• Accessibility to the self-service employment resource area for telephone, fax, resource material, computer use, etc.
• Provide clients with information on employment services provided by the project as well as other service providers in the community
• Conduct needs assessments of clients to identify employment needs
• Provide employment counseling to address employment barriers and needs
• Assist clients in developing a mutually agreed upon Return to Work Action Plan (RTWAP)
• Refer clients to appropriate employment interventions or services as determined in their RTWAP
• Assist eligible clients with their applications for Service Canada Employment Benefit programs
• Case manage all clients with a RTWAP,
• Job Coach /Job Developer assist clients to secure and maintain ongoing, appropriate employment.

This is a 1-hour information session touching on basic job search strategies, an introduction to services at CERC, an introduction to the Employment Assistance Services available in Chilliwack and an opportunity to register and meet with an employment counsellor for further development of a Return to Work Action Plan. Clients will be referred to this session via a telephone invitation from CERC staff or by them responding to marketing in the community by CERC. The goal is to inform new clients re the services available to assist them in their search for employment and motivate them to engage in meeting with an employment counselor.

CERC hosts a 1-hour information session that is facilitated by staff from the Wage Subsidy Agreement Holder. Employment Counsellors will refer clients to this session. The goal is to inform clients of the Wage Subsidy Program, and to offer those who wish to proceed an opportunity to connect with Wage Subsidy staff.

A 1-hour information session to discuss the process of applying for funding from HRSD in relation to training. The application package will be reviewed with the clients and a question and answer time is also built in to this presentation. The goal is to provide clients with detailed information re the completion of the package and also to maximize counseling time by utilizing a group presentation format

Labour Market Workshops for clients who are researching careers and/or pursuing funding for training dollars through Service Canada. It reviews resources and teach clients basic skills in interpreting the immense amount of data available. The goal of this workshop is to enable clients to effectively research and interpret LMI data to enable them to be more informed/effective in their career research and preparation of their SDEB application.

This is a 1-hour workshop on the basics of doing Internet job search and setting up an email account for job search-related contacts (submitting electronic resumes, communicating with prospective employers etc). This is offered on a voluntary sign up basis and is “promoted” by CERC staff, specifically the Resource Zone Counsellor and the Needs Determination Counsellor. Our IT staff run this workshop. The goal is to give basic Internet computer skills/exposure to those clients with minimal computer skills to enable them to become more independent in the Resource Zone in relation to utilizing the computers for job search.

All of the workshops related to job search/career research are designed to be introductory in nature so as not to conflict with other agreement holders who are specializing in job search, career decision-making, etc. The goal of these workshops is to raise awareness, establish interest and motivate the client to desire to go further.