WorkFirst HandBook

Employment Services

4.1 Employment Services Overview

The Employment Services Overview includes:

4.1.1 Partnering for Complete Service Delivery

Employment Services are a package of structured activities, usually provided by the Employment Security Department (ESD), that help parents find and keep jobs. For most parents, employment services are their first WorkFirst activities and the key to their independence from welfare. Employment Services consist of two parts:

  1. Job Preparation: Activities to provide the skills needed to be successful in obtaining the best job possible.
  2. Job Search: Activities that continue to build on skills learned during job preparation with a focus on actual employer contacts. Job search may include:

Other providers, like LEP Pathway providers, may also provide employment services. See Pathways in the resource section below.

4.1.2 Who should be referred to Employment Services?

Parents who are referred to employment services activities must be able to:

Parents who are employed and still on WorkFirst may be referred to ESD for Employment Services to find a full-time or better job regardless of the number of hours they can participate as long as they are meeting fulltime participation and can come into the WorkSource Center as agreed to with their WFPS and listed on their IRP. The ESD employment counselor will determine the services the parent needs in order to participate and succeed.

4.1.3 What is the referral process to Employment Services?

DSHS staff refer parents to the ESD employment services track by using the RI component code. The parents must have childcare and transportation plans in place before they enter JP/JS activities. The RI should only be opened for the actual time a parent needs to prepare for Employment Services, but no more than 7 days. The RI can be extended an additional 7 days if necessary, but should only be opened for the actual time a parent needs to prepare for employment services . The DSHS worker must case manage the RI component to ensure the parent is making progress in preparing to enter the employment services track.

(Exceptions: For Limited English Proficient (LEP) refer to Chapter 5.2 LEP Pathway or for Tribal parents, the worker enters the JS code with the contractor code, if the tribe has one, and also uses the RT indicator.)

4.1.4 How long do Employment Services last?

Employment Services last up to twelve weeks, divided into three 4-week sessions. DSHS staff can approve additional Employment Services based on participation and the recommendations of the ESD employment counselor as part of the " Continuous Activity Planning" process.

4.1.5 What are participation requirements?

Parents' participation should reflect a workplace-like environment in order to prepare them to interact with employers, enter employment and keep a job. Attendance, punctuality, participation and dress should all be considered.

  1. Each parent is required to participate:
  2. An ESD employment counselor will discuss participation standards with the parent after each absence to improve the parent's engagement in activities. The discussion will be documented in eJAS notes.
  3. ESD employment counselor will intervene with the parent after each unexcused absence to improve the parent's engagement in activities. The intervention (contact or attempt to contact) will be documented in eJAS notes.
  4. ESD employment counselor will immediately notify the case manager after a parent has 2 excused or 2 unexcused absences to determine if job search is the appropriate activity for the parent. If job search is determined to be the most appropriate activity, the ESD counselor will document in eJAS notes what corrective action(s) is being taken to improve participation. If participation does not improve, the steps in #4 below will be followed.
  5. ESD employment counselors will manually refer the parent back to DSHS documenting the reason for the referral and a recommendation for alternative services when the parent has 2 or more excused or unexcused absences and it is apparent that employment services are not the appropriate activity for that parent. As part of the continuous activity planning process the ESD employment counselor will contact the WFPS to conduct a joint evaluation prior to referring the parent back. The joint evaluation will include the parent (when possible) to determine the next steps. The reason for the referral and the recommendation for alternative services will be documented in eJAS notes.
  6. When a parent calls in to get an excused absence, he or she is excused from participation only for the number of hours necessary. This could be for the entire day. The ESD employment counselor documents the excused absence in CATS or if circumstances require, the excused absence will be documented in eJAS notes. This system must be foolproof in each office to ensure that not even one parent is referred back to DSHS for non-participation.
  7. Employment Security counselors will ensure all cases of non-participation and action to correct the situation are documented in eJAS notes. ESD employment counselor must make every attempt to work with the parent and the WFPS so an RB is not required.

DSHS must begin the sanction process for non-participation if the parent fails to participate in employment services, such as being referred back for failing to phoning in to get an excused absence 2 or more times. Good cause must be determined for the reasons the parent did not call in as well as the reasons why the parent did not participate. (For Good Cause information, refer to Handbook section 3.6 Sanctions.)

4.1.6 What are other considerations for accessing employment services or other activities?

Parents may be referred to various "pathways" to access employment services or other activities such as training, Community Services or Community Jobs. The referral and job search documentation procedures may differ. They may be referred to the Pregnancy to Employment Pathway or the LEP Pathway. For additional information on Pregnancy to Employment Pathway see section 5.1 or the LEP Pathway in section 5.2.

4.1.7 Who provides Post Employment Services?

For those parents who are employed and still on WorkFirst , Employment Security staff will provide post employment services to help them find full-time or better jobs. ESD may also provide supportive services to help a parent maintain employment or advance. Refer to Chapter 4.2 Employment Services – Job Preparation/Job Search (Post Employment Services) for details.

Employment Security Staff will also assist parents who exit WorkFirst working 30 hours or more per week in unsubsidized employment and meet all requirements listed in Chapter 4.5 - Career Services Program.

Resources

Related WorkFirst Handbook Sections
Forms & Other Resources

For more information about the WorkFirst HandBook, contact Olga Walker, WorkFirst Program Manager.