Okla. Admin. Code § 612:10-7-2
Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024
Section 612:10-7-2 - Field staff responsibilities(a) The counselor is responsible for contacting each referral within 30 days of receipt of the referral information. The counselor is responsible for completing a contact by telephone or in person. The counselor is responsible for providing interpreter services to applicants who are deaf or non-English speaking. (b) The qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor is responsible for the determination of an individual's eligibility to receive services from DVR or DSBVI. In cases where the counselor has difficulty in making an eligibility determination, the counselor will consult with the supervisor. For further clarification, the case will be reviewed by the field coordinator for a decision. Individuals who are legally blind are to be referred to the appropriate rehabilitation teacher for determination of eligibility for the rehabilitation teaching program. (c) The qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor's primary vocational rehabilitation service is counseling and guidance with job placement. Additional services must be justified as necessary to compensate for, correct or circumvent an impediment to employment. Every IPE must include a plan of counseling and guidance services. Regular documentation of counseling sessions will be included in every DVR and DSBVI case. (d) The qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor is to ensure that the client is a full participant in the decisions that are made concerning his or her vocational rehabilitation. This responsibility is carried out by providing the individual with as much relevant information as is available so that the individual, and/or the individual's authorized representative, can exercise informed choice consistent with the Department's administrative rules. The minimum information concerning service choice to be supplied includes: (2) available service providers; (3) service accessibility; (4) expected duration of services; (5) client satisfaction with the services in question, to the extent that such information is available; (6) qualifications of potential service providers; (7) the types of services offered by the potential service providers; (8) the degree to which services are provided in integrated settings; and (9) outcomes achieved by individuals working with the service provider, to the extent such information is available. (e) The individual will be notified in writing of any adverse determination made by professional staff concerning that individual's case. This notification will be made in a timely manner, and in a manner that supports the individual's right to due process. (f) The counselor will complete a financial needs test prior to the provision of any service (other than exempt services listed in 612:10-3-3) to determine if the client will be required to participate in the cost of services. Verification of financial needs is not required if all services on the IPE are "exempt services" or if the agency will not be contributing to the sponsorship of "non-exempt" services (s) on the IPE. (g) The counselor will inform each individual of his or her rights and responsibilities as an applicant or client of DVR and DSBVI. Cross reference 612:10-7-3(h) The Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) has an obligation under state and federal law to provide services in a fair and impartial manner. State Ethics Commission Rules state that the proper operation of state government requires that the state employee be independent and impartial; that state employees not use state office to obtain private benefits; that a state employee must avoid action which creates the appearance of using state office to obtain a private or inappropriate benefit; and that state employees exercise their powers without prejudice or favoritism. Okla. Admin. Code § 612:10-7-2
Added at 10 Ok Reg 4633, eff 9-1-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2449, eff 7-1-94; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 809, eff 1-24-97 (emergency); Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2332, eff 7-1-97; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 3738, eff 9-10-97 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2904, eff 7-1-98; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1711, eff 4-13-99 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2590, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 689, eff 12-28-00 (emergency); Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2228, eff 7-1-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1819, eff 7-1-02; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1774, eff 7-1-04; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 2186, eff 7-1-05; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1669, eff 10-1-07; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1589, eff 7-1-10Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 8/27/2015Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 34, Issue 24, September 1, 2017, eff. 9/11/2017Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 36, Issue 22, August 1, 2019, eff. 8/11/2019Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 24, September 1, 2020, eff. 9/11/2020Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 23, August 16, 2021, eff. 8/26/2021