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BC Employment Program (BCEP)
FAQs
Referral of Persons with Disabilities to BCEP
Extending Service or Follow-up Period
Non-reporting of Acceptance Decision
Follow-up Services and Supports
Client Participation Information
Transportation and Employment Supports
Referral of Persons with Disabilities to BCEP
January 12, 2011Q
Can a client with Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation or their spouse be referred to the BC Employment Program (BCEP)?
A
It is not the expectation that a client with PWD designation or their spouse with PWD designation will be referred to the BCEP. However, if the spouse of the PWD designated client does not have PWD designation, they may be referred, after reviewing the BCEP Referral Guidelines. When making the referral it is important to consider the client’s participation in relation to their spouses PWD designation. The client’s ability to follow through with the BCEP activities as defined in their program obligations may be impacted and as such any sanction for non-compliance for these cases would not be appropriate. Clients with PWD designation and or their spouses may access Employment Programs for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) programs as an alternative to BCEP.
Approving Pauses
June 10, 2010Q
Can Ministry staff approve a client pause?
A
Clients can only participate in Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) within the BC Employment Program (BCEP) Job Club, or Modified Original. Ministry staff may approve one pause for clients participating in ISS.
In the original BCEP Ministry staff may approve up to a maximum of two pauses for a client in the BC Employment Program, with a maximum of one in Directed Work Search (DWS) and one in Individualized Services and Supports (ISS). Under exceptional circumstances, additional pauses may be approved by the Supervisor on a case by case basis.
Extending Service or Follow-up Period
June 10, 2010Q
Can the length of the services or follow-ups in either Directed Work Search (DWS) or Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) be extended beyond the maximum time periods?
A
BCEP Job Club – General Bundles 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10: No. Clients can only participate in Individualized Services and Supports within the BCEP Job Club. The length of the follow-up period for those in ISS cannot be extended beyond the maximum 90 days.
Original BCEP – Specialized Bundle 3: No. The length of the initial service period or follow-up for those in DWS cannot be extended beyond the maximum 60 days for each. However, if it becomes evident that a client participating in DWS requires the services and supports through ISS, then he/she may be re-directed to ISS after 30 days of DWS. These clients may then participate in ISS for a maximum of 240 days (rather than 180 days). In addition, clients directed into ISS from Intake may participate in ISS for a maximum of 240 days. The length of the follow-up period for those in ISS cannot be extended beyond the maximum 180 days.
BCEP Modified Original – Specialized Bundle 5: No. Clients can only participate in Individualized Services and Supports within the BCEP Modified Original. The length of the follow-up period for those in ISS cannot be extended beyond the maximum 180 days.
Non-reporting of Acceptance Decision
January 12, 2011Q
What happens if the ministry does not receive an acceptance decision from the contractor after 21 days?
A
If no acceptance decision is received by 21 days the BC Employment Program (BCEP) file closes at day 26 to allow the contractor additional time to contact the client and a “4mail message” is generated on the EM file history screen (“no acceptance decision received”). Ministry staff will then review the BCEP Referral Guidelines and follow-up with the client, and re-refer the client to the BCEP as appropriate.
Follow-up Services and Supports
June 10, 2010Q
Can services and Supports be provided to clients in the follow-up periods of both Directed Work Search (DWS) and Individualized Services and Supports (ISS)?
A
Both services and Supports can be provided to a client in the ISS follow-up period only. In the DWS follow-up period (original BCEP), clients can receive Supports only.
September 15, 2010
Q
What is the role of Ministry staff in DWS Follow up?
A
DWS Follow up is only offered in original BCEP (Bundle 3). It is the responsibility of the contractor to support and maintain contact with the client to ensure they maintain BCEP employment throughout the DWS Follow-up period. Upon completion of DWS follow-up (the 60 days following commencement of BCEP Employment) the contractor will return the client file to the ministry with the client's employment status information and strengths and barriers. A 4Mail message is displayed advising Ministry staff that the client has been returned and Ministry staff can view the detailed information via the Participant Report and take appropriate action regarding income assistance eligibility.
Client Participation Information
January 12, 2011Q
Where can ministry staff access information on a client’s participation in the BC Employment Program (BCEP)?
A
A complete history of a client’s BCEP program participation can be accessed through the “BCEP Participant Report” in BUSAPPS. Further details can also be accessed in the client’s EM File.
September 15, 2010
September 15, 2010
Q
When does Ministry staff receive notification of a BCEP client's employment in the BCEP ?
A
A 4Mail message advises Ministry staff of successful BCEP Employment in the BCEP. This then moves the client into the follow-up components. Once the client is employed, the BCEP contractor is expected to monitor the client's employment to determine whether the circumstances continue to meet the definition of BCEP Employment. Employment information will be entered into the BCEP system by the contractor and Ministry staff can view this information via the Participant Report and take appropriate action regarding income assistance eligibility. For regions with a case-less model, local procedures will be established to access 4Mail messages.
Transportation and Employment Supports
June 10, 2010Q
Can clients be provided with transportation supports in order to attend their BC Employment Program (BCEP) program Intake appointment?
A
Ministry staff may provide transportation supports if required, for example - bus tickets, assistance with gas costs etc., to clients to attend their BCEP program Intake appointment. This support can be provided by Ministry staff utilizing Direct Purchase which will be monitored by Regional staff. In general, clients are only eligible to receive this support once. When the client is accepted into BCEP, the contractor is responsible for issuing further transportation supports throughout their attendance in the program.
Q
Can employed clients be referred to the BCEP in order to receive Employment Supports?
A
Client's who have confirmed employment starting within 3 weeks, prior to a BCEP program referral and require supports such as work boots in order to sustain employment should first be considered for the Confirmed Job Supplement and are not referred to BCEP. Please refer to the On Line Resource, Confirmed Job Supplement Policy and Procedures for further clarification. Clients are eligible to receive the Confirmed Job Supplement if they provide a job offer letter on the business letterhead (if possible) or at minimum the name, address and telephone number of the employer, and a contact person.
BCEP Referral Process
January 12, 2011Q
What is the BC Employment Program (BCEP) referral process?
A
Ministry staff are to review the BCEP Referral Guidelines to determine eligibility for BCEP referrals. There are two critical steps to complete a referral to the BCEP: the creation of the Employment Plan (EP) and the creation of the EM file. It is critical that these two functions occur on the same day for the following reasons:
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The day the EP is created triggers the 21 day referral period for the contractor.
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The day the EM file is created physically sends the referral to the contractor.
Creation of the EP File
Within BCEP, the date the EP is created is the date the 21 day referral period starts, regardless of the date that the EM file is created. It is critical that the EP and EM file be created on the same day to ensure that both the client and the contractor have the maximum period of time to work together in order to determine the client’s eligibility for BCEP.
Creation of the EM File
Details of this procedure are covered in the BCEP Systems Memo under Systems Instructions. The transmission of the referral to the BCEP contractor occurs in the COM screen. The process must be followed exactly as described to ensure the referral is transmitted. The third step in the process is to electronically send the referral to the contractor, regardless if there are comments or not, by entering "Y" in the "Confirmed Comments" field. This serves two purposes:
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It confirms the comments, and
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It transmits the referral
NOTE: If this field is not changed to "Y" the referral has not been sent. For detailed information on determining EI eligibility, see Procedures, EI Eligibility and BCEP Referral Guidelines.
Time Limits
June 10, 2010Q
Does participation in the BC Employment Program (BCEP) 'stop the clock' for the Time Limits count? How do the pauses affect time limits? What occurs with time limits when clients are involved with BCEP?
A
Participation in the BCEP does not "stop the clock" for Time Limits (Clients who reach their 24 months are still required to participate in BCEP). Time Limits exemptions are not linked with the Pause system. If ministry staff determine that a client should be exempted from Time Limits due to their medical condition then this determination can be made separately. In this case, it does not mean the client is exempted from their employment obligations and program requirements as defined under BCEP. The contractor continues to monitor the client throughout the Pause.
