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Employment & Training Programs and Services
Published Date: January 06, 2021
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Training for Work

Transition to Employment Services

AUTHORITY

Government Organization Act

PURPOSE

Transition to Employment Services provides comprehensive and individualized services that enable individuals who are close to the labour market to acquire workplace and occupation related skills that will facilitate their rapid attachment or re-attachment to the labour market.

INTENT

Transition to Employment Services, as an element of Training for Work, is designed to provide individuals with a variety of work-directed services which will lead to full time, paid employment;

POLICY

Eligible Individuals

To be eligible to participate, an individual is required to undergo a Service Needs Determination Assessment to ensure that the following eligibility requirements have been satisfied:

  • appropriate service(s) have been selected based on need;
  • a realistic employment goal has been defined;
  • eligible to work in Canada;
  • the educational or pre-requisite skills needed have been identified; and/or
  • a plan has been established.


Income Support recipients participating in Transition to Employment Services may be eligible to continue to receive benefits as long as they adhere to the Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation. Instructions outlining the required procedure for EI eligible individuals to complete the EI reporting process can be accessed through the Tools section of the Manual.

Transition to Employment Services Components

Based on the needs identified in the Service Needs Determination Assessment, individuals will be referred to Transition to Employment Services and provided one or more components. Service Plans for each individual should include an effective assessment of the individual’s labour market mobility, such as transferability of skills from one sector to another and developing strategies to support career transition.

There are three primary components in Transition to Employment Services:

  1. Employment Placement and Supports;
  2. Job Matching; and
  3. Unpaid Work Exposure.


In addition, there are two supplementary support components:

  1. Short Courses; and
  2. Employment Readiness. 

    Note
    Short Courses and Employment Readiness are intended to supplement the three primary components offered by Transition to Employment Services and are not to be provided as a stand-alone service.

Primary Components
  1. Employment Placement and Supports
    This component includes connecting the individual with a participating employer, establishing an on-site job mentor, adjusting transportation and childcare arrangements to an individual’s needs, mediating between the employer and the individual, and other related activities to support individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment. On-the-job support can be provided for up to 26 weeks after placement, based on the individual’s needs.

  2. Job Matching
    Job matching is intended to be active job placement rather than merely helping with finding a job. This component is designed to enable an individual’s quick engagement in the labour market. Utilization of transferrable skills is the basis for this component, as individuals may be placed in an employment field that is otherwise unrelated to previous experience. Building on one’s transferrable skills is essential, as this component matches individual skills and abilities with employers’ job requirements. The individual and Service Manager together determine the best fit for the individual’s occupational and job choice based on the skills identified in the Service Needs Determination Assessment. Coaching related to career and job search skills (job search techniques, interview skills, resume writing, identifying hidden job market, etc), generating employment leads, and matching the individual with an employer will form the basis of the Service Plan. Once they are placed with an employer, individuals receive on-the-job support for up to 26 weeks to help them retain that employment.

  3. Unpaid Work Exposure
    Unpaid Work Exposure is designed to familiarize individuals with the hands-on aspects of a specific job. This component is designed to lead to employment, and discretion must be used to ensure the individual is ready, willing, and able to work. Unpaid Work Exposure can be provided for up to 4 weeks, depending on individual needs. In some situations, individuals may not obtain employment after the work exposure. In such cases, Unpaid Work Exposure can be provided more than once and with different employers until employment is obtained. 

    Note  
    Once individuals obtain employment, on-the-job support activities can be provided for up to 26 weeks, based on the needs of the individual.

Individuals in Unpaid Work Exposure are covered by the Government of Alberta Deeming Orders while on the job site.


Supplementary Support Components

  1. Short Courses
    Some individuals may require short-term certificate courses such as First Aid/CPR, H2S Alive, Confined Space, and others in order to enhance their chances of obtaining and retaining employment. The cost of these courses can be covered if it is determined they are required in order for the individual to obtain employment and it is included in their Service Plan.

    Short courses cannot be longer than two weeks in duration for full-time, and no longer than six weeks if part-time, within a period of 6 months. The maximum funding for short courses is up to $7,000.

    These courses are intended to make the individual more employable and are expected to assist in their direct employment. This supplemental component is not intended to replace or duplicate other training programs offered by Labour.

  2. Employment Readiness
    Individuals may require a one-time financial support for employment supports such as work boots, hard hats, or other items required for the job site. In these cases, individuals are eligible for $500 maximum per 12-month period to assist them obtain and retain employment.


PROCEDURE

Client Flow

Partnering Employers

Employers who express interest in participating in Transition to Employment Services and are willing to offer full-time employment opportunities are deemed to be partnering employers for the program.

The employer is expected to pay the typical wages for that position, benefits and WCB coverage, and to abide by all  labour standards regulations.

Service Managers are expected to use their expertise and good judgment to select employers for Transition to Employment Services participation.

Outcomes

Individuals who are employed three months after completion of the primary components will be considered successful.

The Service Manager is responsible for monitoring individuals’ participation and progress in Transition to Employment Services, and for reporting individuals’ results and completion of Transition to Employment Services. 

All activities related to an individual’s Service Plan and follow-up findings will be recorded in Mobius in a timely manner.