April 15thEmployment Services Transformation
In February 2019, the government announced the transformation of employment services, which will integrate social assistance employment services into Employment Ontario (EO) to help the province’s most vulnerable, including those with disabilities, break free of the poverty cycle. The integrated EO program for the prototype phase will be offered in three communities, starting in April 2020.
A key part of the new system is the establishment of Service System Managers (SSM’s). The SSM’s will oversee the planning, design and delivery of employment services in a way that is integrated, people-focused and outcomes driven. The SSM’s will contract separately with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) as the overall steward of the employment services system.
The SSM’s for the three prototype communities are as follows:
- Hamilton-Niagara – The FedCap Consortium
- Muskoka-Kawarthas – Fleming College
- Peel – WCG, part of the APM Group
Effective April 1, 2020, MCCSS will no longer contract with ODSP Employment Supports service providers for individuals served in the three prototype communities of Peel, Hamilton – Niagara, and Muskoka-Kawarthas.
All service providers will communicate to clients in the prototype communities regarding the impacts to their service, specifically, that clients will be transferred to Employment Ontario and they will continue to work with the same service provider and there will be no changes to the services and supports during the next nine months (to December 31, 2020).