Our team of Job Developers can assist you in your goal to find employment through the development of your individual Job Action Plan, which may consist of research, networking, cold calling or sending out résumé (see Drop-in Employment Resource Centre). The Job Developer meets and partners with as many employers as possible to help them with their hiring needs, accessing the hidden job market, and contacts you when there is a job vacancy that you may be interested in applying for. When you decide to apply for a job, the Employment Counsellor at SCIO can help you tailor your résumé and cover letter, as well as prepare for any meetings with the potential employer.

Job Retention services are available through Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Employment Supports. “Job Retention” refers to the general services and supports SCIO Employment Services can offer to help you keep your job, and help your employer keep you as a great employee. As described by ODSP:

“Most employees require different types, levels and intensity of supports on their job. Businesses often provide supports to their employees during the normal course of business. However, some employers may need additional assistance in creating an inclusive workplace that is supportive of individuals with disabilities and provide the tools employees with disabilities need to perform the job effectively.”

Workplace supports that are specifically designed to assist an employee with a disability to perform their job may include modifications to the work environment (e.g., automatic door openers, signage on walls, telephone amplifiers, etc.); adjustments to employment policies and practices (flex time to accommodate disability needs, reimbursement of employee expenses, etc.); and/or changes in the way certain job functions are performed that allow the employee to complete the tasks successfully (providing a written list of job duties, team assignments, etc.).

Job retention supports funded by ODSP Employment Supports may include the following, as appropriate:

• Job monitoring and interventions to assist clients and employers if there are work performance issues;
• Assisting the client to negotiate workplace supports;
• Assisting employers to identify and develop job accommodations; and
• On-the-job supports (e.g., job coaching [see below], motivational strategies, assisting the client to arrange community supports, etc.).

Job retention supports may be provided on a regular or as needed basis, for up to a maximum of 33 consecutive months after job placement (maximum of 15 consecutive months for clients not in receipt of ODSP Income Support). The support is intended to assist the individual to maintain employment and if necessary, identify when increased support and/or tools to perform the job are required. Job retention supports may involve direct assistance in the workplace, contact with clients over the phone, brief meetings/consultations with the employer and support for work-related activities outside the workplace. The type of tools or support required will depend on the individual’s disability-related needs, personal preferences, job tasks, employer needs, and the availability of existing supports. Effective supports are designed with both the employee and employer input.

Career Advancement services are also available through our ODSP Employment Supports program. This service applies to you if you are working, but considered “under employed” based on your skills, experience and current needs of the labour market. If realistic in the current labour market, we assist you to advance within or between jobs, which can include activities such as learning additional duties, pursuing opportunities for promotion, exploring other job opportunities using transferable skills and experience, and job skills upgrading.

Job Coaching can start as soon as you start the job (during training), if you have to learn a new skill as part of your job, or if you’ve been working for a while but are encountering some difficulty with a particular task. Job Coaching services from SCIO Employment Services can be requested any time by either you or your employer to help ensure your success on the job.

This service involves you working with our Job Coach to develop tools and techniques to help you learn or remember how to do a certain aspect of your job independently. This usually involves our Job Coach working closely with yourself as well as your employer. The Job Coach support is designed to be temporary as you get increasingly more independent in completing the task.