2. Vocational Rehabilitation
3. Policy and Guidance
4. IPE Services Temporarily Interrupted

IPE Services Temporarily Interrupted

Issued November 2004; Updated February 2021

Purpose

To provide staff with criteria for determining if a case should be temporarily interrupted.

Rationale

If a consumer cannot continue making progress toward achieving their IPE goal, there are two alternatives: temporarily interrupting services or closing the case. In these situations, DVR staff and the consumer should determine if the case should be temporarily interrupted or considered for case closure.

Criteria to temporarily interrupt services

• The IPE is interrupted for a specific unforeseen circumstance.
• The consumer has a plan to resolve the reason for the interruption.
• The consumer has a timeframe for resuming the IPE, usually three - six months from the time the IPE is interrupted.
• The consumer and DVR staff agree to maintain contact every 30 days while the IPE is interrupted.
• The consumer intends to resume the IPE following the interruption.

If the decision is made to temporarily interrupt IPE services, this must be case noted in an IRIS general case note.

It is important that consumers continue to maintain contact with DVR every 30 days. Staff should use that contact to get updated information and suggest service options using vocational rehabilitation counseling strategies. If staff and the consumer decide to interrupt services, and the consumer does not respond to monthly contact via multiple methods and multiple attempts, follow case closure guidance.

If any of the above criteria are not met, the case should be closed, and the consumer should reapply when they are ready to participate in vocational rehabilitation services.

Exceptions to these criteria are possible based on individual need and circumstances and should be documented in the case record with a rationale. Consult with local management in these instances.