16.2 – Arrange Professional Referrals

Purpose & Context

Career Development Professionals (CDPs) arrange referrals with other professionals when client needs go beyond the CDP’s scope of practice. To ensure that client needs are met, CDPs work collaboratively with clients to make decisions and facilitate the referral process.External providers and agencies provide a range of support, and may include shelters, area support groups, specialized education programs, substance abuse programs, mental health services, and youth groups.

Effective Performance

Competent career development professionals must be able to:

P1. Identify when client’s needs exceed capacity, competency, or scope of practice of CDP
P2. Identify referral service providers
P3. Assess client’s eligibility for service
P4. Involve client in referral process:
- Discuss recommended service(s) with client
- Seek agreement on service provider
- Explain the referral process and impact on client’s development
- Obtain written consent for referral and transfer of confidential information
P5. Complete documentation, e.g. External Referral Resources Process Form, Client Consent Forms
P6. Communicate with service provider:
- Write briefing, i.e. instructions and summary of case
- Outline case management responsibilities following referral
- Review the agreed upon services to be delivered
- Transfer client files in compliance with confidentiality and data protection regulations
- Agree communication protocols
P7. Prepare client for the transition of support:
- Explain roles and responsibilities following referral
- Answer client questions
P8. Follow-up with clients referred to other professionals, as appropriate, for example:
- Ask about progress
- Monitor results
- Solicit feedback on service provider
- Make additional referrals, where appropriate

Knowledge & Understanding

Competent career development professionals must know and understand:

K1. Community resources and other support services available to clients from community partners and other agencies,
including:
- Eligibility criteria of these services
- Quality of these services
- Referral process for these services
K2. Channels to maintain communication post-referral, e.g. through service provider, directly with (former) client

Contextual Variables

Competent career development professionals must be able to perform this competency in the following range of contexts:

The range of services available to clients will vary based on the CDP’s location and client needs.

Glossary & Key References

Terms

Industry-specific terms contained in the standard defined here, where applicable.

None

Information Sources and Resources for Consideration

None

Context Rating Scales

Criticality

Q: What is the consequence of a professional being unable to perform this skill according to the standard?

Moderate risk: CRITICAL

Frequency

Q: How frequent and under what conditions is this skill performed?

Occasionally, e.g. generally several times in a month

Level of Difficulty

Q: Under routine circumstances, how would you rate the level of difficulty in performing this skill?

Moderate difficulty or complexity

Time Required to Gain Proficiency

Q: What is the average length of time or number of repeated events that are minimally necessary for an individual to become proficient in performing the skill to the standard?

A competent career development professional requires a minimum of one year of experience with referrals for at least 20 different clients, representing a broad range of referral needs

Autonomy

Practitioners typically perform this competency without supervision, and alone.

Automation

It is unlikely that this competency will automate.

Requisite Work Aids, Tools, Equipment or Materials

None