March 2021

Summary of directive

To describe the information reporting requirements for ODSP staff and service providers and the performance measures used to monitor the success of service providers in achieving competitive, sustainable job placement (including job placement milestones) and retention targets.

Legislative authority

Intent of policy

To determine whether service providers are meeting the outcome goals of the employment supports program and two key objectives:

  • to provide employment supports to eligible people with disabilities
  • to be accountable to the taxpayers of Ontario

Application of policy

ODSP staff and service providers are accountable for delivering a program that:

  • provides service to eligible clients that is consistent, fair, responsive and courteous
  • promotes access to services and employment supports that are comprehensive and equitable
  • assists clients to prepare for, obtain and maintain competitive employment
  • ensures services are provided only to eligible clients

(See Directive 2.1 Program eligibility)

Performance measures

The following are the key performance measures which are used to validate the service provider’s funding allocation:

  • six week job placement – the date a client has obtained six cumulative weeks of employment (milestone payment)
  • 13 week job placement – the date a client has obtained 13 cumulative weeks of employment
  • job retention – each month after job placement that the client has earnings
  • self-employment business plan – an interim payment of $600 for assisting clients to complete a business plan
  • self-employment milestone – the date the client achieves $400 in cumulative net income from self-employment
  • self-employment placement – the date the client achieves $800 in cumulative net income from self-employment

Information reporting requirements

The ODSP Employment Supports Management System – Service Provider Module (ESMS-SPM) is used to provide client outcome information to document and evaluate service provider performance. 

ESMS-SPM, a web-based application, is used to determine when a service provider has earned job placement and retention (including job placement milestones) payments. The ESMS-SPM will be used to track client outcomes and expenditures funded under exceptional work-related disability supports. Additional information can be found in the ESMS-SPM User Guide.

ODSP staff provide a client referral identification number for each client.  The identification number is provided by an individual client number on the ODSP Referral Form. Service providers are required to update the ESMS-SPM module on all service provider and client activity, information and expenditures.

The ESMS-SPM will produce quarterly data summaries for service provider and regional office staff use.

  • ESMS-SPM can be used monthly to track a service provider’s progress toward placing and retaining clients in both employment and self-employment.

Regional office staff can generate reports in ESMS-SPM to determine if the service provider is meeting their job placement/retention targets (including job placement milestones) and whether corrective action should be taken in the event that a service provider is not meeting targets.

In addition to information they record in ESMS-SPM, service providers must also keep and provide additional client information as requested by ODSP staff.

For example, service providers are required to keep records of the following:

  • the client’s readiness assessment and whether or not the client is accepted by the service provider including the rationale for the decision and recommended alternative options, if the client is not accepted by the service provider
  • the employment supports provided to clients
  • expenditures and receipts for exceptional work-related disability supports
  • employer name(s) and address(es) where a client has a job placement(s)

Job placement and retention

Service providers will record the following information in the ESMS-SPM:

Client employment reporting information

  • date of job start/self-employment
  • nature of employment (using the National Occupational Codes)
  • type of employment (full-time, part-time, self-employed, etc.)
  • if the employment was an advancement or promotion
  • the wage amount and the frequency the wage is paid
  • the average hours worked per week
  • employer’s name or if the client is self-employed, the name of the business
  • if the client stops working, the termination date and reason for leaving employment
  • the number of hours a client was employed during the month
  • the number of weeks a client was employed or self-employed during the month

Employment details

  • the dates the client obtained six and 13 cumulative weeks of employment
  • wages per hour in the month

Self-employment

  • the date the client completed a business plan document
  • the date the client achieved $400 (milestone) and $800 in cumulative net earnings from the start of their business
  • net business income for the month

Exceptional work-related disability supports information

  • The cost of:
    • assistive devices
    • interpreters
    • intervenors
    • readers or note takers
    • job specific communication skills training
    • other approved supports

Service providers are required to keep receipts and/or invoices for any expenditure for exceptional work-related disability supports. This will ensure accountability for the expenditures agreed upon by the regional office and the service provider. The information may be used to recover any unspent/inappropriately spent funds.

Final client outcome

ODSP staff will note in ESMS what has happened with a client when a client file is closed, for example:

  • why a client could not achieve a job placement or remain employed
  • if the client is working or not after 15 months
  • if the client is working or not after 33 months

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