Applicant Guide for Skills Link and Career Focus Programs

Skills Link

 

Objective

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment develop the broad range of skills, knowledge and work experience they need to participate in the job market. This program offers a wide range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs and provide more intensive assistance over longer periods of time.

Program Description

This program is a client-centered program, designed to respond to the individual needs of youth facing barriers to employment.  During the client assessment process, employability skills, issues and needs are identified, as well as employment goals.  Youth selected to participate in Skills Link activities then develop an employment action plan and are case managed by a case manager or project manager.  The case manager's guide and support participants while they work through their employment action plans and develop their employability skills.  Youth benefit from this client-centered approach and the ongoing support that helps them to successfully complete activities and, ultimately, find and keep a job.

Eligible Participants

To participate in Skills Link projects, youth must be:

  • between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of intake/selection;
  • out of school;
  • a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee status has been conferred Footnote 2
  • legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations; Footnote 3
  • not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits; Footnote 4 and
  • in need of assistance to overcome employment barriers.

Skills Link participants are youth at greater risk of not making a successful transition to the workplace and establishing themselves within the labour market.  The assessment of risk encompasses a broad range of social, economic and demographic factors.  All factors considered must be documented in the participant's file.

The following list may be used as examples:

  • high school non-completion;
  • person with a disability;
  • Aboriginal origin;
  • visible or ethnic minority;
  • health, drug and/or alcohol-related problems;
  • residing in a rural or remote location;
  • single parent;
  • low levels of literacy and numeracy;
  • language barriers;
  • street involvement;
  • contact with justice, child welfare or social assistance systems;
  • homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless;
  • lack of social supports (family, friends or community supports);
  • poor self-and/or behaviour-management abilities; or
  • other reasons (to be specified and assessed as part of the proposal approval process).

Eligible Costs

Financial assistance may be provided to cover all or a portion of the costs associated with operating and delivering approved activities. Costs may include:

  • income support to individuals (wages) based on the prevailing provincial/territorial minimum wage rate;
  • mandatory employment related costs;
  • additional support to cover all or part of the incremental costs for individuals to participate, such as dependent care, travel or transportation; 
  • additional costs for persons with disabilities;
  • completion bonuses;
  • other support to cover the cost of items associated with the youth's participation;
  • overhead costs including wages and employment related costs for staff, licenses, permits, fees for professional services, bank charges, utilities, material, supplies, travel, insurance, rental of premises, leasing or purchase of equipment, audits, assessment and evaluations;
  • costs associated with the Workers Compensation actual costs or assessment paid directly to the provincial/territorial Workers Compensation; and
  • costs associated with central administrative functions of the applicant organization that are used to support agreement activities.

Capital Costs

Any asset with a purchase cost exceeding $1,000 requires prior written approval from Service Canada, and must include a plan for disposal upon completion of the project.  Also, it is an excellent and sound business practice to obtain more than one quote when purchasing capital assets.

Project Activities

The following is a list of activities eligible for funding under the Skills Link program:
A. Community-based Planning
B. Pre-operational Assistance
C. Employment Services for Youth:
        i) Level One: Youth Outreach and Client Assessment Services
        ii) Level Two: Case Management and Employment Sessions
D. Employment Interventions for Youth:
        i) Group-based Employability Skills
        ii) Employability Skill through Community Service
        iii) Employability Skills through Work Experience
        iv) Employability Skills through Entrepreneurship
        v) Work Experience
        vi) Individual Skills Enhancement

Skills Link project activities can be supported individually or in combination, and should form part of the participant's return-to-work action plan.  For example, both levels of Employment Services can be delivered as part of one contribution agreement. Employment Services can be combined with one or more of the interventions. Similarly, more than one intervention can be included in a single agreement, i.e. group-based employability skills and work experience.

A. Community-Based Planning

In communities where the nature and needs of youth have not been well-defined, community-based planning provides funding to facilitate a collaborative, community-based approach towards identifying and addressing youth employment issues, resulting in a long-term strategy to develop and introduce, or improve, a coordinated support network for young people seeking to enter the labour market. 

Objectives

Funding for community-based planning must reflect the following objectives:

  • to develop a local partnership in order to identify and address problems related to the employment integration of young people;
  • to collect, consolidate and share available information on problems related to youth employment;
  • to prepare, establish and implement action plans to enable the youth labour force to meet the demands of the job market; and
  • to enable the implementation of an effective continuum of employment services to youth.

Eligible partners are individuals or groups of people who recognize that there are youth challenges in the community, specifically youth employment problems.  They want to solve these problems and are willing to invest time, energy and resources to address the problems in a concerted manner.

Community-based planning must include in-kind and/or monetary contributions from other partners.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities under community-based planning include:

  • identifying and reporting on labour market needs, problems and barriers facing young people trying to enter the local job market;
  • identifying measures to reduce gaps between supply and demand in the local job market and, in turn, facilitating the employment integration of young people;
  • identifying interventions or services that will allow young people to overcome employment barriers;
  • identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the local service network with a view to better addressing the needs of young people; and
  • engaging partners in preparing and implementing a local action plan to resolve the problems related to the employment integration of youth.

Community-based planning cannot be used to:

  • create an agency or employer-employee relationship with Service Canada;
  • establish a service contract;
  • support the contribution recipient's regular activities;
  • encourage dependence on Service Canada funding;
  • replace an existing activity;
  • duplicate pre-operational assistance, which is a separate activity under Skills Link; or
  • develop planning documents solely for the purpose of Service Canada.
Funding Parameters

Funding from Service Canada for community-based planning is available for a maximum of thirty (30) weeks over a 3-year period.  The maximum contribution will be $50,000 over the entire 3-year period and the plan should be updated annually during the intervening years.  

Expected Results

Expected results should be described in concrete terms, be realistic and be measurable.  Examples include:

  • number of partners recruited;
  • network(s) established;
  • number of reports produced;
  • action plan produced.

B. Pre-Operational Assistance

Funding can be provided through Pre-operational Assistance where the planning process has identified gaps in services to youth facing barriers in the community.  Pre-operational Assistance allows Service Canada to work with proponents to provide assistance in the development of proposals to address these gaps.  Skills Link allows for the provision of financial support, where needed, for the development of proposals that contribute to Skills Link objectives.

Eligible Activities

Typically, pre-operational assistance is provided where the development of the proposal involves a significant amount of effort and investment.  There may be a need for the proponent to conduct literature reviews, surveys, or other research, or to consult with experts in order to obtain the information and insight needed to fully develop the proposal.


The proposal concept must clearly describe the specific activities that are to be undertaken (i.e. justifying the provision of pre-operational funding), as well as the responsibilities of the proponent, deliverables, timelines, and level of financial assistance that is being requested.

Ineligible Activities

Pre-operational funding is not to be used for the operation of a project or an organization, nor is it to be used for general research or capacity building for an organization.  Any activity included as part of a pre-operational agreement must be necessary and clearly linked to the development of a Skills Link proposal.

Funding Parameters

The financial assistance provided through pre-operational funding will be based on the nature of the proposal and the extent of the organization's need. However, pre-operational funding can be provided for a period not exceeding 12 weeks and an amount not more than $10,000.

C. Employment Services for Youth

There are two levels of Employment Services for Youth under Skills Link:

i) Level One: Youth Outreach and Client Assessment Services, and
ii) Level Two: Case Management and Employment Sessions.


i) Level One Youth Outreach and Client Assessment Services

Level One Employment Services provides a means to connect with young people and engage them in an assessment of their employability needs.  As a result, young people who do not meet Skills Link eligibility criteria may participate in these activities.  Level One funding parameters are $400 per individual served per year.

Youth Outreach

Youth Outreach activities may be funded when the planning process identifies specific priority groups within the youth population (i.e. single parents who have dropped out of school, young persons with disabilities) who need but do not actively seek out employment services.  This activity can be particularly useful in rural areas where there are identified labour market adjustment issues for young people but a lack of services or infrastructure to address those issues.

Outreach involves taking a proactive approach to working with young people.  Rather than waiting for young people to visit an employment services office or youth centre, the Outreach organization will identify effective means to locate and connect with disenfranchised youth (i.e. by holding special events in areas frequented by these young people).  These events would be designed to provide an opportunity for the organization to establish dialogue with the targeted youth group, and provide information such as labour market information (careers, occupations, employment and other related subjects), job listings and job search tips/aids, etc. 

The outreach organization also may offer itinerant services where young people are unable or disinclined to visit a youth centre.  The goal is to engage young people and encourage them to consider their futures, options and employment goals, and ultimately to participate in a structured process of identifying their employability needs (i.e. client assessment).

Once a collaborative relationship is established, there is a greater likelihood that a young person will decide to set employment goals, develop an action plan, and ultimately engage in employment interventions.  Given this natural progression from outreach to needs identification and action planning, an organization funded to provide Youth Outreach also may be funded to conduct client assessment and/or case management. 

Client Assessment

Client assessment is required for all potential Skills Link participants to ensure that funding is used for young people who require employability assistance, and that the interventions provided are appropriate to identified needs.  Client assessment enables a clear identification of the needs, goals and gaps that are being addressed, and a better match of interventions with individual needs. As well, it provides a means for those young people not yet ready to deal with employability issues to be referred to appropriate sources of assistance within the community. For example, where an assessment reveals that the young person is not ready for Skills Link because of a personal, social or health issue, the individual is referred to an alternate service (e.g. addiction or personal counselling or housing assistance, depending on the nature of the issue/need).

The interviewing and information gathering that are part of the client assessment process enable the service provider to develop a profile of the young person's background and circumstances. The gained insight allows the service provider and youth to determine employment and skill enhancement needs, as per the four employability dimensions of career decision-making, skill enhancement, job search and employment maintenance.

In addition to identifying needs within the employability dimensions, the client assessment can bring to light other factors impacting on the young person's ability to participate in action plan activities and/or employment. Examples include difficulties with child care, family needs, and transportation. Where there are such constraints, the action plan will also include specific steps that the individual will take to deal with these issues and outline any assistance that may be contributed by the service provider.

Diagnostic Assessment

Diagnostic assessment also is an eligible service activity.  It can be used by a service provider when there are indications of a physical, mental, social or educational condition affecting an individual's progression through an action plan and ultimate participation in the labour market.

Diagnostic assessment is conducted by specialists (diagnosticians) who select and administer the appropriate tests, and report the findings to the service provider and the individual. It is to be used only when needed to obtain critical insights about the individual capacities that cannot be obtained through other means. It will be funded under Skills Link only when it is otherwise unavailable through mainstream education/health/social service systems, and the costs not recoverable elsewhere.

Diagnostic assessment can only be conducted with the express, written consent of the young person; the results are for the benefit and use of only the service provider (i.e. the person who requested the assessment) and the individual.

ii) Level Two Case Management and Employment Sessions

Level Two Employment Services includes case management and employment sessions (group or individual). Because these are assisted services, they are available only to young people who meet Skills Link eligibility criteria.   While two activity types are included in this service level, an agreement may be developed for one or both of these activities. Level Two funding parameters are $700 per individual served per year.

Case Management

Case management is a process that involves supporting an individual as he/she works through an employment action plan; it is required for each individual participating in a Skills Link intervention. It can be provided as well to eligible individuals participating in other employment interventions, whether funded by Service Canada or other entities.

The case manager tracks the participant's activity, and provides follow-up support as needed throughout the action plan. Progress is monitored and documented, and if problems are identified that affect the individual's participation in an intervention, then they are assisted to overcome these problems and continue the activities. This approach increases the participant's successful outcome.

Once a participant has completed planned interventions, he/she may need assistance with a job search, including résumé writing and interview techniques. The case manager will provide this assistance or refer the young person to an appropriate resource within the community.

As a principle, case management continues until the participant completes or abandons the action plan. Case management provided under Skills Link can continue for a maximum of 36 months (consecutive or cumulative) for interventions funded by Service Canada.

Employment Sessions

Employment sessions can be done at either a group or individual level. 

Group Sessions

Group sessions are short-term activities designed to assist groups of young people in searching for and obtaining work.  Group sessions must include employment-oriented subject matter, such as career and occupational decision-making, job preparation, job search, job maintenance, etc., and are provided in an established format with a facilitator. Participants are given an opportunity to acquire information and skills, and to apply these skills in a supported environment.

There is no minimum or maximum duration for a group session of this nature, but in order to be effective and allow time for participants to practice new skills, a minimum length of three hours is recommended.

Where there is a need to cover a wider range of employability skills and in greater depth, the Skills Link Group-Based Employability Skills Intervention can be used to provide workshops over a number of weeks.

Individual Sessions

In some cases, it may be determined through client assessment that a young person's needs in addressing employment barriers would best be addressed through one-on-one sessions. When there is such a need, individual sessions may be provided to cover the same types of subjects as available through group sessions.

There is no minimum or maximum duration for individual sessions. In most cases, a series of sessions will be required to deal with employability issues.

D. Employment Interventions for Youth

Employment interventions for youth can include income support, which is a means for the participants to support themselves while they are taking steps to become employed. Additional support to participants may also be provided on a case by case basis, and could include incremental expenses for dependant care, travel and additional costs for persons with disabilities. In determining additional supports, consideration must be given to financial support from other sources such as Social/Income Assistance.

The following employment interventions are available to young people through Skills Link:  

        i) Group-Based Employability Skills
        ii) Employability Skills through Community Service
        iii) Employability Skills through Work Experience
        iv) Employability Skills through Entrepreneurship
        v) Work Experience
        vi)Individual Skills Enhancement.

Funding Considerations

The following information is provided in addition to specific funding parameters outlined in the following sections describing each intervention.

For Skills Link projects, the maximum cost per participant, including all Employment Services and Interventions for Youth, is $25,000, with the exception of: Group-based Employability Skills; Work Experience; and Individual Skills Enhancement.  Where required, and based on the recommendation of the case manager, individuals can have access to other supports up to a maximum of $500.  For all interventions except Individual Skills Enhancement, the use of a $500 maximum completion bonus for participants can also be considered, where deemed appropriate and where not detrimental to the social welfare of the participant. These bonuses are in addition to any allowances/wages that are paid, and should the contribution recipient choose to pay completion bonuses, they must be paid to all eligible participants at the end of their intervention(s).  The participants receive this lump sum upon successful completion of a Skills Link intervention(s) with a minimum individual participation totaling 12 weeks per contribution agreement. The only exception to this, considered on a case by case basis, will be for participants who complete at least 12 weeks of a Skills Link intervention(s), but leave a project before it is completed to take the next step in their employment action plan.

Amounts needed to accommodate persons with disabilities may be in addition to the maximum cost per participant. A rationale for these additional expenses, including a description of the supports needed, must be developed by the case manager, documented and retained on file.

i) Group-Based Employability Skills

The Group-based Employability Skills intervention is a pre-employment activity for young people who are not yet prepared to enter the world of work, or who need some additional development before advancing to a work experience.  This group-based intervention offers young people the opportunity to participate in workshops to learn or enhance skills transferable to the workplace, such as leadership, teamwork and communication skills, as well as develop personal qualities, including self-esteem and self-reliance.  Group-based employability skills must help to prepare participants for future work or career decisions, and/or assist them with seeking, obtaining and maintaining employment.  This intervention is not to be used to support occupation-specific skills development or accreditation. For example, a 15-week bartending course or a 24-week carpentry apprenticeship would not be eligible.

Financial support will be provided to participants where no other support (social assistance, municipal support) is being provided.  Service Canada will pay an allowance equal to the provincial/territorial minimum wage.  The use of a $500 maximum completion bonus for participants can also be considered, where deemed appropriate and where not detrimental to the social welfare of the participant.  Where allowances are provided, the maximum cost per participant is $12,000. 

The maximum duration for this intervention is 24 weeks; interventions of shorter duration are permitted as long as there is sufficient time for participants to build the required skills.  Participation in this intervention should be full-time (i.e. 30 hours per week or more).

ii) Employability Skills through Community Service

The development of life and employability skills through community service is often appropriate for young people who face greater barriers to entering the labour market, and who are not yet ready for a work experience with an employer. The intervention provides participants with an opportunity to develop skills and apply them as a member of a team while providing service to others. 

In serving others, participants are provided not only with a venue for applying new skills but also a means to experience personal development and growth.  They contribute to the building of better, stronger communities by addressing issues of local concern and fostering a greater awareness of community needs.  This experience enables them to strengthen their sense of accomplishment, self-reliance and self-esteem.

Service Canada will pay an allowance equal to the provincial/territorial minimum wage.  The use of a $500 maximum completion bonus for participants can also be considered, where deemed appropriate and where not detrimental to the social welfare of the participant.  The maximum cost per participant is $25,000. 

Interventions are typically 52 weeks in length, but may be longer or shorter where justified by the needs of participants.  Participation in this intervention should be full-time (i.e. 30 hours per week or more).

iii) Employability Skills through Work Experience

The Employability Skills through Work Experience intervention provides employability skills within an activity focused on the exposure of participants to the world of work.  Workshops that help build participants employability skills are blended with periods where participants work directly with employers.  This intervention can be used for an individual or for a group of young people.

The focus is on exposure to work and the majority of the participants' time is, therefore, dedicated to work experience. For example, participants may spend three days per week in work experience and the remaining two days in employability skills workshops. There must be a clear link between the skills and the work experience portions, so that participants can apply what they learn in workshops to their work experiences.  Ideally, work experiences will be supported by workplace coaching, to maximize the benefit to be gained by the participant. 

Financial support to participants is in the form of wages during the majority of the time dedicated to   the work experience.  Wages must equal or exceed the provincial/territorial minimum wage rate; however, Service Canada's contribution will not exceed the minimum wage rate.  The use of a $500 maximum completion bonus for participants can also be considered, where deemed appropriate and where not detrimental to the social welfare of the participant.  The maximum cost per participant is $25,000. 

Interventions are typically 52 weeks in length, but may be longer or shorter where justified by the needs of participants.  Participation in this intervention should be full-time (i.e. 30 hours per week or more).  Please note the hours spent in workshop/training are not insurable hours.

iv) Employability Skills through Entrepreneurship

This intervention provides entrepreneurial skills within an activity where groups of young people are given exposure to the world of self-employment. Through experiences focused on entrepreneurship, youth develop skills that will equip them to establish an enterprise and become capable business people, thereby helping them make a successful transition into the labour market. 

Activities could include skill enhancement, assistance with business plan development and implementation, supportduring business start-up, mentorship, and aftercare.  Workshops that help build participants entrepreneurial skills could be blended with periods where participants develop business plans, then launch and operate their own businesses. While workshop topics would be based on the Conference Board of Canada's Life Skills and Employability Skills, they would be tailored to develop skills needed by entrepreneurs.  Topics could include marketing, computer use, financial management, bookkeeping, communications, developing a business plan, and accessing loans/capital. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the participant is self-sufficient in operating their new business by the end of the project. If the business is not adequately established by that time, the contribution recipient can assist the individual in identifying other sources of financial support until the business begins to generate adequate revenue.

Business start-up costs such as legal fees, accountant and business registration fees, materials or supplies, rent/lease payments, etc. are not eligible under Employability Skills through Entrepreneurship.

Participants receive an allowance equal to or exceeding the provincial/territorial minimum wage rate. However, Service Canada's contribution will not exceed the minimum wage rate.  The use of a $500 maximum completion bonus for participants can also be considered, where deemed appropriate and where not detrimental to the social welfare of the participant.  The maximum cost per participant is $25,000. 

The maximum duration for this intervention is 52 weeks in length; interventions of shorter duration are permitted as long as the needs of participants are met.  Participation in this intervention is group-based and must be full-time (i.e. 30 hours per week or more).

v) Work Experience

Work Experience activities provide youth with opportunities to work with employers to develop and enhance employability and occupational skills through practical on-the-job experience.  Ideally, work experiences are supported by workplace coaching to maximize the benefit to be gained by the participant.  Work experience can be arranged on an individual or group basis. 

Participants receive wages that equal or exceed the provincial/territorial minimum wage rate. However, Service Canada's contribution does not exceed the minimum wage rate.  The use of a $500 maximum completion bonus for participants can also be considered, where deemed appropriate and where not detrimental to the social welfare of the participant.  Overhead costs are not eligible under an individual work experience agreement, but are allowable when a contribution recipient is coordinating work experience activities for a group of youth. The maximum cost per participant is $18,000 for single work experiences, and $20,000 for work experiences involving groups. 

The typical duration is 52 weeks but an intervention may be longer or shorter, where justified by the needs of the participant.  Participation in this intervention should be full-time (i.e. 30 hours per week or more) for groups of participants; part-time participation may be negotiated for individual interventions, where justified by the participant's circumstances and action plan. 

vi) Individual Skills Enhancement

This intervention enables youth to participate in short term courses that fill specific, identified gaps in their education and skill development.  The need for this intervention must be identified through client assessment and documented on the participant's employment action plan.  It is to be used when there is no other means of support available to meet the individual's identified skill needs.  Courses supported under Individual Skills Enhancement are pre-employment in nature or entry-level courses which are pre-requisites for longer term programs of study.

Individual Skills Enhancement may be delivered by Service Canada or contributions can be made to a Community Coordinator to carry out activities that meet the objectives of this intervention.

Provincial/territorial concurrence must have been obtained before this intervention can proceed.  Presently, the following provinces conducting Individual Skills Enhancement through Skills Link are; Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, Prince-Edward Island and Yukon.

Where the skills acquisition is for Aboriginal youth living in designated First Nations communities, financial support may be provided without the agreement of the government of the province or territory in which the activity will take place.

The types of courses that can be supported under Individual Skills Enhancement are:

  • General employment readiness;
  • Literacy and numeracy enhancement;
  • Structured General Equivalency Diploma preparation and upgrading;
  • Pre-employment courses;
  • Occupation-specific courses.

The maximum contribution per participant is $10,000 per 12 week course which is comprised of a maximum of $5,000 for course-related costs including tuition, books, and mandatory student fees and a maximum of $5,000, where there is evidence of need for income support, transportation, travel and dependant care.

Funds needed to accommodate participants with disabilities may be in addition to the maximum.

Unlike the other interventions under Skills Link, Individual Skills Enhancement requires the payment of financial assistance directly to the individual except when young people are being assisted through a Community Coordinator.

[Footnote 2] Refugee protection must be conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Persons awaiting refugee status, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa, student visa or work visa, are ineligible to participate in a Youth Employment Strategy initiative. (Return to footnote 1 source paragraph)

[Footnote 3] In those provincial/territorial jurisdictions where labour legislation states a different minimum age for employment, the age eligibility for Skills Link should be adjusted to reflect provincial/territorial requirements. Any underage participants will have to leave the program regardless of the point at which they are identified. Any other applicable legislation or regulations must also be observed. (Return to footnote 1 source paragraph)

[Footnote 4] Participants must not be in receipt of EI. Priority will be given to non EI-eligible youth (i.e., not entitled to Part 1 or Part II benefits). EI recipients wishing to participate in a Skills Link project should consult an EI agent and voluntarily withdraw from EI. (Return to footnote 1 source paragraph)


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More information for employers and youth


About the Youth Employment Strategy

Eleven Government of Canada departments and agencies work in partnership with business, labour, industry, not-for-profit and voluntary organizations, rural and remote communities and all levels of government to help young people get the information and develop the skills and work experience they need to prepare for and participate in the world of work. Read more about this initiative or call the Youth Info Line at 1-800-935-5555.