Island Work Transitions, Inc. will deliver the new employment program of British Columbia through the Alberni Valley WorkBC Employment Services Centre.
The program delivers an integrated system of employment services and supports for unemployed British Columbians. The new format will provide a one-stop centre for employment and labour market services and supports for clients, employers and communities.
The Alberni Valley Employment Centre (AVEC) will partner with INEO Employment Services, Alberni Community and Women’s Services Society and Community Futures Development Corporation of Alberni-Clayoquot to deliver a broad scope of employment services to residents in Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet and surrounding communities.
The AVEC will continue to have satellite offices in Tofino and Ucluelet.
The centres will assist all unemployed people to access self-serve resources, job search workshops, and provide case management for clients who require access to training, wage subsidies, self employment training, apprenticeship training and job creation projects.
This partnership brings in all the agencies in the community who are now delivering programs – or are the most capable of providing service to – the community.
“There’s a lot more structure and a lot more sharing of information,” explained Bill Brown, community partnership co-ordinator.
The referral process between each program is much easier, he said, because all the partners are now operating under the same program. That means someone can walk into INEO, for example, and have access to the same information they would find at Community Futures.
“It will service the community better,” Brown said.
INEO Employment Services will continue to work with people who are on income assistance and will provide entrepreneurial training to people with disabilities.
The new WorkBC Employment Services Centre is located at 4805-B Mar St.