OCS Annual Outcomes Report 2014-2015
Employment Services Whalley WorkBC Employment Service Center (WESC)
The Whalley Employment Services Centre (WESC) has completed another busy year as a WorkBC site offering services to the residents of Whalley. Whalley job-seekers face many challenges and barriers in their lives, making the search for employment even more challenging. The WESC team continues to help clients obtain sustainable employment and get one step closer to their employment goals. Services offered at WESC include career planning and job search workshops, strong connections to employers, a fully equipped self-serve resource room, employment counselling and job placements for eligible clients. The qualified and client-centered staff at WESC continued to work under the ever-changing data entry requirements, pressure to meet funder expectations, and revamped performance standards and measures. • Providing case management to over 1,000 clients • Delivering workshops to over 4,200 attendees • Hiring 9 new employees allowing for enhanced services in all areas • Partnering with counselling services to provide trauma counselling and other supports to vulnerable job-seekers. Reports indicate that WESC has over 72% of the case managed clients belonging to specialized populations. These specialized groups include those that have self-identified as: persons with disabilities, individuals with multi-barriers, immigrants, Aboriginal peoples, survivors of violence or abuse, youth or Francophones. People belonging to these groups generally require more one-to-one services, specialized services, comprehensive support and longer term interventions. Other challenges incurred by WESC staff include working with a large population of IA clients who are obligated to look for work, but are not employment ready due to their current mental or physical health. These clients are expected to secure employment despite health challenges. On average 65%-68% of clients accessing services at WESC are receiving Income Assistance. These particular clients have multiple lifestyle and health challenges, and generally require more services, supports and time to secure employment. Despite the individual struggles clients in the Whalley Catchment Area face, WESC has been able to obtain an employment outcome for 1,378 clients in the Whalley Catchment Area. WESC hopes to increase the percentage of clients who secure employment as the Ministry’s program and processes stabilize and more innovative ways are utilized to work with employers. Highlights include: • Hosting over 16,000 visits to the self-serve resource room
Page 29
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online