MENU OF SERVICES

BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL SERVICES

Our Vancouver WorkBC Centres are designated as bilingual centres, with services and resources provided in both English and French. As well, we have services and resources available in multiple languages at our WorkBC Centres reflecting the diversity of our staff, clients and our community.

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CENTRE

All Job Seekers have access to our employment resource centre, where we provide free services such as one-to-one career advising, computer access with high speed internet, job posting boards, photocopying, scanning, faxing, phone and message services, employment and community resources, labour market information, a disability workstation including Zoom Text screen magnification and Fusion Magnification and Screen Reading Software.Services and resources available in multiple languages.

JOB SEARCH SUPPORTS

Job Search Financial Supports are available to Job Seekers who are diligently searching for work and need financial support to conduct their job search. These financial supports include transportation (e.g., transportation to and from the WorkBC Centre and job interviews), dependent care, personal counselling, work clothes/shoes/boots, language interpretation, and employment disability supports.

SKILLS ENHANCEMENT TRAINING SERVICES

WorkBC Occupational Skills Training is for Job Seekers who don’t have the skills or require skills upgrading to find work in industries that are in demand in BC. We provide funding for tuition, books/supplies, living supports, dependent care, and transportation.

VIRTUAL SERVICES

All WorkBC services can be provided through our virtual services channels, including online access to our Career Advisors, virtual workshop delivery, career development and career planning tools, so that Job Seekers can learn anywhere. Job Seekers can interact with Career Advisors through Online Employment Services (OES) as well as access our Virtual Resource Centre, please connect with staff to access our virtual services.

SHORT TERM ORIENTATION AND TRAINING (STOC)

Short-Term Orientation and Certificate (STOC) training supports clients in meeting minimum entry requirements for a job or an industry.  Short in duration, maximum two days in length, STOC training includes FoodSafe, First Aid, WHMIS, Serving It Right, Basic Computer Training and many more.

ACADEMIC UPGRADING & ESL TRAINING

These programs or courses support Job Seekers with English as a Second Language (ESL) training, and/or high school graduation requirements, and/or specific pre-requisites for further training or employment.

WAGE SUBSIDY WORK EXPERIENCE

The Wage Subsidy Work Experience program gives Job Seekers the ability to upgrade their existing skills in a paid work experience from three to six months. Our staff will guide you through the process from marketing yourself/your skills to various employers to finding you a paid work experience with a reputable company.

JOB STARTS

Job Start Financial Supports are provided to Job Seekers who have a confirmed job offer and lack the finances/resources to cover all or part of the costs of items or expenses to start the job. These financial supports include transportation, dependent care, essential work clothing, essential work supplies, Tools and Equipment, Personal Grooming and Hygiene (BCEA and General Clients with Disabilities only), licencing, employment related disability accomodation costs, and Short Term Orientation and Training.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT

Interested in starting your own business? Have a hobby you wish to turn into a business? We offer eligible clients a free 48-week (68-week for clients with disabilities) Self-Employment Program that will give you the knowledge, tools and resources to start your own business. We provide funding for tuition, living supports, dependent care, transportation and disability supports if required. With approval, clients can earn income within their business without losing income supports.

SINGLE PARENT EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE (SPEI)

Single parents receiving income or disability assistance can receive up to 12 months of funded training or paid work experience, with continued income or disability assistance while in training. Supports including child care costs during your training or work placement and for the first year of employment, as well as health supplement coverage, are available.

PROJECT BASED LABOUR MARKET TRAINING (PBLMT)

Through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job work experience, these projects offer sector-specific training that include skills as identified by local employers and on-the-job experience.

WORKSHOPS

We offer a range of career exploration, job search, networking and career development workshops that assist job seekers to set attainable goals and find progressive employment. Workshops are offered both in-person and virtually.

JOB CREATION PARTNERSHIP (JCP)

JCPs are community-based projects that provide Job Seekers with the opportunities to gain relevant, recent work experience that will improve their employment readiness, build on existing skills and increase their network of potential employers. These are paid work experiences.

JOB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Are you ready and able to work but don’t know where to start and lack the networks/networking skills? Our Job Development Team works with you on a one-to-one basis and individually markets you and your skills to employers in the community. They arrange and support you at job interviews as required and negotiate job terms and conditions. Additionally, they provide job coaching on how to succeed in the workplace.

CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

These services involve identifying, initiating or creating a new job, customizing an existing job by negotiating the rearrangement of work tasks, or creating Self-Employment opportunities. Our staff will provide you with an individualized assessment of your strengths, needs and interests, and develop an Employment Profile to assist you in obtaining employment. We arrange and support you at job interviews and negotiate job terms and conditions. We also provide job coaching on how to succeed in the workplace.

PERSONAL COUNSELLING

For Job Seekers who need support to understand and address the impacts of personal challenges that are barriers to achieving sustainable employment, we can provide up to ten sessions with a registered Counsellor to provide support in moving forward towards employment.

UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCE

Unpaid Work Experience provides BCEA Job Seekers with valuable work experience and helps develop/improve skills by working in a relevant employment environment. These are normally short duration placements and provide BCEA Job Seekers with the opportunity to explore occupations, interests, skills and potential customized job opportunities.

COMMUNITY ATTACHMENT

Through Community Attachment, Job Seekers work with staff to participate in a community service placement to develop marketable skills, build networks, and give back to the community. Through this opportunity to gain experience, participants can apply developed skills to their job search.

LEARNING EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS (LEADS)

The WorkBC LEADS program aims to provide employment and personal development training to those who have experienced violence or abuse at any point or area of their lives. The program runs for 12 weeks and offers a wealth of supports and workshops. Group workshops provide an environment where every individual is free to work through trauma caused by violence and abuse and engage in healthy community connections.

DISABILITY SUPPORTS

WorkBC assists Clients with Disabilities with the costs of participating in WorkBC services, accessing training, and achieving/maintaining employment. Examples of these supports include Assistive Devices, Equipment or Technology, Workplace Access or Modifications, Communication/Hearing Devices, Ergonomic/Restorative Supports, Attendant Services, and Interpreting or Captioning.

SHORT DURATION TRAINING

This includes shorter and occupation-specific training that provides the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment in your chosen field. While it cannot exceed six weeks or 180 hours in total duration, any training course or topic that does exceed the maximum duration may be supported under Occupational Skills Training.

JOB SUSTAINMENT SERVICES

After you get employment or a community placement, we can still provide a range of services to support you in keeping and navigating your new workplace. Staff can support with short-term training that is needed to keep your job; any accommodations needed in the workplace that are needed up to a year after you start employment; negotiating salary increases in your first year; and support with any issues that may come up in the workplace including disagreements with your boss or colleagues.

Specific eligibility criteria applies for each service.