APPENDIX B



This letter is an invitationto be part of the Pathways to Work Research Project. We are speaking to people who would like to work but have given up trying to find work. These people are sometime called Discouraged Job Seeker. We are looking to only talk to people living in Kings County, Nova Scotia.

This letter is meant to give you information about this project and what we’d ask of you if you decide to take part. You may want to look at our website as well: www.pathwaystowork.ca

About Pathways to Work Research Project

We have a grant from the Canadian and Nova Scotian governments to interview people who are Discouraged Job Seeker. We will be writing a report based on what we learn from those we interview.

Pathways to Work Research Project has two main goals:

  • To understand – what is stopping people from looking for work?
  • What kind of help do people need to be willing to try to find work again?

We are speaking with people between June and October, 2010. We can’t find you a job, but hope what we learn will make it easier for you and others to find work. You can help!

Who are Discouraged Job Seeker?

Discouraged Job Seekers are people who would like to have a job but have given up looking for work.

Things you should know:

  • You don’t have to participate in Pathways to Work Research Project if you don’t want to.
  • Even if you start to participate, you can quit at any time. Even after we’ve talked to you if you want your information to be removed from the study we will remove it until Dec.3, 2010. After that, we’ll be writing the report.
  • You don’t have to answer any of the questions we ask you

What are we asking of you:

  • We want to talk to you about your experiences of looking for work, and why you have given up. The interview will be as long as you would like it to be.
  • We want you to be clear about what we are asking – and show that by signing a consent form that says you know what you are agreeing to, and what we are asking of you. After you have signed the consent form, we will first ask you to help us fill out a short questionnaire about your work experiences.
  • After that first interview we may ask to speak with you again to get more information about your experiences trying to find and keep jobs.
  • With your permission, the interview will be recorded so that we can really pay attention to what you say to us. The interview records will be stored in a way that no one but us can get it. Your information will remain confidential – no one can find out what you said, other than Alan or Penni. However, you can say no to being recorded if you wish.
  • If we are told that someone has been or might be hurt, we have to tell the authorities.
  • We do not see any likely risks to you outside of some possible emotional upset – we will try not to let this happen. At any time you are free to stop the interview.

Where will the interview take place?

  • We want you to be comfortable, and feel you can talk to us privately. We will meet wherever you want - our office, your home, or another place that you choose that’s safe. You are welcome to see us at the Cornwallis Inn, at 325 Main St. in Kentville for the interview.
  • If you want help getting to and from the interview we will either give you bus tickets or a ride, or.
  • We can travel to a place that you choose as long as it is safe and within Kings County

After the Interview.

  • After the interview we will give you a paper copy or taped summary of what you told us in the interview. What you say is important, and you might want to have a copy of it for yourself.
  • Your name or any information that may show who you are will be kept separately from the interview. It will not be put in the report or given to anyone other than the two researchers – Penni Burrell and Alan Howell, and their manager Roger Tatlock.
  • If you say it is OK, we may want to use the exact words you said in the report, but your name would not be used.

If you have any questions regarding this study, or would like additional information to help you reach a decision about participation, please contact us at 365-3622 or email at pathwaystowork@eastlink.ca. If you want to make sure that you can trust us, please contact The Flower Cart, 681-0120, and ask for the Financial Manager, Carrie Hemmings.

We very much look forward to speaking with you and thank you for your help in this project.

Yours Sincerely

Penni Burrell, Alan Howell- Researchers - Pathways to Work Research Project

PATHWAYS TO WORK RESEARCH PROJECT

CONSENT FORM

Instructions: To be read / understood and signed by the person being interviewed before the interview

I have read the information given in the letter by Pathways to Work Research Project. I have been able to ask any questions about this study I wanted and have been given answers to my questions.

I know I have the choice to have my interview recorded and that quotes from my interview may be in the report to come from this research. I know that these quotes will not use my name with the understanding that the quotations will be anonymous.

I know that I may stop letting Pathways to Work use my information at any time, until Dec. 03, 2010, by telling one of the two researchers. Nothing bad will happen as a result.

I agree to be part of this study.

YES                NO

I agree to have my interview recorded.

YES                 NO

I agree to the use of quotations, that don’t use my name, in any report that comes of this research.

YES                  NO

Participant Name: ____________________________ (Please print)

Participant Signature: ____________________________

Witness Name*: ________________________________ (Please print)

Witness Signature: ______________________________

Date: ____________________________

Pathways to Work Research Project

Questionnaire

Participant number (Internal Use Only): ____________________________

1. How did you hear about Pathways______________________________________

2. Why did you decide to participate in Pathways? ____________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

3. Male    Female      3a. Age: _____________

4. Location/Community you live in: ____________________________

5. Other than yourself number of people you live with?____________________________

6. Dependents: (Including children and other relatives you take care of)   Yes    No

6a. If yes, # of dependants:_____________ 6b. Age of dependants: _______________

7. Do you have needs for personal care/activities of daily living?    Yes     No

7a. Approx. # of hours a week spent on care:

 

Transportation:

8. Are there any transportation/travel issues that make it difficult for you to find or get to work?              Yes          No    

9. Please describe: ________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

 

Job Finding and Keeping Resources:

10. Do you have access to a phone in your home?   Yes     No

11. Are there limits to you using the phone?   Yes     No

12. If yes please describe: _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

13. Do you have access to the internet in your home?   Yes     No

14. Are there limits to you using the internet?   Yes     No

15. If yes please describe: ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

16. Can you use the internet well enough to look for a job with it?   Yes     No

17. If ‘no’, do you know where to learn to do that?   Yes     No

18. Please describe: ________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Job Qualities:

19. How many hours a week do you feel is best for you to work, regarding your abilities and other life commitments?

 1-14        15- 29       30+         Seasonal      Yes       No

19a. Details (which season not, which activity not) ____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

20. Do you have any special scheduling needs?   Yes    No

20a. If yes what are they? _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

 

Information:

21.  How do you get information about what jobs are available, how to get help finding jobs?

 1)TV         2) Radio               3) Newspapers          4) Internet            5) Posters

    6) Job Banks            7) Friends          8) Family           9) Professional Orgs / Networking:          

  10) Temp / Job Placement Agency

21a. Other - Please describe: _____________________________________________________

22. Generally how do you get information about what’s going on in your community?

1)TV          2) Radio             3) Newspapers          4) Internet           5) Posters        

6) Friends            7)Family          8) Library

22a. Other - Please describe: ____________________________________________________

 

Support Used:

23. Have you had help in finding work? That is, have you seen a counselor, or gone to a workshop, to find out about how to look for and find work?       Yes    No

23a. If yes, where did you go for help?  _____________________________________________________

23b. Were they helpful?    Yes    No      Mixed

23c. If they were helpful, how did they help? ________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

23d. What, if anything, could they have done to be more helpful? ____________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

24. When you picture yourself in the workforce, what do you see yourself doing?________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

25.Do you have the requirements to apply for those kinds of jobs now?    Yes    No  

25a. If no, what would you need? ________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Work Challenges

26.Do you have any special needs an employer would be asked to consider when you are applying for a job?         Yes    No  

26a. If yes please describe: ________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

27.Are there any kinds of jobs you would not be willing to do?         Yes           No  

27a. If yes, what would you not be willing to do? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

28.What financial support do you have right now? _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

If government, what assistance program?

A.CPP Disability Benefits     

B.Employment Insurance Regular Benefits     

C.Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits     

D.Provincial Income Assistance     

E.Provincial Income Assistance with child support     

F.CPP Retirement Plan    

29. What amount of money would you need to earn in order to take a job? ______________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

30.Do you have problems with any of the following?

Vision                      Yes           No  

Hearing                   Yes           No  

Mobility                  Yes           No  

Physical strength    Yes           No  

Learning                  Yes           No  

Memory                 Yes           No  

Reading                   Yes           No  

Writing                               Yes           No  

Using numbers                  Yes           No  

Environmental                  Yes           No  

Social situation public       Yes           No  

With co- workers               Yes           No  

High stress work                Yes           No  

Details:__________________________________

_________________________________________

________________________________________

31. On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being ‘not very true of me’ and 5 being ‘very true of me’, where would you rate this statement? “I have high self esteem”? _____

32. What would you identify as the biggest barriers to employment that you have: _______________

________________________________________________________________________________________

33.Do you feel we’ve not asked a question that you think would help us understand your situation?      Yes           No  

33a. If yes, details _______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for your time – would you be willing to follow through with a more in depth interview?                    Yes           No  

If yes, time set for interview? ________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 



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