A Case Report of the Conversion of Sheltered Employment to Evidence-Based Supported Employment in Canada

This case report describes the transformation of a sheltered workshop program to a program that provides evidence-based supported employment services in partnership with five community treatment teams. Over a 15-year period, a Canadian nonprofit agency that provides employment services for persons with severe mental illness made a series of programmatic changes to increase the effectiveness of the services. The agency initially modified its facility-based sheltered workshop to include a prevocationally oriented work preparation program, later added brokered supported employment services, and finally completely transformed its organization by relocating its vocational rehabilitation counselors to five community mental health teams, in order to implement an evidence-based supported employment program that is based on the individual placement and support model. During the initial period in which the sheltered employment program was utilized, less than 5 percent of clients who were unemployed when they entered the workshop achieved competitive employment annually. The annual competitive employment rate did not increase during the prevocational phase; it increased during the brokered supported employment phase but did not exceed 25 percent. By contrast, after shifting to evidence-based supported employment, 84 (50 percent) of 168 unemployed clients who received between six and 27 months of individual placement and support services achieved competitive employment. This article also documents the role of agency planning and commitment quality improvement in implementing change.

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But is this the solution to workforce equality?

You were lured to Canada by Canadian immigration officers who’s promise of lucrative careers opportunities and a better life abroad were all to seductive to pass up. As a highly educated professional in your native country you are well respected, your salary allows you to live in a big house, feed and educate your children, and enjoy the social status that comes along with it. But these immigration officers advise you that your credentials automatically qualify you for entry into Canada. Where you can find a job in your field for 10 times as much as what you could make in your country. Your decision is easy. After spending $15,000 for a ticket, application fees, and money in the bank, you’re finally ready to start your new life abroad. Leaving your wife and kids behind may not have been easy, but you know that in 1 year you will be settled in Canada with your 6-figure income and your three-story mansion on the hill with your family. After a long journey you arrive in Canada your credentials in tow, you anxiously begin your job search only to find out the credentials that you obtained outside of Canada do not meet Canadian qualifications and the only work you can get is driving a cab or working in the labour market.

Many newcomers have been mislead by the Canadian government into immigrating to Canada with the hopes of a better life. The Foreign Credential Assessment Office established a year ago offers hope for highly skilled immigrants to get their credentials recognized in order to utilize their skills. This initiative is long over due. While this project is a big step toward acknowledging the issues of foreign professionals who find themselves working in our labour market. The continued problems with racial discrimination in the work place have yet to be addressed.

With Canada’s so called “ job shortage” will companies now hire these skilled immigrants once there credentials meet their standards? Or will they continue to hire foreign temporary workers for inexpensive labour? Here are 4 reasons why companies might be reluctant to hire these immigrants once their credentials are recognized:

Highly skilled immigrants may be viewed as a threat to locals Highly skilled immigrants could take jobs Highly skilled immigrants will hire more highly skilled immigrants Locals could lose their jobs.

There are many good candidates that are not being hired simply because of racial discrimination. Immigrants are often more educated than local Canadians, but a Canadian born worker with less education is more likely to make more money. Some immigrants are told they are over qualified for a job or do not have sufficient Canadian experience for the position. This is also an issue common for non-white Canadians born in Canada. In order to guarantee the equal employment opportunities of skilled immigrants, a sufficient anti racial legislation needs to be implemented using methods that encourage interracial cooperation. Discrimination in Canada can be combated in the following ways:

Equal exposure of minorities in media Cultural awareness programs and knowledge in work, school, and media A fair representation of minorities in media at all times Images in media portraying white as dominant should be considered discriminatory

Newcomers to Canada will benefit from the Foreign Credential Assessment process. However, further information is required for prospective newcomers to understand the barriers of finding a job in their field. Overseas services are also available to further assist perspective newcomers before settling in Canada. As we already know the Canadian government is not always forthcoming about their true motives, be sure to do a lot of research, and ask a lot of questions.

Employment Screening in Canada

Hiring the right person for the right position is not an easy task for companies around the world even in Canada. This can be a painstaking process especially if there are many candidates vying for the position. All the documents submitted by each candidate should be scrutinized to check their authenticity. And their character should be determined by means of a background check as part of employment screening in Canada.

What is the purpose of pre-employment screening?

Pre-employment screening is a robust tool that a company relies on to authenticate documents submitted by applicants in Canada. Some of these documents include education certificates and experience certificates. There are applicants who submit fake documents just to be qualified for the position. And in order to determine the authenticity of these documents, the company can hire employment screening companies to conduct this screening.

What employment screening companies do?

The primary job of employment screening companies is to do thorough background check in order to verify the authenticity of the documents presented by the applicants. There are already cases recorded whereas applicants submitted fake certificates just to be hired for the position. They got these bogus education certificates and experience certificates from a supplier. But because of employment screening, these fraudulent documents will be determined by verifying the information that the documents contained.

Where to find employment screening companies?

There are so many companies that provide employment screening services nowadays. But before you employ their services, you have to do a thorough research in order to find a reliable company. And the best place to begin your search is through the Internet because it has lots of options available for you. From these options, you can sure find one that delivers reports with precision and detailed accuracy.

Employment screening in Canada is really a reliable tool in finding the right people to hire. And since this service is easy to avail through the Internet, this will sure provide more convenience and easier access.

Employment Screening provides detailed information on Employment Screening, Pre-Employment Screening, Employment Screening Services, Employment Background Screening and more. Employment Screening is affiliated with Criminal Background Check Firms.

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