Anyone who is legally entitled to work in Canada and has a valid Social Insurance Number (or proof of application for same) can access the Resource Zone at the Community Employment Resource Centre for Independent Job Search. Clients who wish to access an employment counsellor and/or employment assistance services must, in addition to meeting the above-mentioned criteria, be unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week on average.

All clients wishing to access employment assistance services that require an EI attachment must have their eligibility verified via an EI eligibility check, through Service Canada’s website or telephone service, prior to being referred.

Using established Case Management protocols, Myert Corps Inc. assists clients to identify their employment needs, collaboratively develop a plan of action to return to work and makes appropriate referrals to employment programs and services (including SDEB, OPPS Fund & Skills Link funding applications), provide ongoing case management support, and follow-up client progress in achieving self sufficiency and securing employment.

Case Management Services is provided for clients residing in Aldergrove five days per week. Service are similar to those provided in Langley.

Both Langley and Aldergrove facilities are wheelchair and handicapped accessible and are equipped with handicapped accessible washrooms.

Both facilities are located on major bus routes that can bring clients right to the door. The Langley site is across from the Service Canada office and MHR Langley office. Most service providers in the Langley area are within an easy walk from CERC.

The center provides a self-directed work search area where clients can independently prepare for and conduct their work search. All unemployed, eligible individuals can utilize this service.

The center provides individualized employment services for all eligible clients, including: assisting clients to identify their employment needs, working with clients to collaboratively develop a plan of action to return to work, appropriately referring clients to employment programs and services, supporting client progress, and following-up with client progress in securing employment, self-employment, or achieving self-sufficiency.

Within parameters of employment counseling, an on-site Specialist Counselor conducts clinical, vocational, cognitive, behavioral and addictions assessments, and interpret results. This “value-added” service allows case managers to refer their client, at no cost to the client, for evaluation/counseling re significant barriers to employment that are of such a nature that they cannot be dealt with by the case manager or another employment assistance service.

Clients requiring transportation assistance to attend a referral to an Employment Assistance Service, and in some cases job interviews, are provided with bus tickets. Clients must be referred by their employment counselor.

The center provides assistance in completing an application to have international post-secondary credentials evaluated for Canadian equivalency via ICES. Costs for 1 credential evaluation, a duplicate copy and courier charges will be covered by CERC.

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 Langley and an opportunity to register to 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 teaches 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.