Fundamentals of Vocational Assessment

1
Fundamentals of Vocational Assessment

• Mike Ahlers
• MMDS, CVE

2
Roles of the Evaluator

• Vocational/Career Expert
• Disability Specialist
• Educator

3
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.

4
Purpose of Assessment

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

5
Outcome of Assessment

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

6
Outcome of Assessment

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

7
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

8
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

9
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

10
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.

11
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
12
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF) Standards

• Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation Services

13
Vocational Evaluation

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

14
Vocational Evaluation

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

15
Vocational Evaluation

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

16
Vocational Evaluation

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

17
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

18
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

19
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

20
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

21
Transferable Skills

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

22
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.

23
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

24
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

25
Content Transferable Skills

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

26
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

27
Rehabilitation Hierarchy

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

28
Rehabilitation Hierarchy

• 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
• The client may return to work only if formal
  training is available and the client has the
  ability to successfully complete such training
• The client does not have potential for
  competitive employment.

29
Referral Questions

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

30
Assessment

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

31
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.

32
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.

33
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.

34
Taxonomy
35
The DOT, ONet SOC

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

36
Assessment Tools

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

37
Psychometric Testing

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

38
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

39
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.

40
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.

41
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

42
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!

43
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

44
Community-based Work Assessment

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

45
Additional Services

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Physical Therapy Assessment
• Occupational Therapy Assessment

46
Vocational Assessment Report

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

47
Report Format

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

48
Report Format

• Dream
• Intermediate
• Entry-level

49
Program Evaluation
50
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
51
Mike Ahlers smxa_at_srs.ks.gov