SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS

Specific Recommendations to Address Barriers to Employment for Discouraged Job Seeker
Employment Recruitment	1. Employers: Write clear and plain job ads Change interview process to identify and assess skills required for job rather than ability to handle interview, e.g., use brief on-the-job experiences or sampling by the applicant to help in decision making process Encourage and support wage subsidies and work experiences Identify and utilize successful recruitment processes, possibly in ‘learning circle’ with other employers Inform all applicants of the status of their application 2. Support person: Help screen job ads, to prevent applications to inappropriate jobs. Know local employers, e.g., specifics of job requirements Where appropriate and welcomed, accompany applicants to interview Where needed and appropriate, help applicants re-write their resumes for specific job applications
Employment Services	1.  Job Coaching – more individualized services to support people to get into the work place, especially skills in matching job openings and job seekers and setting up job accommodations. 2.  “Bridge building’ between agencies 3.  Concurrent Services between agencies 4.  Clearer continuum of services available 5.  Specialized services for people with multiple challenges and/or disabilities 6.  Access to vocational training services for those not currently subsidized for attending, e.g., support to attend the local work activity center 7.  Flexibility in workers availability to support job seeker, e.g., supportive call in evening before interview and “debriefing” afterwards 8.  Challenge and Disability specific supports offered, e.g., when to disclose need for accommodation 9.  Wage Subsidies: As a standard, ongoing, and if needed on-site, support offered to people involved with wage subsidy or work experience 10. Support entrepreneurship
Job Properties	1.  Establish “Bridge Builder” staff positions to facilitate successful negotiation of accommodations needed and to trouble-shoot day-to-day issues 2.  Train job developers and employers on Job Carving 3.  Adopt flexible scheduling to accommodate individual employee’s needs, e.g., shorter shifts
Government Policies – Department of Community Services – Employment Support and Income Assistance	1.  Increase Financial Assistance to meet basic needs of Kings County residents, e.g., decrease “claw back” of net earnings from 70% to 50% 2.  Establish a continuum of supports for employment to span both Income Assistance and Employment Supports recipients 3.  Be extremely flexible in offering financial supports for employment especially for those who are trying to return to the labour market after a longer period of absence. 4.  Cover full costs of all appropriate programs 5.  Make program information readily and easily accessible to all people in the county especially recipients and employment support services staff. 6.  Encourage recipients to have support people present during interviews with ESIA staff if they want to
Government Policies - Other	1.  Develop Canada Pension Plan (Disability) medication and ambulance support 2.  Fund alternative treatments to medication, e.g., physiotherapy 3.  Fund medication requirements 100% 4.  Clearly state the goal of wage subsidy programs 5.  Ask clients and employers involved in wage subsidy programs to evaluate the experience. Use results to inform future funding and program decisions.
Social	1.  Include support and special interest groups in labour market and job finding information sessions 2.  Establish job finding clubs for non - EI and ESIA recipients 3.  Establish support groups for all people who are unemployed to help develop communication and social skills in a safe environment, including social networking skills 4.  Introduce an ongoing “learning circle” on the topics of Unemployment and Discouraged Job Seekers
Functional	1.  Support transportation, particularly to agricultural work and for people living off the bus routes 2.  Continue and increase support for public computer access and training 3.  Establish a data bank for accessing clothes and tools needed for work, such as work boots
Alternatives To Employment	1.  Establish a Temporary Employment Agency to enable ease of hiring 2.  Establish a volunteer center 3.  Remove disincentives to reporting income when on income support programs 4.  Provide opportunities for people not in receipt of “special” benefits to accrue credits for employment programs and training 5.  Develop volunteer-based programs that take skills learning out of the classroom and staff offices 6.  Encourage group-based entrepreneurial and social enterprise activities
Stigma	1.  Support community awareness programs and employer awareness programs 2.  Direct education of employers and their employees by employment services staff specifically trained to address this topic.
Personal	1.  Education material on the impact of long-term job seeking and unsuccessful long-term job seeking should be developed and shared with employment services workers and discouraged job seekers. 2.  The importance of developing resiliency needs to be shared with discouraged job seekers and employment services workers