Qualification with the Metro Area Brokerages

Transcription

1 Qualification with the Metro Area Brokerages For an individual to become a qualified Independent Contractor and eligible to receive funds through the metro area brokerages, the individual must meet each the following criteria. If at any point during the qualification process or after completing the qualification process, an individual demonstrates the lack of ability to meet any of the following criteria, they will not be made eligible or may become disqualified to receive funds through the metro area brokerages. Oregon Revised Statute ( ) Standards for Independent Contractors The metro area brokerages verify that Independent Contractors meet ORS criteria for self employment by reviewing the documentation provided by the interested person to the metro area brokerages at the Sign Up Session. The primary documents considered are the Weigh Test and the Business Plan, however other documents may be used. The IC demonstrates that he/she is: 1) Free from direction and control, AND 2) Customarily engaged in an independently established business, AND 3) Responsible for any other licenses or certificates necessary to provide the service. Oregon Administrative Rule ( ) Criteria The metro area brokerages verify that each Independent Contractor meets the criteria in OAR to be eligible to receive funds through a Support Services Brokerage by reviewing the documentation provided by the interested person to the metro area brokerages at the Sign Up Session. Must be at least 18 years of age Must have approval to work based on current SPD policy and a background check completed by DHS in accordance with OAR Must be legally eligible to work in the United States Must demonstrate by background, education, references, skills and abilities that he or she is capable of safely and adequately performing the tasks specified on the ISP o Such demonstration confirmed in writing by the customer or the customer s legal guardian o Including the ability and education to follow oral and written instructions and keep any records that are required o Including responsibility, maturity, and reputable character exercising sound judgement o Including the ability to communicate with the customer in the preferred method o Including the ability to communicate with others who may have a variety of communication needs Page 1 of 5

2 o Including training of a nature and type sufficient to ensure that the provider has knowledge of emergency procedures specific to the individual being cared for. Must understand requirements of maintaining confidentiality and safeguarding customer information. Must not be on the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services list of excluded or debarred providers If providing transportation must have a valid driver s license and proof of insurance, as well as other license or certification that may be required under state and local law depending on the nature and scope of the transportation services (insurance). Must hold a current, valid, and unrestricted appropriate professional license or certification where services and supervision requires specific professional education, training and skill including: o Business and/or operating license o Business liabilty insurance appropriate for scope of services provided. Must meet the requirements to act as a Mandatory Abuse Reporter. Metro Area Brokerage Standards The metro area brokerages verify that each Independent Contractor meets the following standards for quality to become eligible to receive funds through a Support Services Brokerage by reviewing the documentation provided by the interested person to the metro area brokerages at the Sign Up Session. 1 year of experience in the field of developmental disabilities or a related field OR comparable education and training. Demonstrates person first language and understanding of the principles of selfdetermination throughout qualification process and following completion of the qualification process. Demonstrates professional behavior and communication in all interactions with brokerage staff and customers. The findings of any substantiated abuse or neglect will be reviewed by each individual brokerage in order to determine whether the provider can be qualified If a sanction has been imposed by any other brokerage or agency affiliated with the Department of Human Services, it serves as grounds for denied qualification. Completes the qualification process for Independent Contractors as defined by the metro area brokerages. Individuals who provide assessments: Providers who offer formal assessments as a service that they provide must: o Be familiar with each brokerages basic policies, procedures, and requirements for Assessments paid with customers support dollars Page 2 of 5

3 o Provide at least two (2) samples of redacted assessments that the provider has produced o Demonstrate through resume, advertising materials, testimonials, experience, and training that provider has the training and experience necessary to provide a formal assessment Behavior Consultants: Behavior consultants providing specialized supports must: o Have education, skills, and abilities necessary to provide behavior consultation services, including knowledge and experience in developing plans based on positive behavioral theory and practice; o Provide at least two (2) redacted samples of Behavior Support Plans that they have developed ORo In the event that they no longer possess the rights to the intellectual property that they produced, two (2) sample plans o Have received at least two days of training in the Oregon Intervention Services Behavior Intervention System, and have a current certificate o Submit a resume to the brokerage indicating at least one of the following: A bachelor's degree in special education, psychology, speech and communication, occupational therapy, recreation, art or music therapy, or a behavioral science field and at least one year of experience with individuals who present difficult or dangerous behaviors; or Three years experience with individuals who present difficult or dangerous behaviors and at least one year of that experience must include providing the services of a behavior consultant. Social Sexual Consultants: Social or sexual consultants providing specialized supports must: o Have the education, skills, and abilities necessary to provide social or sexual consultation services; o Be familiar with Positive Behavior Supports (PBS); and o Submit a resume to the brokerage indicating at least one of the following: A bachelor's degree in special education, psychology, social work, counseling, or other behavioral science field and at least one year of experience with individuals; or Three years experience with individuals who present social or sexual issues and at least one year of that experience must include providing the services of a social or sexual consultant. Nursing Consultants: Nursing consultants providing specialized supports must: o Have a current Oregon nursing license; and Page 3 of 5

4 o Submit a resume to the brokerage indicating the education, skills, and abilities necessary to provide nursing services in accordance with state law, including at least one year of experience with individuals. Family Training Providers Providers of family training must be: o (a) Psychologists licensed under ORS ; o (b) Social workers licensed under ORS ; o (c) Counselors licensed under ORS ; or o (d) Medical professionals licensed under ORS Job Developers: Qualified vendors through Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Services OR Demonstrate at least two (2) years of direct experience with job development services for adults with disabilities as supported in resume, training certificates, advertising materials, and testimonial Classes: Many Brokerage customers have found that a class style of learning new skills works very well for them, and provides an opportunity for a different method of learning independent skills than 1:1 supports. This document serves as a guideline for providers who are interested in offering class opportunities for customers. Providers offering this service to Brokerage customers have established a plan for the class that addresses each component of these guidelines. A provider must submit a plan for the class, and receive approval from the brokerage at least 30 days prior to the start of the first class session. Establish a Curriculum for the Class: Purpose: To articulate the goals of the class, the target audience, the time commitment for participants, and the rate. The curriculum should include what skills will be taught, which teaching methods will be used, and outline the new skills that participants can expect to learn. The curriculum will need to address how the class meets the objective for the customer to learn targeted, functional skills that are related to the developmental disability and a specific goal in the ISP as outlined in the Expenditure Guidelines. Possible Method: Establish a structure for the class overall, and how each session will provide skills training in a specific area of the general objective. Many providers find that it works best to build on skills taught in each previous session, or to provide guidelines for an objective that the customer can work on at home between sessions. Whatever the method, it should provide structure that is appropriate for the class target audience (see below). Establish a Rate Schedule: Purpose: The rate guidelines do not contain established rates for this service, however the Expenditure Guidelines do emphasize that this service must meet basic Page 4 of 5

5 expenditure criteria, including being a cost effective use of public resources. A costeffective used of public resources is defined as not above the average customary and usual cost for the service provided. While this requirement is governed by the rate guidelines for many brokerage services, a provider s rates must be established within a range of comparable market rates for similar services. Possible Method: The most straight forward way to establish a market rate for a new class would be to investigate rates that other entities are charging for similar services. For example, if you are looking to start a cooking class, you might consult Portland Community College to check their rates for such a skill, and perhaps Portland Parks and Rec. If you are putting together a social skills group, you might consult with area specialists about their rates, or look into programs like Adventures Without Limits or the Arc Rec program to compare rates. There may also be some classes whose subject matter falls under Specialized Supports, in which case you might be investigating and comparing insurance rates for group therapy or social sexual groups. In any case, the provider will need to include the programs and classes that they investigated to demonstrate how the rates were established. Identify a Target Audience: Purpose: As part of developing your curriculum, you should be thinking about the audience that you are targeting. Thoughtful planning in this area will help guide the class dynamic so that customers attending the class have comparable skill sets in the subject matter covered in the class, and ensure that their support needs can be met with the number of participants in the class. Possible Method: Provider should have a method to determine the level of skill that a person has in the area targeted by the class, as well as the level of support they may need in order to achieve the desired outcome of completing the class series. Some providers have established a pre test for the class, while other providers have been able to establish a customer s compatibility within a group by interviewing the customer, and perhaps the PA or a family member. Whatever the method, a plan for establishing a target audience must be included in the class proposal. Page 5 of 5