Working with you to achieve your career aspirations.

Transcription

1 Working with you to achieve your career aspirations.

2 The Workpower Employment Program. Our Employment Program has four stages: > > Registration > > Job Search > > Employment training and support > > Independence Let s take a look at each stage in more detail. Stage 1. Registration. After you have been referred to Workpower, we will invite you to an assessment interview which will allow you to find out more information about the services we provide. Once you have been accepted, you are introduced to your Employment Consultant who will be your main contact at Workpower and the person who will directly assist you to realise your employment goals. It is important for Workpower to find out what your employment preferences are so we can match your skills and interests to an appropriate and desired position. The information gathered at this stage of the program is discussed at a meeting with your Employment Consultant, yourself and anyone else you may want to have present. At this meeting, your Employment Consultant works closely with you to develop an Employment Pathway Plan (EPP) to match your skills and interests with a suitable job. The purpose of the Employment Pathway Plan is to: > > Provide a simple and effective way for you to set the direction of your employment. > > Outline what types of jobs you are interested in and indicate any special conditions that must be considered when assisting you to find a job. > > Set a contract outlining your Employment Consultant s responsibilities and your own responsibilities for developing your work readiness and securing a position. Your Employment Pathway Plan is regularly reviewed to make sure the strategies continue to meet your needs and are helping you move towards your employment goals. Stage 2. The job search process. The job search process is tailored to meet your individual needs and aspirations and will be outlined in your Employment Pathway Plan. Typical job search methods include: > > Cold canvassing of potential employers meeting your criteria > > Repeat business from existing and previous employers > > Canvassing personal contacts of staff > > Canvassing your own contacts > > Searching newspaper advertisements and websites such as the Australian Job Search website > > Joining recruitment programs of Government Departments and larger businesses Through successful placements, Workpower has built strong relationships with many employers and this source of contacts continues to grow. The job search is a partnership; therefore it s essential you take personal responsibility for the actions detailed in your plan. Stage 3. Employment training and support. Once you have secured a work experience or job placement, employment support can cover all aspects of the job. Sometimes, we can also help with issues you may have outside of work that are work-related. Outside of work issues may include helping you liaise with Centrelink, accessing help you need from other agencies, sorting out transport issues or routes, helping to problem solve or dealing with lack of motivation to go to work. On the job support includes helping you fit in with the other workers, finding out about working conditions and on the job training. We can also assist you with: > > Access to wage subsidies > > Workplace modification scheme > > Supported wage system As you get closer to reaching the required level of speed, quality and integration in your job, your Employment Consultant will review the level of support provided to you at your workplace and gradually reduce it depending on your needs. For example, intensive daily support may be replaced by a visit once a week and reduced to fortnightly and then to three weekly visits. A phone call to you at home or a phone call to your employer may also be appropriate. Stage 4. Independence. At this stage usually after at least six months you are settled in your job and satisfied with your employer. Your employer is also happy with your performance. Workpower s services are no longer required.

3 Welcome to Workpower. Welcome to Workpower s disability employment service. We look forward to working together with you to create your personal employment pathway. We know that finding a job is hard work. And it takes many hours of preparation and practice. But we are here to help you step-by-step. This handbook will provide you with information about your job search program and your association with Workpower. Knowing what to expect and understanding your responsibilities will help you find a job and stay employed. This handbook explains your rights and responsibilities, the general job search process and what you can expect, what to do if you have a complaint or suggestions for feedback, and some information on privacy and confidentiality. Let s work together. Remember, you are not alone. Workpower is always here to support you. This may include practical advice, training and support on things like writing a resume, making a telephone call to a prospective employer or preparing for an interview. What you put into your program, you will get back. Our advice is to own your job search program, be part of it every step of the way and you could be on your way to a new, successful career. About Workpower. Workpower is an employment assistance service that helps you to find and keep a job. Employment Consultants work with you to identify your different job interests, help you to approach employers for jobs, help you to write a resume and job application and prepare for interviews. Workpower can also help you with job training and support so that you can continue working. Who we can help. We can provide assistance to people who: Are over 15 years of age > > Have a disability or mental illness > > Are deemed eligible by Centrelink > > Need assistance to find and keep a job > > Are motivated to find and keep a job > > Are able to work at least 8 hours per week (or one full day per week according to their award e.g. 7.6 hours) > > In general have independent self-care skills (however in some circumstances Workpower can provide specialist assistance) > > Have the capacity to get their own transport to work > > Have stable accommodation People who have a job but need help to keep it may also be eligible.

4 What you can expect from us. When you start a job search program with Workpower, you can expect that we will: > > Conduct an initial interview with you > > Work with you to develop a personal Employment Pathway Plan > > Help you to access community support providers > > Provide you with access to job search facilities > > Provide advice on how to look for work > > Help you prepare your resume > > Help you access the wage subsidy program > > Market your skills to suitable employers > > Help link you with traineeships and apprenticeships What we expect from you. There is a strong expectation from the Australian Government and the community that job seekers will participate in activities to help gain employment. We expect that you will keep an open mind, have a flexible attitude, be reasonable and focus on becoming employed. Responsibilities are things you need to do as someone seeking work and committed to the Workpower employment program. Some of these responsibilities are to: > > Be honest about your health, skills and feelings so that Workpower support staff can help you to succeed at work > > Be open minded and have a flexible attitude > > Take part in developing your Employment Pathway Plan > > Take part in training organised for you > > Respect the rights and needs of other Workpower job seekers, support staff and any other employee of Workpower when you visit Workpower premises > > Follow Workpower guidelines, policies, procedures and values > > Ask someone to explain something to you if you do not understand > > Wear appropriate and well-presented clothes to interviews > > Inform your Employment Consultant of any change to your personal information, such as your address, phone number or your emergency contact s number > > Be on time for appointments and interviews, or let someone know if you need to change the time or day > > Tell Centrelink when you start a new job or your wage details change > > Arrange your own transport to and from work (We can help you organise this.) > > Meet the Federal Government s obligations, as outlined in your Employment Pathway Plan

5 Privacy and confidentiality Workpower is bound by the National Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act (December 2001). This means we are committed to ensuring the privacy of any sensitive or personal information you provide to us. Workpower staff are responsible for ensuring your right to privacy and confidentiality is upheld at all times. Everything Workpower knows about you is kept private. Workpower will only collect, store, use and disclose your personal information for the primary purpose of assisting you to secure and maintain employment, providing support and training to you and to fulfil our obligations in accordance with our funding agreement with the Commonwealth Government. Your personal records are the property of Workpower and are used only by our staff. Your records cannot be accessed by other people. If at any time, we need to disclose any details to a third party, we will ask you or an advocate for your signed consent. In some instances, Workpower may be required to release some of your details. These may include reporting to the Commonwealth Government, or if you have an accident at work and Workpower needs to help you to report it for a Worker s Compensation claim. Your personnel file is kept at the Workpower office and only authorised staff may look at your file. If you wish to see anything that is written about you that is in the files, you should ask your Employment Consultant to assist you to access your file. In your application to join Workpower, you were required to complete an Authority to Obtain and Release Information about yourself. This form is an authority for us to receive information about you from people such as previous employers, doctors and family. This information is necessary for us to determine your suitability for an employment assistance program and your support and training needs, so that we can provide the appropriate level of support and training to you. If you are under 18, we would have asked your parent or guardian to give written consent prior to us asking you to sign the Authority to Obtain and Release Information form. Workpower has a policy on privacy and confidentiality, which talks about the collection, release and storage of personal information. All Workpower staff are required to sign a confidentiality agreement and adhere to privacy principles; this means that staff will take care to maintain your privacy and dignity. If you leave Workpower your file will be kept in a secure place for seven (7) years. Any information that is in your file but no longer relevant will be shredded. If you believe your privacy has been breached, you have the right to complain. You should contact Workpower s Privacy Officer on Workpower is committed to helping people with disabilities, families and advocates voice their concerns, thoughts and ideas and select the best way to make a suggestion or raise a complaint. As a Disability Employment Service (DES) provider, we must provide the standard of service outlined in the Service Guarantee and Employment Services Code of Practice. We operate within these guidelines, which can be viewed on request. Feedback and Complaints We value your feedback on our service, or anything you think we can do better. This can be done as feedback, or as a complaint. The process for lodging a complaint is: 1. Let an Employment Consultant know what your complaint is and how you would like the matter resolved. They will explain the steps you need to take and may discuss your complaint with you to see if they can help. If you choose to register your complaint formally, they will help you to complete a Complaints Form. You can contact your Employment Consultant on one of these numbers: Malaga , Belmont or Bibra Lake If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can talk to the General Manager of Workpower. The General Manager will then aim to resolve the issue within two (2) working days and discuss the outcome with you. You can contact the General Manager on If you are still not satisfied, you can lodge your complaint with Workpower s Complaints Officer by calling At any time during the process, you can choose to withdraw your complaint. At all times, your feedback or complaint will be treated with fairness, without bias, with respect and understanding. All feedback or complaints will be handled in a sensitive manner, respecting your privacy and confidentiality. This process is designed to allow us to work with you to settle the issue promptly at a local level. If you are not satisfied after speaking with your Employment Consultant, the General Manager of Workpower or Workpower s Complaints Officers, you can lodge a complaint with: > > Complaints Resolution and Referral Service (CRRS) Tel > > Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Customer Service Line Tel > > Equal Opportunity Commission Tel > > Ombudsman Tel Getting help. If you are not sure about your complaint or what to do about it, you can contact Workpower s Complaints Officer on a hotline number. This person will advise you on the best way to deal with your issue. Workpower Complaints Advisory Hotline Tel Human rights If you feel that you are being harassed, bullied, abused or discriminated against in the workplace, or through the service you are receiving, you should call Workpower s complaints line ( ) immediately. Alternatively you may choose to contact the Disability Services Abuse and Neglect Hotline on ; they may be able to help you report an issue.

6 Improving our services If you have a suggestion about how we can do things better or if you think something could be improved, we would like to know about it. By listening to you, we hope to provide a better quality of service to people with disability. To tell someone about your suggestion, or to give us feedback, you can ask your Employment Consultant to help you fill out a Workpower Improvement Notice (WIN) and they will send it to the Quality Coordinator for you. Becoming involved with Workpower Everyone who s associated with Workpower can become a Member. This means you can have a say at the Annual General Meeting run by the Board of Directors. There is no cost to become a member. If you or someone in your family would like to become a Member, please discuss this with your Employment Consultant. Each year, Workpower holds an AGM where people vote for the Board of Directors who set the direction of the organisation. You are encouraged to attend the AGM and meet as many staff members and Board members as you can. Workpower acknowledges the significant financial support of the Australian Department of Employment, Education, Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and the Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHSCIA) towards achieving the organisation s objectives. For more information contact us. Tel disabilityemployment@workpower.asn.au workpower.com.au Workpower is one of the largest employers of people with disability in WA. We provide an extensive range of support services for people with disability, people with mental illness, and their families and carers. Workpower is focused on providing opportunities through employment in our own businesses and in the community, and through respite and community programs.