This resource provides the latest information, research and best practices for practitioners delivering services through the new Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC). In addition to highlighting the latest relevant research, it includes information and links to similar one-stop employment services models that have been implemented elsewhere, key lessons learned, and promising practices that would further inform service providers engaged in delivering EPBC programs and services.
The BC Centre for Employment Excellence is maintaining this resource as a “living” document that will be updated as new research on best practices becomes available. To that end, we invite you to provide any insights and feedback on the type of research and information you would like to see included in this section. Contact us if you have further information or resources that would be of benefit to your peers.
Background
On April 2, 2012 the BC Ministry of Social Development (MSD) launched its new one-stop employment program, the Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC). The EPBC replaced four provincially-funded programs and six programs funded under the Canada-BC Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA).
The BC government’s new integrated labour market system is designed to ensure access “for all labour market participants to support them to returning to stable employment as quickly as possible.” Under EPBC, a similar set of services are available to all unemployed BC job seekers through a network of 101 WorkBC Centres located in 73 catchment areas across the province. The program is being delivered under contract with 47 lead organizations that have formed partnerships with other local service providers (subcontractors) for the delivery of specialized programming and services.
Services that are available in the WorkBC centres include self-serve job search services, as well as client needs assessment, case management and other employment service options for those needing more individualized services in their search for sustainable employment.
In addition to general job seekers, the Ministry has identified eight “specialized populations” that will be provided additional supports as necessary to maintain an attachment to the labour market: Aboriginal Peoples, Francophones, Immigrants, Persons with Disabilities, Rural and Remote, Multi-Barriered, Survivors of Violence or Abuse, and Youth.
This resource is divided into the following sections:
- Examples of one-stop models in the US, UK and Australia
- Lessons learned and promising practices from the implementation of one-stop employment services centres, based mostly on experiences in the US and the UK, and to a lesser extent the Job Services Australia program. The research is organized into the following themes:
