Work Toolkit:
Supervisors of VRS staff have an important responsibility to help staff build the knowledge and skills needed to support people on waivers with employment.
Supervisors can easily add the training for “VRS staff” provided on this site to new staff training and ongoing staff professional development. As you consider ways to incorporate the training, keep in mind you can assign staff pieces of the training over time; you do not need to do it all at once. Begin with the responsibilities and activities that are most critical for your staff.
The training for each responsibility has three sections that encourage staff to:
You can use the ideas, guidance, and tips on this page to help your staff become experts at their responsibilities in the E1MN partnership supporting people on waivers with work.
The training can be used for a variety of purposes including onboarding new staff and professional development for current staff.
Prior to debriefing an activity with staff:
The answer key for each activity can be found in the accordions below on this page.
Have new staff complete the steps under Learn and the activities under Do for all six responsibilities in this path. With new staff, use the answer key for each activity to review the correct answers, discuss questions they missed, and point out key takeaways.
Recommendation: Budget 6 hours for staff to complete the steps under Learn and the activities under Do for all six responsibilities in this path (ranging from 30–90 minutes per responsibility).
Have current staff complete the steps under Learn and one or more of the activities under Do for one responsibility. At a staff meeting, use the answer key for each activity to review the correct answers, discuss questions they missed, and point out key takeaways.
Recommendation: Start with the first responsibility in the path, then assign each subsequent responsibility in chronological order for the next five staff meetings. Budget 5-10 minutes to debrief an activity during a staff meeting.
Have current staff complete the steps under Learn and the activities under Do for one responsibility a week until they have completed all six responsibilities in this path (6 weeks to complete). Schedule a meeting to debrief all six responsibilities in this path with staff. At the meeting, use the answer key for each activity to review the correct answers, discuss questions they missed, and point out key takeaways.
Recommendation: Plan for 60-90 minutes to debrief all the responsibilities in the path, approximately 10-15 minutes per responsibility.
You and your staff can take the self-assessment to determine your knowledge about providing VRS/SSB services. Use the incorrect responses to help inform professional development goals.
Vocational rehabilitation staff coordinate a variety of employment services when assisting a person on a waiver find employment. VRS staff authorize services, help the person understand provider options, connect the person to the chosen VRS/SSB employment service provider, and then plan for transition to ongoing supports with stable employment.
Click on the accordions below to view the answer keys for each activity:
Supervisor tips:
Complete the activity and check your answers against the answer key to prepare for reviewing and reflecting with staff.
When reviewing with staff, have the Work Toolkit's “Supporting people on waivers” area open and ready to refer to during your discussion.
Answer key: Work Toolkit scavenger hunt (PDF)
Supervisor tips:
Complete the activity and check your answer against the answer key to prepare for reviewing and reflecting with staff.
When reviewing with staff, have the Disability Hub MN's Work toolkit—Supporting people on waivers—Plan: Selecting a provider page open and use MinnesotaHelp.info to refer to during your discussion.
Answer key: Based on the search criteria provided in the activity, the search should return approximately 17 dually-enrolled providers. (Note: number may change as provider enrollment changes.)
Supervisor tips:
Complete the activity and check your answers against the answer key to prepare for reviewing and reflecting with staff.
When reviewing with staff, have the Sam Sample Benefits Lookup (PDF) open and ready to refer to during your discussion.
Answer key: Confirm waiver long-term employment support services (PDF)
Supervisor tips:
Complete the activity and check your answers against the answer key to prepare for reviewing and reflecting with staff.
When reviewing with staff, have the Work Toolkit's “Supporting people on waivers” area open and ready to refer to during your discussion.
Answer key: Coordinating services with the waiver case manager (PDF)
Vocational rehabilitation staff help the person complete the VRS/SSB intake and application process, including eligibility determination and service priority (how quickly services can start).
Click on the accordion below to view the answer key for the activity:
Supervisor tips:
Complete the activity and check your answers against the answer key to prepare for reviewing and reflecting with staff.
When reviewing with staff, have the Sam Sample Common Referral Form open and ready to refer to during your discussion.
Answer key: Identifying HCBS waiver participants (PDF)
Vocational rehabilitation staff help the person determine what they want to do and then create a plan for finding competitive integrated employment. They identify the best VRS/SSB services for the person, including exploration of interests, abilities, and conditions for employment.
Click on the accordions below to view the answer keys for each activity:
Supervisor tips:
Answer key: Getting to know the positive summary (PDF)
Supervisor tips:
Answer key: Getting to know the employment portfolio (PDF)
Once the person finds employment, vocational rehabilitation staff make sure the person has the time-limited job supports needed to become stable in employment. These initial supports are provided by a VRS/SSB employment service provider. Then, vocational rehabilitation staff work with the waiver case manager to ensure all needed long-term support services are in place to help the person maintain employment.
Click on the accordion below to view the answer key for the activity:
Supervisor tips:
Answer key: Identify steps to set up initial job supports and communicate with the case manager (PDF)
VRS/SSB staff organize and participate in number of meetings to help a person on a waiver coordinate services.
Click on the accordion below to view the answer key for the activity:
Supervisor tips:
Answer key: List of essential meetings (PDF)
Key points of collaboration for vocational rehabilitation staff include reviewing items shared through My Vault or by other employment team members, helping the person develop the initial employment plan and share it with the team, connecting with VRS/SSB employment service providers about service availability, working with the person and the vocational rehabilitation employment service provider to develop the job search placement plan, reviewing regular updates from the employment service provider and notifying the waiver case manager when someone gets a job.
Click on the accordion below to view the supervisor tips for the activity:
Supervisor tips:
Answer key: Note, this activity does not require an answer key.