Workforce Development:
HealthCare Works

At Employment Options our mission is to provide employment services for disabled and/or low-income populations in the MetroWest area. Over the years, we have been successfully offering opportunities to low-income individuals living with mental illness, through our Clubhouse program. In 2002, we broadened our work to create opportunities for entry-level unskilled workers in need of career ladder advancement in the healthcare industry. Our vision is to creatively use this expertise to further identify the parameters and locations of the targeted population, community education efforts and to review and revise the targeted sectors.

Employment Options has successfully created and facilitated strategic partnerships with the regional employment board, department of employment training, department of transitional assistance, employers, ESOL programs, and community colleges in the MetroWest and surrounding areas, to provide and coordinate training, education, and career coaching support.

The Employment Options Way

Employment Options’ approach to Workforce Development is to work with stakeholders to assess and coordinate training, career counseling and education. Advocating as intermediaries, Employment Options’ serves as a bridge between employing agencies and those seeking career advancement. We are committed to address the significant "skill gaps" in today's workforce through the delivery of career initiatives for entry-level employees. Our ability to liaison effectively with entry-level employees and their supervisors enables us to provide a seamless approach to employability within the MetroWest by developing a strong and capable workforce.

Collaboration with employers

We have helped sustain and develop entry-level employees which has reduced turnover, lowered recruiting costs, improved productivity, and enhanced customer service. We have formed long-term partnerships with 5 nursing homes in the MetroWest area helping them invest in their entry-level workers through our core services. Typically, we provide the bridge between employers and community colleges where we coordinate many or all aspects of the development and facilitation of classes. With several years of experience in entry-level employee career development and career/life counseling, our team understands the challenges employees face in their efforts to be successful and help employers as they:

• Develop productive workers;
• Navigate pathways to success through training, support, and education;
• Remove the barriers for career advancement for entry-level workers;
• Deliver bottom line results: retention, promotability, productivity, and quality;

 

Services for community participants

For employees we have been able to provide English and entry level skills, to improve an individuals’ ability to become employable and/or advance to higher wage and skilled jobs in the healthcare industry.  Our track record in healthcare has led to retention rate improvements, increased employee work skills and confidence, and has developed succession planning to fill critical skill shortages at the mid and upper level nursing career ladder.

Some of our training work is done directly with employees in group settings. Other times we work with individual employees in a one-on-one environment, helping them to identify and pursue career goals.

Employment Options will continue to form partnerships to serve Options Clubhouse members, employers, incumbent workers, and low-wage earners, by:

• Identifying and recruiting employer partners
• On-going review of program design
• Establishing and implementing business plan and fundraising strategy
• Identifying/selecting providers/vendors