• The Service Coordinator will contact the Program Director at the Lifeworks Employment Services Program that they are interested in referring a person for to. The Program Director will send the a cover letter to the individual and the funding source (Department of Mental Retardation Service Coordinator / Massachusetts Rehabilitation Counselor confirming the referral and enclose the list of documents necessary for a complete referral.
• LES staff will set up an initial visit to the program by the individual and his support team including a tour of LES. A confirmation letter regarding this visit will be sent to the individual with copies sent to: family members, Service Coordinator or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and any other team members who support this individual who may be involve.

INITIAL CONTACT / INQUIRY

• During the initial visit, the individual being referred and their support team will receive a tour of the program and any appropriate community employment sites. They will meet with the Lifeworks referral staff and see examples of the type of work that is available. During the tour, staff will discuss many aspects of the program including work hours, basic program rules and expectations, staffing ratio in the program, the community placement process etc. general schedule of the program and any other questions that the individual, family and /or other members of their support team have.
• Lifeworks will present each individual and their team who comes for an initial visit and tour with a prepared packet that includes: Lifeworks Brochure, Lifeworks Employee Handbook, Release of Information forms (two or three copies).

EVALUATION

The purpose of an evaluation is to ensure, to the best of everyone's ability, that an employment placement is appropriate and in the best interests of the individual. The evaluation visits assist Lifeworks in ensuring that the employment program, its physical layout, staff ratio and program supports suit the individual being referred's needs. The following is the process by which the evaluation will be followed:

• When LES is notified that the individual is interested in being served by our program, an evaluation period (usually two weeks) will be scheduled. However, this can be negotiated depending on the individual circumstances involved with each person's current day /school placement. Once an evaluation is scheduled, the following process will take place:
• A letter confirming the evaluation period and general information in regards to evaluation process including a confirmation of transportation arrangements will be sent to the individual with copies to funding source and other team members that are involved with that individual.
• The Job Coach assigned to the evaluation will create a schedule for the individual that will offer facility based and community based employment evaluation opportunities.

PLACEMENT / EMPLOYMENT DECISION

• Upon the completion of the evaluation, a meeting will be held to discuss it. An evaluation report will be completed in time for the team meeting. The report will include information from the employment experiences, staff observations, situational evaluations and can include information gathered from schools, previous work places, etc.
• A written letter outlining the determination of the evaluation meetig will be sent out to the individual and other team members within one business day of the evaluation. If the person is going to be attending the program, a start date will be arranged and permanent transportation arrangement will be made.