Section 44 - Intake

Purpose

The purpose of the intake phase is to determine the applicant's basic eligibility for services within the marketAbilities Program and to explain the vocational process.

 

Referral to Services

The intake phase begins upon receipt of a referral for services. At the intake phase individuals may self-refer or be referred through one of the following sources:

1. family or significant others;
2. physician or other medical source;
3. hospital, social or health worker;
4. teacher or other educational source;
5. Day Services staff;
6. Child Special Services; or
7. Employment and Income Assistance workers or other departmental service workers.

 

Process

The intake phase involves:

1. Informing the applicant of the mandate and services of the marketAbilities Program and eligibility criteria.

* To avoid enrolling numerous applicants, possibly as many as 40 % of all applicants who are not suited or not interested in the marketAbilities Program, it is advised and recommended that each Community Area, Rural and Northern Region and Designated Agencies provide a marketAbilities Program Orientation to each marketAbilities Program Applicant as part of the eligibility determination process. The nature or approach taken for providing the orientation within the standards described later in this section is left up to each jurisdiction.

2. Gathering information necessary to determine if an individual meets basic eligibility criteria for marketAbilities services.
   
3. Once it is determined that the individual meets basic eligibility requirements, the Client Identification Form (see Appendix VII) must be completed and forwarded to the Service Delivery Support Branch, Community Service Division for recording in the Central Registry.

 

Intake Eligibility

There are two levels of eligibility as noted below:

1. Basic Eligibility - refer to Section 22. Applicants who do not meet the basic eligibility should be referred to a more appropriate service.
   
2. Eligibility for the marketAbilities Individualized Training Fund - applicants meeting the basic eligibility should be further assessed and counseled in the context of more specific eligibility criteria for the marketAbilities Individualized Training Fund as outlined in Section 22.

 

Standards

The following standards apply to the intake process:

1. Each applicant shall be provided with an orientation to the marketAbilities Program as part of the eligibility determination process within 6 weeks of the initial referral/ application.

The orientation shall include:

1. How eligibility is determined ( i.e. documentation from appropriate medical professional or already enrolled in another program or service requiring same or similar documentation such as involvement with a Community Mental Health Worker or on EIA Disability.) Criteria that needs to be met. Appeal Process for those whose documentation or suitability is deemed to not meet the eligibility criteria for the marketAbilities Program.
2. A description of the role of the Vocational Counsellor. (Vocational Process)
3. A description of the services available through the marketAbilities Program including funding for assessment, training, education and a range of disability related support services.
4. Expectations of the participant.
5. Face to face interaction, provision of written materials.
6. Opportunity for applicant to ask questions.
7. Opportunity for applicant to voluntarily choose to proceed or withdraw.
8. Applicants who desire to proceed with the process should be advised of the timeframes for determination of eligibility and for assignment to a Vocational Counsellor should they be deemed eligible. They should be advised of whom to contact should they have any questions or concerns.
9. Applicants should be advised that being accepted for the marketAbilities Program does not imply they are automatically eligible for funding assistance and should a disagreement arise on funding there is an administrative review process to review funding decisions.
10. Applicants shall be advised of the Self Directed option and of their right to choose if that option is suitable for them to pursue immediately, or at some future date with or without the involvement of a Vocational Counsellor. The Vocational Counsellor is not expected to stay involved when they can not support the plan and the participant has chosen the Self Directed Option. (The self directed option does not provide resources for counseling.)
    

2. The initial intake interview is conducted with the applicant and significant others where appropriate.
   
3. The determination of basic eligibility is substantiated in writing and placed on file as follows:
   

1. The disability is substantiated in writing by a licensed:

• medical practitioner in the case of a physical disability, vision disability, or drug and/or alcohol addiction;
• psychiatrist in the case of a psychiatric disability;
• audiologist in the case of a hearing disability; or
• psychologist (or a person working for government in a "Psychologist" position and exempt from registration under The Psychologists Registration Act) in the case of a learning or mental disability.

If an individual already has established disability related eligibility through another service, such as Employment and Income Assistance or Mental Health, further substantiation of their disability may not be required for accessing the marketAbilities Individualized Training Fund. Counsellors have the latitude to request additional medical information as appropriate to further substantiate the disability or to provide assistance for planning purposes.

2. Evidence of Canadian citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to remain and work in Canada on a permanent basis. Appropriate documents such as a Social Insurance Number or Landed Immigrant Status must be provided to substantiate this.
   
3. Proof of age.
   

4. The assessment provided to substantiate eligibility is current and not older than two years. This requirement does not apply where the original assessment verifies a permanent disability at the point of assessment with little or no likelihood of change.
   
5. The applicant's consent to obtain the necessary information to verify eligibility is obtained on a Consent Form and placed on the file. A sample form is provided in Appendix II. The applicant should also be provided with a copy for their records.
   

A second assessment or opinion is obtained when:

1. the original assessment tends to support but is inadequate to substantiate eligibility;
2. there is a marked change in the individual's condition since the most recent assessment; or
3. the original or most current assessment is inadequate to determine feasibility to participate in the marketAbilities Program.

The Client Identification Form (see Appendix VII) is forwarded to the Service Delivery Support Branch once eligibility has been determined.

A statement of eligibility is recorded and placed on file within five working days of the decision being made, and should include the:

1. disability;
2. functional loss caused by the disability; and
3. vocational limitations caused by the disability.

Where an applicant is found to be ineligible for vocational services, the following actions will be taken:

1. the applicant and the referral source must be informed in writing of the decision within 10 working days of recording the decision, and advised how to appeal the decision; Section 111.
2. Written notification will be provided which identifies and references the eligibility criteria which were not met by the applicant; and
3. A referral will be provided to the applicant to the most appropriate alternative service within 15 working days of recording the decision.

When a participant's file has been closed on more than one occasion and they are re-applying for services there must be some indication that the issues that led to withdrawal and/or termination of services have been addressed.

 

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