WAC 67-25-255   Comprehensive assessment.  (1) To the extent possible, current data including: That provided by the customer and his or her family; information available from other programs and providers such as schools and the Social Security Administration; and information utilized for the determination of eligibility, must be used to determine the employment outcome and the nature and scope of vocational rehabilitation services to be included in the individualized plan for employment, in accordance with WAC 67-25-260. If additional data is necessary, there must be a comprehensive assessment of the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capacities, interests, informed choice, and the need for supported employment services of the customer conducted in the most integrated setting possible.

     (2) The comprehensive assessment must be limited to information necessary to identify the rehabilitation needs and develop the individualized plan for employment with the individual, and may, if necessary, include:

     (a) A comprehensive analysis of pertinent medical, psychiatric, psychological, and other pertinent vocational, educational, cultural, social, recreational, and environmental factors affecting the employment and rehabilitation needs of the individual;

     (b) An analysis of the individual's personality, interests, interpersonal skills, intelligence and related functions, educational achievements, work experience, vocational aptitudes, personal, cultural, environmental, and recreational adjustments, and employment opportunities;

     (c) Work in a real job situation or use of other available data to evaluate or develop work behaviors and capacities necessary to achieve an employment outcome. This includes an appraisal of the customer's pattern of work behaviors and identification of services needed to acquire occupational skills and to develop work attitudes, work habits, work tolerance, and social and behavior patterns suitable for successful job performance;

     (d) Assessment of the need for the provision of rehabilitation technology to develop the capacities of the individual to perform in a work environment, including in an integrated setting, to the maximum extent feasible, consistent with the individual's informed choice.

     (3) Information pertaining to conditions or circumstances, such as criminal record, INS identity and work status that restricts the type of employment the customer can legally perform must be disclosed to the department prior to development of the individualized plan for employment.

     (4) If a customer desires an employment outcome in a field that customarily requires a background check as a condition of employment, the department must obtain a criminal history background check verifying that the customer is not excluded from employment in the field or specific job prior to development of the individualized plan for employment.

     (5) If the department becomes aware of a condition or circumstance that may affect the customer's ability to achieve an employment outcome after the individualized plan for employment has been developed, the vocational rehabilitation counselor will conduct necessary assessment services, including trial work experience or extended evaluation, in accordance with WAC 67-25-065 and 67-25-070, to determine whether the customer is capable of achieving the employment outcome identified in the individualized plan for employment.

     (6) If a customer declines to authorize the release of information or to participate in vocational rehabilitation services necessary to collect pertinent information for development of an appropriate individualized plan for employment, the vocational rehabilitation counselor will close the case service record.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 05-08-097, § 67-25-255, filed 4/4/05, effective 5/5/05; 98-23-078, § 67-25-255, filed 11/17/98, effective 12/18/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.15 RCW. 95-06-057, § 67-25-255, filed 2/28/95, effective 3/31/95. Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-042 (Order 83-08), § 67-25-255, filed 12/15/83. Formerly WAC 67-20-255.]