by Laura Walz editor@prpeak.com Come April 2, 2012, Powell River residents will access the new Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC) through the front doors of Career Link. Between now and then, the agency will transform into a WorkBC Employment Services Centre, one of 85 being set up throughout the province to serve the needs of unemployed British Columbians eligible to work in Canada.
The new WorkBC Employment Services Centres will integrate all services currently offered through a single door. “The premises will look the same, save for new signage announcing that we are a WorkBC Employment Services Centre,” said Career Link counselling team coordinator Kate Spanks.
Career Link, a project of Powell River Employment Program Society, was awarded a five-year contract to oversee delivery of employment services and supports funded by the ministry of social development (MSD) through its Labour Market Development Agreement with the government of Canada. Partnering with Career Link are Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities and Powell River Community Futures. Career Link will secure diagnostic assessments and translation services from additional agencies for clients on an as-need basis. “We’re happy to say that, in Powell River, the same agencies that have delivered these services over the years will continue to serve their clients,” said Spanks.
Personnel from all three partner agencies attended several sessions with MSD staff over 18 months of consultation throughout the province to ensure the government decision-makers understood the needs of job seekers in Powell River. “We wanted to make sure the government understood local employment issues, and knew how important it was to retain community-based service providers that have long-term connections with clients, community, employers, and each other,” said Spanks. “I think they heard us.”
EPBC is the result of input from hundreds of service providers and stakeholders, the majority of which suggested the most cohesive way to deliver employment services is with an integrated program through a single point of entry in each community. “Job seekers will start with a needs assessment at Career Link and will be referred to Model Community or Community Futures when that action makes sense for their employment goals,” said Spanks. “The program is designed to ensure clients can access the services and supports they need—and for which they are eligible—to get back to work as quickly as possible.”
During the procurement process, MSD received 149 proposals from 63 different proponents to provide services in 73 catchment areas. Of the 63 proponents who bid, 47 were successful in being awarded at least one of the 73 contracts. Successful contract bids involved teams of service-provider organizations, made up of a prime contractor and its partners, which together can offer the full suite of services for the employment program. Through these partnerships, more than 300 different service-provider agencies around the province will deliver the new program. On average, 37 per cent of funding from the individual contracts will flow through to the partners, and the prime contractors have, on average, eight such partners per contract.
