Employment Programs Facilitator

Develops, delivers, implements, monitors, evaluates, and enhances mandatory and voluntary Employment Services (ES) programs; provides group training, employment counselling, individual assessments, referral services, job search, and training and work placement assistance for social assistance recipients, Employment Insurance (EI) recipients, and independent income participants, to enable them to make the transition towards employment and financial independence; and to assess participants’ compliance to voluntary and mandatory programs.

**Duties & Responsibilities**:

- Facilitates, plans, designs, implements, markets, conducts, and evaluates a variety of group and individual programs, including group information sessions and program curriculum. Ensures participants’ needs are met by providing them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and strategies to enhance employability.
- Develops mandatory and voluntary programs which meet the legislation and guidelines of multiple levels of government. Restructures or enhances existing programs and/or implements new programs with the assistance of training partners, employers, staff, and participant feedback, to meet identified participant needs.
- Provides a safe and secure environment for group participants while encouraging growth and learning. Uses both process-based and content-based group techniques and individual counselling to enable clients to develop clear and concise career goals, improve life skills, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and use effective job search techniques; as well as to provide skill training, customized based on specific sectors, in order for participants to secure other career training and/or employment, maintain employment, and complete the transition to becoming independent of social assistance, EI, and/or other forms of financial assistance.
- Recruits participants for community employment and training programs and Provincially and Federally sponsored employment programs. Develops and provides programs for participants in collaboration with other training hosts, employers, government offices, and community agencies.
- In consultation with the participant, develops case plans which are designed to meet Ontario Works (OW) requirements and/or the requirements of multiple levels of government, while supporting the participant’s movement towards employment and off Federal or Provincial government assistance.
- Assesses participants' employability through information sessions, interviews, interest, and aptitude tests, and by analysing various factors, including barriers to employment. Determines appropriate program entry or re-entry points using assessment skills and tools. Explains program role and mandate, and assesses participant goals and expectations. Determines eligibility and suitability for referral to other agencies, continuing education and training programs, or other programs. Completes assessments, narratives, and outcome to referral services on each participant. Records, retrieves, updates, and transmits client information to internal programs and external partners and funders. Conducts follow-up interviews with participants at various stages during and after programming.
- Counsels participants to set realistic employment goals through identification of personal interests, strengths, self-management skills, transferable skills, job values, educational options, and labour market trends. Facilitates learning in basic life skills, problem solving and social skills, job search strategies, basic computer skills, and customer service using adult education techniques. Assists participants to address job maintenance and retention. Provides ongoing support and information. Motivates participants to keep working toward achieving their goals. Makes referrals to various community organizations and employment programs, and advocates on their behalf.
- Determines participants’ compliance to programs fulfilling legislated OW and/or EI requirements, which affects participants’ ongoing eligibility for financial assistance.
- Develops policies, procedures, and long term planning initiatives to meet the program mandate and ensure effective and efficient delivery.
- Researches and compiles current literature regarding employment assessment, career planning, job search skills, and labour market conditions and trends. Conducts research to determine future labour market trends. Promotes programs; identifies possible host training employers, partners, and agencies in the community; and negotiates training program terms, training plans, and legal contracts. Participates in participant performance and host placement evaluations. Provides job placement support, including crisis intervention, mediation, job maintenance, and preventative measures. Schedules guest speakers and client tours of community resources. Makes presentations at meetings and community agencies as required.
- Keeps statistics of participant outcomes which are used