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ACHIEVE Program Services
Whether you are ready to get into work or work-related activity, or need help with disability-related issues in order to keep you existing job, our professional "ACHIEVE" staff will be pleased to assist you.
FINDING PAID OR VOLUNTEER WORK: PLANNING AND PLACEMENT
If you are ready to pursue paid or volunteer work, a counsellor will work closely with you to help you chose a job goal that is right for you!
Once you have a specific job goal, the counsellor will help you get any training you may need and then help you find the right position for you!
See details below.
EMPLOYMENT CRISIS: SUPPORT
If you are already working and experiencing an employment crisis as a result of your disability, a counsellor will work with you to develop and implement effective job maintenance strategies (see Employment Crisis Support below for details).
PAID or VOLUNTEER WORK:
Getting back to work involves two phases: Planning and Placement.
PHASE I: PLANNING
In order to maximize your success, you will first develop a solid, research-based plan which will be based on Career Research as well as Informal and/or Formal Assessment.
Career Research:
Your counsellor will assist you in most, if not all, of the following steps:
Labour Market Research, including Informational Interviews and Job Shadowing
Determining specific training needs you might have for the type of work that you want
Work Experience trials
Assessment:
Your counsellor will work with you to:
Identify you "Transferable Skills"
Determine your "Work Readiness" level
Explore accommodations that you may require for training or the workplace
Access formal assessments(if required) to assess cognitive, physical and/or psychological needs
Service Plan:
Your person Service Plan will be developed based on the information generated through your Career Research and Assessments.
Your plan will identify:
Your Work Goal and Work Readiness Level (full-time, part-time, volunteer)
Your Work Environment Preferences
Your Learning and Working Styles
Yours Specific Training Needs, if any
Required Workplace Accommodations, if any
Detail of "how and when" you will move to the next step on your path to success
PHASE II: PLACEMENT
The Service Plan that you develop in Phase I will address whether you will go directly into work placement, volunteer placement or pursue training prior to placement.
Training Placement:
If you require skills upgrading prior to work, your counsellor will help you access the type of training you need.
Your training will be dependent on available options in your area and might include:
Work or Volunteer Placement
Training at a post-secondary institution
THEO BC Training
On-The-Job-Training with a host employer
Once you have completed all of the steps outlined in your Service Plan, your counsellor will help you to find a placement that is right for you. This could be:
Paid work (full or part-time), or
Volunteer work
Self-Employment Services (SES)
Self -Employment Services is an arm of the ACHIEVE program aimed at individuals wanting to start their own businesses. It consists of services and supports designed to help entrepreneurial individuals assess their skills and abilities, and their business objectives and goals while providing constant support to help them achieve greater independence through self-employment.
Once you are in a work environment, your counsellor will continue to support you, if required, to maximize your success.
EMPLOYMENT CRISIS: SUPPORT
If you are already working and are at risk of losing your job as a result of issues related directly to your disability, a counsellor will work with you to resolve the situation. The counsellor will:
- Review and assess you situation
- Develop an effective plan, outlining specific strategies to help you keep you job
- Implement the identified strategies
If you require support or accommodations not available through your employer, call us today to find out how we can help.
Schedule
Intake into this program is on-going. Duration is dependent on participant's needs and Service Plan.
ELIGIBLITY
You are eligible to apply for service if you:
• Have a verified disability that is your main barrier to employment
(Mental Health consumers only in Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Vancouver Island, and Prince George
• Are of legal working age
• Are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, and a BC resident
• Have a realistic potential to move into employment or employment-related activity
• Do not have an open claim with ICBC, WCB, or any other insurance carrier
