Section 55.2 - Assessment - Work

Purpose

Work Assessment identifies a participant's attributes, interests, and barriers that may potentially impact on development and attainment of employment goals. At present the work assessment is accomplished through several methods or combinations of methods and is individualized for each participant.

Methods presently used include:

1. STANDARDIZED VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS which may include:
   1. manual work samples;
   2. computerized assessment - non-academic;
   3. computerized assessment - academic;
   4. computerized assessment interest tests; and
   5. paper and pencil surveys focusing on vocational interests.
2. WORK SITE ASSESSMENTS
   
   The Work Site Assessment involves placing the participant in an employment setting that matches the vocational interests of the participant and/or placement at an agency doing work-related activities. The objectives of the Work Site Assessments are to:

1. Observe the participant at a variety of on-site work related activities to determine potential employability.
2. Identify strengths and vocational areas that require improvement to choose and obtain competitive employment such as:
   • production and quality of work output;
   • response to instructions;
   • response to constructive feedback;
   • compliance with safety rules;
   • relationships with co-workers/supervisors;
   • mobility and travel skills related to work;
   • attendance;
   • punctuality;
   • endurance;
   • personal appearance or public image; and
   • use of money in the work environment.
3. Obtain evaluation reports from the supervisor and/or employer as to the skill level and work habits of the participant.

 

Process

Standardized Vocational Assessments are based on fee structure per assessment. Work Site Assessments are a maximum of four weeks in duration (or up to a maximum of eight weeks for those only able to attend part time). Evaluation and Work Training Centres generally administer both. Since the primary objective of a work site assessment is to assess the participant's physical and mental strengths or limitations in relation to a realistic work environment, Work Assessments are not viewed as being job or occupation specific. Therefore, once a Work Assessment is completed and a non-paying, occupation-specific work experience is determined to be the next step in the vocational rehabilitation process, Work Training should be utilized.

Work Assessment and Work Training may also be arranged directly by the Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor without the involvement of an Evaluation and Work Training Centre. In these situations the Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor may negotiate for Work Assessments and/or Work Training with private or community-based employers. In Work Training the employer may be reimbursed for incremental costs (such as supplying hand tools and uniforms). The participant remains eligible for other Support Services costs such as transportation and incidental expenses. Even in situations where the employer is not receiving any funding, the participant must still have an official application processed and approved in order to be covered by Workers Compensation.

Evaluation and Work Training Centres are required to provide a written evaluation report upon completion of the Work Assessment period.

Employers from the private, public or non-profit sectors should be asked to provide a written report following completion of the Work Assessment period. However, if the employer is not prepared to provide a written report, it is acceptable for the Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor to document the participant's performance based on verbal feedback from the employer.

For more details on Work Assessments provided by Evaluation and Work Training Centres, refer to Section 133 3.

Those participating in authorized Work Assessments or any other form of training are covered under Section 10 of Regulation #545/88R under The Workers Compensation Act. This regulation provides for a participant to be covered under the Act provided the participant has applied and been approved by Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs in a training program.

In situations where no funds are required from the Individualized Vocational Rehabilitation Training Fund to facilitate Work Assessment or Training, an application describing the proposed training or assessment service must be submitted for approval in order to assure Workers Compensation coverage for the participant at the work site.

Where a second or subsequent work assessment is required which goes beyond four weeks the following guidelines apply:

1. Requests for extension beyond four weeks must be made on a case-by-case basis and will normally be approved in situations where the participant missed some time with just cause, or a breakdown occurred at the Work Assessment site, or for other reasons beyond the participant's control.
2. A second four-week assessment may be considered in situations where there has been a sudden change in the disabling condition and shall usually be more than six months since the first or previous work assessment.

 

Standards

The following standards apply to the work assessment process:

1. The work assessment is arranged with an Evaluation and Work Training Centre or an employer by the Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor and an approval is required if any costs are involved.
2. Where no funds are required from the Individualized Vocational Rehabilitation Training Fund, a completed application is submitted to the Service Delivery Support Branch for approval in order to ensure Workers Compensation coverage for the participant.
3. The employer is informed by the Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor or the Evaluation and Work Training Centre about expectations, commitments, financial compensation, reporting requirements, workers compensation, insurance and risk liability, and participant characteristics.
4. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor obtains written assessment reports from the Evaluation and Work Training Centre.
5. Other employers are expected, but not required to provide, a written report. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor obtains verbal feedback from the employer and documents accordingly where a written report is not provided.
6. The maximum length of work assessment is limited to the equivalent of four weeks full time or up to a maximum of eight weeks for those only able to attend part time.
7. An extension is approved only when it is supported by adequate justification with clearly defined outcomes for the extended assessment period.

 

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