6.1  Employability Plan Overview

An Employability Plan (EP) is a written agreement developed collaboratively between the FEP and the applicant or participant. During the W-2 application period, if the applicant is assigned up-front job search, an RS may write the initial EP.

The EP is a written document that outlines how an applicant or participant will achieve a specific employment goal or, if appropriate, obtain SSI and/or SSDI benefits.     

The EP details how the individual will participate in the W-2 program to achieve their goals and how the W-2 agency will assist them.

The agency worker must use the information gathered through the assessment process (See 5.1.1 and 5.1.2) to develop the EP around the applicant’s or participant’s:

·        Strengths, interests, aptitudes, and needs;

·        Prior education and work history;

·        Strategies to overcome barriers to employment identified through informal and formal assessment;

·        Assignment of work and training activities to achieve the employment goal; and

·        Length of time remaining in the W-2 program. (See 6.1.1)

Each time an EP is developed or changed, The FEP must:

1.             Fill out the EP page in WWP;

2.             Give the applicant or participant an opportunity to sign the EP; and

3.             Give the applicant or participant a copy of the completed EP.

If the applicant or participant refuses to sign the EP, the agreement is still considered binding because the individual committed themselves to W-2 participation when  they signed the W-2 Participation Agreement.

When to develop an EP

The EP must be developed with all:

1.             Applicants assigned to Up-Front Job Search (see 2.9.2); and

2.             Participants who are assigned to any of the following:

·        A TEMP, TSP, CSJ, or W-2 T placement;

·        A CMU, CMF, CMF+, CMD, CMJ, or CMN placement;

·        A CMC, CMP, ARP, or CMM placement only in circumstances where the participant has volunteered to participate in activities as part of the W-2 program; and

·        A second parent in a two-parent household who participates in W-2 activities. (See Chapter 14)   

The EP must be developed before placing a W-2 participant into an employment position or case management placement.

See 16.3.4 for information on when to develop Learnfare Case Management plans.

 

History: Release 24-11; Release 22-05; Release 21-07; Release 17-02; Release 16-01; Release 11-03.