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BC Employment Program (BCEP)
Policy
EI Eligibility and BCEP Referral Guidelines: January 12, 2011
Participation of Non-Income Assistance Clients: January 12, 2011
Client Intake Standards: January 12, 2011
Directed Work Search Standards: June 10, 2010
Individualized Services and Supports Standards: June 10, 2010
Client Pause during Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Support: June 10, 2010
EI Eligibility and BCEP Referral Guidelines: January 12, 2011
January 12, 2011All BCEP Bundles:
All new applicants must be assessed for Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility prior to determining eligibility for referral to BCEP. New applicants who are EI eligible are not eligible for referral to BCEP.
If the applicant is EI eligible (i.e. either a claimant eligible for income assistance (IA) top up or a Reachback), refer to other resources as part of the Employment Plan. Resources may include Employment Assistance Services (EAS) to access Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) programs and services, and any other appropriate community resources.
The ministry will determine eligibility for referral to the BC Employment Program (BCEP) based on BCEP Referral Guidelines, for those likely to proceed along the employment continuum to find sustainable employment.
[For detailed information on determining Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility and referral guidelines, see Procedures, EI Eligibility and BCEP Referral Guidelines.]
Participation of Non-Income Assistance Clients: January 12, 2011
January 12, 2011Based on a case-by-case review by the ministry, individuals who are not receiving income assistance (IA) may complete their current participation in the BC Employment Program (BCEP) services after their income assistance file is closed (e.g., where their IA ineligibility results from a spouse who commenced full-time work).
Client Intake Standards: January 12, 2011
January 12, 2011Upon the ministry referring a client to the BC Employment Program (BCEP), the contractor is to assess the client’s ability to secure BCEP Employment (i.e., suitability for BCEP services) and either confirm their acceptance within established timelines in Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) for Bundles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10; and in Directed Work Search (DWS) for Bundle 3, or their non-acceptance, in which case the client is returned to the ministry. Contractors are also required to notify the ministry of clients who are “no show” for their intake appointment.
Note: [For detailed information on client intake standards, see Procedures, Client Intake Standards.]
Directed Work Search Standards: June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010Directed Work Search (DWS) services are only offered in original BC Employment Program (BCEP) – Specialized Bundle 3 (Mental Health/Addictions)
Contractors are required to direct the majority of clients that are referred to the original BC Employment Program (BCEP) into Directed Work Search (DWS) services. Through access to work search tools (internet access, telephone, job banks, etc.), guidance from workshops or one-on-one services, and the provision of financial Supports such as transportation costs, Contractors are to help Clients conduct their own work search for a period of up to sixty calendar days. The ministry expects that Client activities during participation in DWS will be highly monitored by Contractors.
In situations where it becomes evident that clients require services and supports beyond the scope of DWS, the contractor may re-direct the clients into Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) after 30 days of DWS participation.
Contractors are to support clients for a further sixty days after initial BCEP Employment is achieved, including helping them to regain BCEP Employment if required. Clients who do not achieve BCEP Employment within the sixty-day work search period will be re-directed to ISS. In addition, clients who achieve BCEP Employment within the sixty-day work search period who lose their job and do not regain another within that period may be directed to ISS after the sixty-day follow-up period.
Contractors are required to report to the ministry on certain DWS activities and results, in accordance with contractual “service levels”.
[For detailed information on Directed Work Search standards, see Procedures, Directed Work Search Standards.]
Individualized Services and Supports Standards: June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010BCEP Job Club – General Bundles 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10:
All clients accepted for BCEP Job Club participation will be directed to Individualized Services and Supports (ISS).
Contractors are required to develop a Participant Plan in consultation with each client in ISS. The plan assists the client to develop their employment goals, identifies expectations for the client’s participation, and documents the services and supports that will be provided to achieve increased employability and employment objectives [e.g., through employment services such as resume-writing assistance, arranging interviews, providing access to a job bank, short-term training to help clients obtain commonly required certificates (e.g., “First Aid”, “Food Safe”, etc.), and through life skills training]. Contractors will also actively seek out and place clients into BCEP Employment opportunities and provide “follow-up” support and related reporting to the ministry.
Each client’s participation in ISS will include 30 days of Intensive Employment Services as the first stage of ISS within BCEP Job Club. Intensive Employment Services include job search club or similar services in conjunction with other employment services, short term certificate training and life skills.
Contractors may work with clients in ISS for up to a maximum of 120 days to achieve BCEP Employment. Clients who do not achieve BCEP Employment in the initial ISS period do not proceed to the follow-up period, and are returned to the ministry.
Original BCEP – Specialized Bundle 3:
Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) is geared for clients who are deemed unsuited to or were unable to secure BCEP Employment through Directed Work Search (DWS), and who could move into BCEP Employment with additional services and supports.
Contractors are required to develop a Participant Plan in consultation with each client in ISS. The plan assists the client to develop their employment goals, identifies expectations for the client’s participation, and documents the services and supports that will be provided to achieve increased employability and employment objectives [e.g. through life skills training, short-term training to help clients obtain commonly required certificates (e.g. “First Aid”, “Food Safe”, etc.), and employment services such as resume-writing assistance, arranging interviews, providing access to a job bank]. Contractors will also actively seek out and place clients into BCEP Employment opportunities and provide “follow-up” support and related reporting to the ministry.
Contractors may work with clients in ISS for up to a maximum of 180 days for those who have completed DWS and up to 240 days for those who were accepted directly into ISS and those who were re-directed into ISS after 30 days of DWS participation to achieve BCEP Employment. Contractually it is the expectation that clients remain in ISS for an average of 120 days. Clients who do not achieve BCEP Employment in the initial ISS period do not proceed to the follow-up period, and are returned to the ministry.
BCEP Modified Original – Specialized Bundle 5:
All clients accepted for BCEP Modified Original participation will be directed to Individualized Services and Supports (ISS).
Contractors are required to develop a Participant Plan in consultation with each client in ISS. The plan assists the client to develop their employment goals, identifies expectations for the client’s participation, and documents the services and supports that will be provided to achieve increased employability and employment objectives [e.g., through employment services such as resume-writing assistance, arranging interviews, providing access to a job bank, short-term training to help Clients obtain commonly required certificates (e.g., “First Aid”, “Food Safe”, etc.), and through life skills training]. Contractors will also actively seek out and place clients into BCEP Employment opportunities and provide “follow-up” support and related reporting to the ministry.
Contractors may work with clients in ISS for up to 240 days to achieve BCEP Employment. Contractually it is the expectation that clients remain in ISS for an average of 120 days. Clients who do not achieve BCEP Employment in the initial ISS period do not proceed to the follow-up period, and are returned to the ministry.
[For detailed information on Individualized Services and Supports, see Procedures, Individualized Services and Supports.]
Client Pause during Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Support: June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010BCEP Job Club – General Bundles 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10:
Clients who are determined to have a short term medical condition (e.g., a broken arm) while participating in the BCEP Job Club may be paused for up to a maximum of three months during the Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) services period. In addition, clients who acquire short-term, seasonal employment (e.g., fruit picking) may also be paused for up to a maximum of three months during the services period. Contractors must request ministry approval before a pause may begin. A pause cannot be less than fourteen days or longer than three months (if longer than three months, the client is returned to the ministry). The service period for the client will be extended by the length of the approved pause.
For those who are paused for short-term, seasonal employment and require essential supports to facilitate employment (e.g., work / safety clothing, lunch box / cooler, etc), the BCEP contractor may issue funds for the purchase of items.
There is a maximum of one approved pause for a client during the overall BCEP Job Club period. Any additional pauses must be approved by the ministry on a case-by-case basis.
Original BCEP – Specialized Bundle 3:
Clients who are determined to have a short term medical condition (e.g., a broken arm) while participating in original BCEP may be paused for up to a maximum of three months during the Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) services period. In addition, clients who acquire short-term, seasonal employment (e.g., fruit picking) may also be paused for up to a maximum of three months during the services period. Contractors must request ministry approval before a pause may begin. A pause cannot be less than fourteen days or longer than three months (if longer than three months, the client is returned to the ministry). The service period for the client will be extended by the length of the approved pause.
For those who are paused for short-term, seasonal employment and require essential supports to facilitate employment (e.g., work / safety clothing, lunch box / cooler, etc), the BCEP contractor may issue funds for the purchase of items.
There is a maximum of one approved pause during a client’s participation in both Directed Work Search and Individualized Services and Supports, with a maximum of two approved pauses for a client during the overall BCEP period. Any additional pauses must be approved by the ministry on a case-by-case basis.
BCEP Modified Original – Specialized Bundle 5:
Clients who are determined to have a short term medical condition (e.g., a broken arm) while participating in BCEP Modified Original may be paused for up to a maximum of three months during the Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) services period. In addition, clients who acquire short-term, seasonal employment (e.g., fruit picking) may also be paused for up to a maximum of three months during the services period. Contractors must request ministry approval before a pause may begin. A pause cannot be less than fourteen days or longer than three months (if longer than three months, the client is returned to the ministry). The service period for the client will be extended by the length of the approved pause.
For those who are paused for short-term, seasonal employment and require essential supports to facilitate employment (e.g., work / safety clothing, lunch box / cooler, etc), the BCEP contractor may issue funds for the purchase of items.
There is a maximum of one approved pause for a client during the overall BCEP Modified Original. Any additional pauses must be approved by the ministry on a case-by-case basis.
[For more information on client Pause during DWS or ISS, see, Procedures, Client Pause during Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Support Services.]
Client Compliance during Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Supports Participation: June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010While ministry responsibilities include monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Employment and Assistance Act and Regulation, which includes client obligations in the BC Employment Program (BCEP) Job Club, Modified Original and the original BCEP, contractors are responsible for advising the ministry promptly when clients are not meeting their obligations under the BCEP. Contractors are expected to attempt to resolve issues with clients (e.g., non-compliance with their Directed Work Search (DWS) obligations or non-compliance with their Participant Plan during Individualized Services and Supports (ISS)), and in most cases, consult on the issue with ministry staff prior to a decision to return the client to the ministry.
[For detailed information on client compliance during DWS and ISS, see Procedures, Client Compliance during Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Supports Participation.]
Client Returned to Ministry from Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Supports Participation: June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010During participation in Directed Work Search (DWS) within the original BC Employment Program or Individualized Services and Supports (ISS) within BCEP Job Club or BCEP Modified Original, a client may be returned (a) for specific reasons related to their situation, (b) when they successfully complete the BC Employment Program, or (c) when they reach a maximum service period. The ministry requires information from the contractor about the return, including the reason for the return (e.g., client withdrew, was non-compliant with participation requirements).
[For detailed information on clients returned to the Ministry from DWS or ISS, see Procedures, Client Returned to Ministry from Directed Work Search or Individualized Services and Supports Participation.]
