N.J. Admin. Code § 12:51-9.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 12:51-9.5 - Program description: vocational development training

(a) Vocational development training is a process of increasing and extending the individual's repertoire of performance skills (behaviors) in the physical, emotional and intellectual areas of functioning for the purpose of providing the individual with the living, learning and working skills necessary to function effectively in employment and independently in the community in spite of his or her psychiatric disability. The process involves exposure to situational experiences and related activities that enhance interpersonal interaction, personal attitudes, work habits, skills work and stress tolerance and motivation.

(b) An agency providing vocational development training must provide the client with the following minimum time in direct services:

1. Four hours of vocational activities per day which may include center site operations in food service, janitorial/maintenance, clerical, other services or contract work.

2. Two hours of related activity such as interactional group activities, activities of daily living, etc., per week. These related activities should complement the vocational activities in terms of improving the client's interactional style and related skills development so as to affect the client's potential for employment and employment maintenance.

3. One hour of counseling per week must be an integral part of vocational development training provided by the agency. It should be directed towards vocational or related issues which impede a client's progress toward competitive employment.

4. Transitional work experience may be utilized in lieu of the four hours of work activities and two hours of related activities during the initial authorization as long as the following three criteria are met.

i. The client is on the job site for a minimum of four hours per day;

ii. There is a work-site visit by the professional staff at least once per week; and

iii. There exists some related activity at least once per week to maintain the client's connection with the facility.

(c) Vocational development training can be authorized initially up to 22 weeks. An initial eight-week extension can be authorized. This initial extension shall be utilized with the client participating in transitional work experience. A center may request continuation of agency site programming rather than transitional work experience only with justification and concurrence of the DVRS counselor.

(d) During vocational development training staff conferences are to be held no less than every six weeks. Written notes of these staff conferences will be submitted to DVRS during the week following the staff conferences. A comprehensive review of the client's progress will be conducted at the staff conference two weeks prior to the end of the authorization (approximately week 20 for a 110-day authorization and week seven for a 40-day authorization). The same relative schedule for processing will be binding on both parties.

N.J. Admin. Code § 12:51-9.5

Amended by R.1991 d.604, effective 12/16/1991.
See: 23 New Jersey Register 2927(b), 23 New Jersey Register 3797(a).
Revised (a)-(d).
Amended by R.1996 d.564, effective 12/16/1996.
See: 28 New Jersey Register 4045(a), 28 New Jersey Register 5209(a).
Amended by R.2002 d.119, effective 5/6/2002.
See: 33 New Jersey Register 4091(a), 34 New Jersey Register 1726(a).
In (b), substituted "center" for "facility" in 1 and deleted "facility" in 4ii; in (c), substituted "center" for "facility".