Employment Ontario Success Stories at the Region of Waterloo The following are Success Stories that illustrate the work and outcomes of the Region of Waterloo’s Employment Ontario team. Story #1 Facilitator met with Ontario Works (OW) client referred by Ontario Works istep worker for employability assessment and exploration of Second Career training. Career planning activities began. With the assistance of facilitator she explored the training and occupations of interest and was guided through Labour Market information to ensure that there was good possibility of securing a job following training. The client was encouraged by the results of her work and set a training and career goal; however, many doubts emerged about being successful due to challenges she faced as a sole support parent. Given her doubts and personal situation the facilitator suggested an intermediary step in the form of the Conestoga College preparatory/upgrading program for women in receipt of Ontario Works called Focus for change. This program is known for supporting women in helping women transition to positive outcome and off Ontario Works and could help this client develop a routine, gain knowledge, experience, upgrading, and confidence to move forward in her plan. 7 months after meeting with the RMOW EO facilitator, this client is attending Focus for Change. RMOW and EO staff, co-located in the Cambridge office, worked collaboratively to assist this client to help her choose options available to her. If this client had been referred to an external agency, there is a greater chance that she would not have followed through with the work or known the options available. Story #2 Client attended the Employment Ontario (EO) info session in Cambridge where an appointment was booked to meet with facilitator for a 1:1 assessment. The Facilitator remembered meeting this client about 10 + years ago in the former Region of Waterloo HRSDC funded Employment Options Program. This fellow is known by Employment Services staff for his determination to find work, and challenges to secure due to personal and physical barriers. Today, the client reports that after many years of living in shelters, House of Friendship and rooming houses, that stable housing (subsidized) has been secured and now he is determined to find work. The client has significant, visible physical challenges that employers may find off putting as an employee. Mental health concerns are noted but not identified by the client. He has participated in many volunteer and one paid employment placement through Ontario Works placement program but this client wants to work and earn an income. Based on the EO assessment and client sharing his strategies to find work and provide names of potential employers, this client was referred to EO JD for consideration of a supportive placement or what is known as a “job carving” in a position that fits with the client’s interests and abilities. Prior to the client meeting the JD, OW ES staff and EO staff met for case conference to share knowledge and discuss feasibility of action plan and paid placement. The EO JD has met with this client and will be contacting a known potential employer(s) for the possibility of a carving a job in a supportive environment with the supports of EO staff once client is on the Document Number: 1974825 Document Name: EO success stories
job. Both financial Incentives and EO staff support will be attractive to employer in hopes that this could be a sustainable job for the client leading to an exit from OW. Story #3 While awaiting an initial appointment with facilitator, the client applied directly to a few job postings in the Region of Waterloo Employment Resource centres. The postings of interest were for employers linked with the Region of Waterloo EO team so the client met with the Job Developer. Through 1:1 assessment and pre-screen for the employer the client disclosed that she dealing with family issues which could impact availability for employment. For the next few months following a more in depth assessment by an EO facilitator, this client was supported through employment counselling. The client chose to focused on finding parttime work and began to use the EO marketing letter to let employers know of the incentives available. About four months later, the client secured a full-time job, but within a day decided not to keep the job since there was no training and was not as described when interviewed. The client contacted the facilitator for support in how to handle this. To further assist and support the client’s job search efforts, a referral was made to OW ES Toward Employment job search program. Following this program and 6 months after initial contact with EO staff, the client was successful in securing a job from one of the employers linked to RMOW EO Job developer. The employer was paid an incentive to train and support the employee. Both employer and client report that the placement was extremely successful; the client was supported on the job by the employer and EO Job Developer to problem solve and work through issues that arose during the placement. At the conclusion of the placement the employer reported how happy he was with this employee and hired her full-time leading her to financial independence (not receiving social assistance benefits). Story #4 This client story begins in 2012, when he met with a facilitator about Second Career training. He had worked as a concrete labourer and logger/skidder, but was laid off. He had Grade 10 education and struggled with completion of the research and forms required for Second Career in spite of help from facilitator. His goal was to become a Heavy Equipment Operator since he had related experience and could return to working in logging HEO in spite of his DUI record. Unfortunately, his progress came to a stand- still due to personal issues and need to work. He returned to his previous job. In 2013, he returned to see the facilitator, wishing to start the SC app process again. He reported that he had been laid off and had came to the conclusion that his previous work environment was not healthy for him. He asked for help to make changes in his life. Over the next 2 years, he made significant changes in his personal and family relationships with the support of the facilitator, social worker and caseworker. He was guided through problem solving housing and literacy issues/supports, suitable occupation and Labour market research, a job shadow for G2 Gas and completing his SC application. This fellow completed his training and secured his G2 license in June 2015. He is employed and started a business. He reports he’s been clean and sober for 2 years and expressed his extreme gratitude for assistance from the Region of Waterloo including social work and EO. 6 months after his service plan was closed, he continues to earn a good income.
Document Number: 1974825 Document Name: EO success stories
