRS).

F. IPE Document

1. An IPE for employment shall be a written document prepared on forms provided by LRS.

2. An IPE shall be developed and implemented in a manner that afford eligible individuals the opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting an employment outcome, the specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided under the IPE, the entity that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods used to procure the services consistent with Informed Choice as defined in LRS in Chapter 1 of this policy manual.

3. An IPE shall be agreed to, and signed by, such individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative; and approved and signed by a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by LRS.

4. A copy of the IPE shall be provided to the individual or, as appropriate, the individual's representative, in writing; and if appropriate, in the native language or mode of communication of the individual.

G. Content of the IPE for Case Closure as "Ineligible"

1. The IPE and amendments relating to case closure based on the decision that the individual is no longer capable of achieving an employment goal, must document with clear and convincing evidence that the individual is incapable of benefiting from vocational rehabilitation services, to include available supported employment services. Such decisions shall be reviewed and reassessed 12 months from the date of closure.

2. IPE closure documents shall set forth the rights and remedies available to the individual through the Appeal Process and provide information regarding the availability of the Client Assistance Program.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § VII-113

Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services, LR 17:891 (September 1991), amended LR 20:317 (March 1994), LR 25:1271 (July 1999).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 49:664.4 and R.S. 36:477.