Fundamentals of Vocational Assessment

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Fundamentals of Vocational Assessment

• Mike Ahlers
• MMDS, CVE

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Roles of the Evaluator

• Vocational/Career Expert
• Disability Specialist
• Educator

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Vocational Assessment

• A general term for the process of identifying
  and appraising an individuals level of
  functioning in relation to vocational preparation
  and employment decision making.

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Purpose of Assessment

• To gather employability related information with
  an individual that will assist/empower that
  individual in making vocational decisions.

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Outcome of Assessment

• To help identify and plan for services or
  activities needed to assist the person in his/her
  career goals.

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Outcome of Assessment

• To increase the individuals knowledge of his/her
  capabilities and jobs so appropriate occupational
  choices can be made.

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Principles of Assessment

• Behavioral observation and personal interaction
  are critical
• Information (findings) must be verified
• It is essential to use a variety of approaches
  and methods to provide fair and accurate
  vocational assessment

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Principles of Assessment

• Assessment is ongoing and developmental
• Assessment is required to make decisions and
  develop plans
• Assessment represents an integral part of larger
  processes or systems
• To have value, it must be used and useful

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Principles of Assessment

• Assessment requires collaboration and several
  sources of input
• Information must be current, valid, and relevant
• Assessment is systematic and organized, but
  flexible

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Informed Choice

• A decision made by a person served that is based
  upon sufficient experience and knowledge,
  including exposure, awareness, interactions, or
  instructional opportunities, so that the choice
  is made with adequate awareness of the
  alternatives and consequences of the options
  available.

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Team

• The team, at a minimum, should include the
  person served and the primary personnel directly
  involved in the participatory process of
  defining, refining, and meeting goals.

2002 CARF Standards Glossary
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Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF) Standards

• Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation Services

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Vocational Evaluation

1. An individual written evaluation plan is
   developed for each person
2. The plan is prepared by the person seeking
   employment and the evaluator
3. The plan identifies questions to be answered, how
   they will be answered, who will answer them, and
   assistive technology to be used

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Vocational Evaluation

1. The plan is modified as necessary
2. A vocational evaluator or vocational specialist
   provides or supervises the services
3. One or more of the following are used Work
   samples, situational assessment, psychological
   testing

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Vocational Evaluation

1. When work samples are used, written instructions
   specify the materials used, layout, methods, and
   scoring
2. When situational assessments are used they are
   evaluated as to appropriateness based upon
   individual needs
3. When psychological testing is used, it is done by
   qualified persons

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Vocational Evaluation

1. When a functional capacities assessment is
   performed, the report identifies functional
   strengths and needs, accommodations, and supports
   available for community inclusion.

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Vocational Evaluation

• Vocational Evaluation services have the
  capability to assess or obtain the following
• Ability to learn about oneself
• Educational and vocational achievements
• Assistive technology needed
• Community and employment supports needed
• Environmental conditions needed

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Vocational Evaluation

• f. Tool/job site modification or adaptive
  equipment needed
• g. Work and non-work needs
• h. Independent living skills
• Intellectual capacities
• Interests, aptitudes, and career aspirations
• Job-seeking and job-keeping skills
• Knowledge of occupational information

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Vocational Evaluation

• Learning styles, including ability to understand,
  recall, and respond
• Loss of access and/or loss of earnings
• Personal, social work related behaviors
• Physical and psychomotor capacities
• Possible employment objectives
• Transferable skills
• Work skills and tolerances
• Modes of communication

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Vocational Evaluation

• The information in each written evaluation
  report
• Answers the referral questions
• Is shared with the person seeking employment
• Is disseminated in a timely manner
• Is relevant to the desired employment outcome

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Transferable Skills

• Occupationally significant characteristics not
  directly affected or eliminated by the
  individuals physical or emotional disabilities.

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Skills Transfer Definition

• A person is considered to have skills that can be
  used in jobs other than those performed
  previously when the skilled or semi-skilled work
  activities from past jobs can be used to meet the
  requirements of skilled or semi-skilled work
  activities of other jobs or kinds of work.

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Adaptive Transferable Skills

• Arrives to work on time
• Comes to work regularly
• Works scheduled hours
• Calls in when absent
• Works without constant supervision
• Gets along with others
• Follows rules
• Turns out quality work

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Functional Transferable Skills

• Makes complex decisions
• Deals with people
• Works to standards
• Performs a variety of duties
• Lifts/carries
• Applies common sense
• Sees pertinent details
• Performs arithmetic operations

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Content Transferable Skills

• Machines
• Methods
• Tools
• Equipment
• Work Aids
• Knowledge

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Rehabilitation Hierarchy

• The client can return to work at the same job
  with the same employer without modifications
• The client can return to work at the same job
  with the same employer with modifications
• The client can return to work with the same
  employer at a different job without modifications
  and at equal or better pay

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Rehabilitation Hierarchy

1. The client can return to work with the same
   employer at a different job with modification at
   equal or better pay
2. The client can return to work with a different
   employer at the same job without modifications at
   equal or better pay
3. The client can return to work with a different
   employer at the same job with modifications at
   equal or better pay

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Rehabilitation Hierarchy

1. The client can return to work with a different
   employer at a job in which he or she has never
   been employed, but for which the client has
   transferable skills and formal training is not
   required
2. The client may return to work only if formal
   training is available and the client has the
   ability to successfully complete such training
3. The client does not have potential for
   competitive employment.

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Referral Questions

• What do you want to know?
• What information do you already have?
• Type of assessment will depend upon the questions
  asked.

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Assessment

• There are three levels
• Level I Screening
• Level II Clinical/Exploratory
• Level III Vocational Evaluation

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Level I Screening

• The initial process designed to arrive at a
  decision for vocational planning. This approach
  may consist of interviews, functional assessment,
  limited standardized testing, collecting and
  analyzing background information. It is used to
  assess one or two specific skills related to a
  specific vocational option.

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Level II Clinical/Exploratory

• A process to further investigate vocationally
  relevant information. It may include additional
  interviewing, additional vocational counseling,
  additional standardized testing, transferable
  skills analysis and/or job matching. Adaptive
  transferable skills are usually not an issue.
  Vocational options are not yet known.

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Level III Vocational Evaluation

• A comprehensive process when more in-depth
  information is needed beyond Levels I and II that
  systematically uses work to assist individuals
  vocational development and career decision
  making. The process can use work samples,
  standardized tests, situational assessments,
  behavioral observation, community based
  assessment, transferable skill analysis, job
  matching and background analysis. Adaptive and
  functional transferable skills are questionable
  or not known.

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Taxonomy
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The DOT, ONet SOC

• Occupational Network replaces the Dictionary of
  Occupations Titles
• Over 12,000 job titles reduced to 900
• Standard Occupational Classification

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Assessment Tools

• Behavior observation
• Psychometric testing
• Work samples
• Situational Assessment
• Community-based work assessment
• Additional Services
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Physical Therapy assessment
• Occupational Therapy assessment

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Psychometric Testing

• Interest Inventories
• Personality profiles
• Aptitude tests
• Achievement tests
• Dexterity performance tests
• Learning style assessments
• Values identification surveys

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Work Sample

• A well-defined work activity involving tasks,
  materials, and tools that are identical or
  similar to those in an actual job or cluster of
  jobs.
• Valpar
• JEVS
• McCarron Dial

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Situational Assessment

• Systematic observation process for evaluating
  work related behaviors and skills within a
  controlled or semi-controlled work setting.
  Although any type of task or situation may be
  used, real work is most often recommended for
  relevance and authenticity.

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Community-based Work Assessment

• Prior to the community-based work assessment, the
  evaluator should have information from a Job
  Analysis. This Job analysis describes what the
  worker does in terms of activities or function
  How the work is done Results of the work Worker
  characteristics and context of the work in terms
  of environmental and organizational factors.

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Community-based Work Assessment

• A specific tool used in the Level III Vocational
  Assessment
• Usually part of an individualized comprehensive
  vocational assessment
• Uses real work in a competitive, integrated
  setting
• Work consistent with the clients stated,
  implied, tested interests

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Community-based Work Assessment

• Performances are evaluated by evaluation
  personnel in coordination with the employer and
  supervisor.
• Not intended to result in employment.
• This is an assessment tool, not a placement tool!

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Community-based Work Assessment

• Answers the referral questions
• Results / report should include
• Learning style
• Performance, quality, consistency, stamina
• Transferable skills
• Potential for success, possible training
• Accommodations
• Other options

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Community-based Work Assessment

• Done when the questions are answered
• Paid for participating
• Workers Compensation coverage

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Additional Services

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Physical Therapy Assessment
• Occupational Therapy Assessment

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Vocational Assessment Report

• A synthesized interpretation of assessment
  information that provides rationale for
  recommended steps and plans.

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Report Format

• Basic Headings
• Services Provided
• Identifying Information
• Assessment Summary
• Behavior Observations
• Conclusion

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Report Format

• Dream
• Intermediate
• Entry-level

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Program Evaluation
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Quality

• The age of the customer has arrived in
  employment and community services 
• We should accept for our families only those
  services that measure up to the ultimate
  criterion those we would want for ourselves!

2001 Consumer and Family Guide to Quality
Services - CARF
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Mike Ahlers smxa_at_srs.ks.gov