Helping people get back to work

If you've been out of work recently and are thinking of transitioning into a new career there is an Employment Nova Scotia program you should be aware of.
The Skills Development Program provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to help them obtain the skills training they need to secure employment. To participate you must qualify as an unemployed individual as defined by Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. This means that you are an individual for whom:
(A) an unemployment benefit period has been established or has ended within three years prior to the date of requesting assistance; or
(B) a benefit period that included a maternity or parental claim has been established within five years prior to the date of requesting assistance, after which you remained out of the labour market in order to care for a newborn or newly-adopted child and are now seeking to re-enter the labour force.
If you meet the above requirements you will next need to participate in a supervised employment assessment and to submit a "Return to Work Action Plan." Both of these steps must be completed with a case manager. There are several organizations within HRM that provide employment assistance where you can obtain the services of a case manager.
If you are accepted into the program, you may be asked to cover certain costs associated with your training. That being said, based on your unique circumstances you can potentially receive temporary financial assistance for things like: tuition, books, disability needs, transportation and accommodation. Similarly, if you are currently receiving Employment Insurance, you can continue to do so while participating in the program.
Depending on your "Return to work Action Plan" your time in this program can last anywhere from two weeks up to three years. You will be expected to work hard and show results. But if you are serious about re-entering the labour force and embarking on an exciting new career path the Skills Development Program might just be the kick-start you need.
For information, contact Trevor Zinck at 461-0181.