Employment Services Client Handbook

Welcome to Starling's Employment Services.

We know you came to us for help with your employment needs. Our friendly, knowledgeable Employment Services staff will treat you with respect and offer you the best support we can.

Through our three service locations, we connect jobseekers in the Waterloo Region, Guelph and surrounding areas with employers, training, funding and jobs.

We provide individualized service to people looking for employment, and our staff speak several languages. Our Employment Advisors will work with each job seeker to develop a customized plan, assess their needs and support and guide individuals toward their employment goals. And our Employment Consultants establish, develop and maintain relationships with employers to match the needs of both employers and job seekers.

Free Services include:

• Resume Assistance
• Job Search Tools
• Resource Centres
• One-to-One Assistance
• Group Workshops
• Webinars
• Career Planning
• Education & Training Options
• Work Experience Opportunities
• Job Placements
• Job Searching Tips

With over three decades of experience, our knowledgeable staff can help you find the right job for you! Learn more about our Services for Job Seekers at www.starlingcs.ca/employment.

Our employment programs are expanding with culturally aware staff and we continually educate ourselves on the diverse needs of our community. We invite you to read more about Starling Community Services, our Mission, Vision and Values, and about our commitment to Anti-Racism and Land-Acknowledgement throughout our website.

Our tagline is our commitment to you: Caring People. Strengthening Lives.

It is our goal to assist you to achieve your employment, education, training goals. In doing so, we are committed to providing you with the highest level of service possible.

The Personal Service You Can Expect from Us

In all our contacts with you, we will:

• Treat you as an individual by offering you the service which best meets your needs.
• Be helpful, polite, considerate, open, fair and honest.
• Provide a welcoming and friendly resource centre environment.
• Ensure equal access regardless of age, different abilities, race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, marital status or sexual orientation, including members of the BIPOC and LBGTQIA+ communities.

We continuously strive to:

• Provide you with up to date information and resources on employment, education, careers and training.
• Support your right to make informed choices.
• Assist you in meeting your employment, education and training goals.
• Be flexible in responding to your needs.

Please Help Us Serve You Better:

Your feedback is important to us! If you have any compliments or complaints about our service, let us know by filling out our Client Satisfaction Survey.

Your Rights

While receiving service through Starling Community Services, every participant has rights. Your participation is protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Your rights with regard to participating in Starling Community Services' programs and services will be reviewed with you during the intake process. These rights include:

1. You must recognize that service is voluntary and that you give consent to the service. Consent means that you clearly understand all aspects of the service.
2. You have the right to be informed of any information, decisions and actions that will affect you.
3. You have the right to participate in all decision making relevant to you.
4. You have the right to review and, if necessary, correct Agency information in the file/record.

Your Responsibilities

The following is a list of expectations for those participating in our programs that will help you to get the most out of your experience:

• Let us know your needs in the most accurate and complete way possible so we can provide the most appropriate service options.
• Be respectful of other participants, volunteers, students, staff and property.
• Contact us when unable to keep appointments or of any change of address or other information relevant to service.
• Inform us of health and safety concerns and any accommodation required.
• Provide feedback on services and programs.
• Observe the terms of the service agreement.

Before participating in our services, you will sign a Service Agreement. Our services are voluntary and the decision to participate is up to you. Signing the Service Agreement confirms that you wish service from Starling Community Services and that you understand the agreement.

The service agreement clearly outlines what things Starling Community Services is responsible for and committed to provide. As well, the agreement outlines your responsibilities.

Both you and Starling Community Services will be working together to make this service work. You can review this service agreement at any time and ask for changes. However, some areas, such as confidentiality or duty to report cannot be changed.

If you decide that you no longer wish to receive services, you can end your participation and your Service Agreement with us any time. If we notice that you are having trouble participating, we will try to work with you resolve and issues or barriers that might be making it difficult for you. In some cases, we may need to end service with you but are always open to starting again once you are ready.

Starling Community Services takes privacy very seriously and is committed to protecting the trust and privacy of its employees, clients, residents, donors, volunteers and other stakeholders. We recognize that maintaining this trust requires that we be transparent and accountable in how we treat the information that you share with us.

Your Personal Health Information

Starling Community Services programs follow the privacy principles as outlined in the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), as well as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) where they apply. Many safeguards are in place to protect the information you share with us. If you have any questions about our privacy safeguards, please ask your worker or ask to speak with our Privacy Officer.

Purpose of Information Being Collected and Used

When you enter one of our programs, we start a file. We only collect and use information necessary for the purpose of providing the agreed upon service. A more specific purpose statement for collecting and using your information can be found in the program handbook on this website or provided to you at your appointment.

On an ongoing basis, Starling Community Services is required to report to our funders non-identifying aggregate (which means total or overall) data collected about clients using our services for the purpose of demonstrating accountability and measuring the effectiveness of services. Examples of aggregate data reported to funders include number of individuals served and outcomes of service.

Also, Starling Community Services may use non-identifying data externally such as total numbers and/or quotes in proposals, research projects and/or social media for the purpose of seeking funding, promoting and making service improvements within our agency, region and beyond. Internally, Starling Community Services uses non-identifying aggregate data for the purpose of informing risk management, quality improvement and planning.

Direct and Indirect Collection of Information

Information will be collected from you directly as part of your participation in service. There may be circumstances where information is collected indirectly when it reduces risk or when it is not possible to collect it directly from you in an accurate, complete and/or timely manner.

Your Right to Access to Your Records

It is your right to have access to your file. You may request to see your file and/or request a copy of information from your file. Certain exceptions apply as outlined in our access to records policy and will be explained to you at the time of request. To access your records as a current client, a request is made for an appointment with the Program Manager. If you are a past client, an appointment request is made with the Program Director.

Your Right and Responsibility to an Accurate File

You are responsible to provide accurate and up-to-date information and changes and have the right to correct information in your files. You may request that staff make corrections to your records where the record is shown to be incomplete or inaccurate. Staff may require that you put the request in writing to ensure accuracy of changes.

Storage of Records

Your file may be in paper and/or electronic format. Paper files are kept in a locked file cabinet within a locked room. Electronic files are part of a web-based client information system that has many security features in place. Your file cannot be accessed without an assigned and secure password.

Your files are kept for as long as required by standards and legislation. You may ask your worker how long records are kept specific to your program area.

Employment Services

To provide employment services for you, we need to collect practical and personal information about you. We ask for information to get to know you, your needs and about your current and past employment, education and training. We use this information for the purposes of determining your eligibility, creating an action plan for your job search or training goals, identifying strengths and challenges, and to assess your need and eligibility for financial support. As well, we may use this information to help us connect you with jobs, employers and other community resources.

We receive government funding to offer these services in our community. These funders have access to all the information we collect to ensure your eligibility, to gather data on who is accessing services (i.e., gender, age etc) and to hold us accountable for delivering quality services.

Donor Privacy Policy

The contact information we receive from you as a donor and the amount of your donation is the minimum required by Canada Revenue Agency for the issuance of an official tax receipt. We will not provide or share your personal information with third parties unless:

1. You authorize us to share the information.
2. Sharing the information is necessary to process a donation.
3. We are required to by law.

Who can I contact for more information about this privacy statement?

If you would like to know more about Starling Community Services’ privacy policies or if you have any questions, concerns or complaints relating to Starling Community Services’ handling of personal health information, we invite you to contact our Privacy Officer, Sherrie Hyde, by email.

You have the right to complain to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario if you think your rights have been violated at www.ipc.on.ca/or call 1-800-387-0073. For more information about your rights go to https://www.ipc.on.ca/

Please note:

• We use standard programs which will count and analyze a range of user activities in order to help us improve the website.
• We reserve the right to modify our Privacy Policy from time to time without notice.

Your Informed Consent

A consent is your verbal or written permission allowing us to ask for and/or share information with specific agencies, organizations or individuals. An "informed" consent for collection use and release of information, means that the purpose has been explained to you in language and format that is understandable to you.

Your Implied or Understood Consent

We would like you to be aware that when participating in a Starling Community Services program or service, your personal health information may be shared with other relevant Starling Community Services staff members and joint service delivery partner staff who are working with you and your care team.

Your Verbal or Written Consent

For staff to either collect information or talk to third party such as a counsellor, family doctor, school, caseworker, landlord etc., we ask for your verbal and/or written permission or ‘consent.’

Limits to Confidentiality

We will not disclose your information to any third party without consent except where required by law, where failure to do so might result in serious injury or death of self or others, or where there is knowledge or suspicion of child abuse.

Your Right to Withdraw or Withhold Consent

Consent can be withdrawn at any time by informing us in writing. Once consent is withdrawn, we can no longer seek or share information. Withdrawal of consent cannot reverse any action that was already taken with your previous consent.

Electronic Communication Consent

(as per Service Agreement)

Starling Community Services recognizes that the use of technology can be a timely and friendly way to communicate however before we agree to communicate via email or text, it is important that everyone understands and accepts the risks and guidelines involved.

1. The privacy and security of electronic communication through email and smart phones cannot be guaranteed. To ensure that all confidential information is secure, you are advised to use password protection on all electronic devices.
2. Electronic communication is not always the best way to communicate. At times a face- to-face meeting with staff may be suggested.
3. You are encouraged to always double check where you have addressed an email or text before sending, as it can be misaddressed and sent to unintended or unknown persons.
4. Staff’s email address or contact information is not to be included in any mailing lists. If this occurs, it may result in not being allowed to continue electronic communication with Starling Community Services staff.
5. Deleted emails may not be permanently deleted; back-up copies may exist on a computer or in cyberspace.
6. Emails can introduce viruses into a computer system and potentially damage the files. Emails can be viewed by Starling Community Services IT staff for security purposes.
7. Emails and text messages will be summarized and entered into your file as part of your record. Client records can be used as evidence in court. All copies of emails will be deleted by Starling Community Services.
8. No phone or online video software is entirely secure. Starling Community Services computer systems have strong internal security, which helps protect my privacy and confidentiality. Starling Community Services will not be responsible for breaches of your confidential information if they are not the direct result of intentional misconduct.
9. There is no guarantee that staff will respond to email or text messages immediately. If you need immediate assistance please do not call your worker, call 911 or seek assistance in other ways appropriate.
10. You are asked to inform your worker of any changes to your email/text address.

Phone and Video Services

(as per Service Agreement)

The use of technology can sometimes be a helpful way to provide service to you and your family, when meeting in person is not possible or suitable. However, before we agree to offer services (such as support or therapy) through phone or video options, it is important that you and your family understand and accept the risks and guidelines involved.

1. To ensure your privacy, you should choose a private and quiet place where our conversation cannot be overheard and you are free from distraction. When meeting by phone or video, there is a risk of others finding out about you working with Starling Community Services if you did not want them to know.
2. You are asked not to record the session without the direct permission of everyone involved.
3. All individuals present for the phone or video session must be within view of the camera or acknowledge their presence so that everyone is fully aware of who is participating.
4. It is necessary to let staff know of your location and provide an emergency contact, and that in the event of an emergency, emergency services may be called to your location.
5. There could be interruptions in meetings due to technology or connection failures, and we will create a plan in advance for what to do if this happens.
6. Everything outlined in the service agreement that applies to in-person meetings also applies to phone and video meetings. Phone and video meetings will be summarized and entered into your file as part of your record, in the same way as in-person meetings.
7. Phone and video meetings are not always the best way to communicate, and staff may decide that they are no longer appropriate. Face-to-face meetings with staff or other alternatives may be suggested if phone or video meetings are no longer suitable.
8. You are requested to use a private internet connection rather than public/free wifi, as this increases confidentiality and security.
9. You are responsible for paying for your own internet costs.
10. You are to use passwords on all your devices as this controls who has access and improves confidentiality and security.
11. No phone or online video software is entirely secure. Starling Community Services computer systems have strong internal security, which helps protect your privacy and confidentiality. Starling Community Services will not be responsible for breaches of your confidential information if they are not the direct result of intentional misconduct of Starling Community Services.

If you are unhappy with Starling Employment Services at any time, we want to know. There will not be any negative consequences as a result of making a complaint in good faith. We are committed to resolving all complaints within 14 business days from the point it was acknowledged. If meeting this timeline is not possible, you will be notified verbally or in writing that it will take longer and the reason for the delay.

If you have any concerns or complaints about service, please follow these steps:

STEP ONE: The first step to resolving a complaint is for you to talk with your Employment Services Team Member to share your concerns. This person will attempt to resolve any issues and seek support for the resolution if needed. If you cannot speak to this person or feel that your complaint has not been adequately addressed, please move to Step 2.

STEP TWO: Contact a Program Supervisor, Program Manager, Assistant Director or Director in that order to share your complaint. You can contact us by phone or email.

If you leave a message, it will be returned within one business day unless we are unavailable (ie: on vacation). If you receive an out of office alert, you can choose to wait until we return or contact the staff member listed in the out-of-office response.

When sharing your complaint with us, please provide your name, a summary of the concern, and the best time for us to contact you (i.e.: mornings, afternoons, evenings). If you feel that your complaint has not been resolved and you wish to take it further, please move to Step 3.

STEP THREE: Contact our Chief Executive Officer, or his/her designate, either by phone or in writing. One of our staff members can provide you with the contact information. The CEO will review the issue, seek perspectives from those involved to help resolve the complaint in a timely and equitable manner.

If your complaint cannot be resolved, or you feel unhappy with us as a service provider, you may contact the relevant funder to share your concerns.

For Employment Ontario Employment Services, please contact:
Michelle Barnes
Manager, Employment Services, Serco
Phone: 289-887-9231
E-mail: michelle.barnes@serco-na.com

For all other employment programs, please ask us for the relevant contact information. You can also, at any time, submit your concerns in writing to the Ombudsman, Member of Parliament or the Prime Minister.