About the Gold Coast Employment Support Service...
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About Us
Uniqueness and Differentation
Service Profile
Assistance We Provide
Structure
Features
What Our Recipients Recieve
Mission
Corporate Mission
Values
Legal Information
About Us
Gold Coast Employment Support Service Inc.(GCESS) has been a leading service provider in the Gold Coast region for the past ten years.
GCESS came into being to transition consumers of Trinity Training Center to Open Community based employment. Trinity Training Center was offering accommodation support; independent living training and community access, but it was clearly identified that many people wished to have the opportunity to work in their community.
Funding was sought from the Federal Government and was granted in June 1992. On the 2nd of July 1992 GCESS became an Incorporated Association and commenced operation a week later.
In 1992 GCESS offered employment support to eighteen service recipients and was staffed by two full time and two part employees. In 2003 GCESS is assisting an average of one hundred and forty service recipients with a staff of nine. This unprecedented level of growth eventuated from recognition by service recipients and Family & Community Services that GCESS is a leading provider of employment support services
Uniqueness and Differentiation
GCESS is characterised by many factors that set it apart from both its peers and competitors, most significantly these include:
- An inherent recognition of the rights of people with a disability to live a life that encompasses the same opportunities as those without a disability.
- A belief that GCESS has the knowledge, skills and abilities to be a leading provider of support services.
- Recognition by Family & Community Services, peers and the wider community that GCESS is a quality provider.
- Talented, skilled, competent and committed support staff from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- A commitment by the Board of Management, Management and Staff to formalising the empathy and good will of the service into tangible outcomes for service recipients.
- A vision for the future based upon sustainable growth, best practice and continuous improvement.
The Business trades under the name of GOLD COAST EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICE INC.
Service Profile
Gold Coast Employment Support Service Inc (GCESS) is a not for profit employment service that assists people with disabilities/barriers to gain and retain award based employment in open community based settings.
To be eligible for service the following criteria must be met:
- Be registered as unemployed and endorsed by Centrelink or be prepared to register with Centrelink to enable an assessment to gain endorsement.
- Need support to gain or maintain employment.
- Have access to transport and with minimal guidance be able to travel to and from work.
- Demonstrate the capacity to work with minimal support/supervision after reasonable initial training and support.
- Be willing and motivated to work and prepared to accept suitable job opportunities.
- Be prepared to work for eight hours or more per week.
- Be living in a stable home environment.
- Have the support of their primary care giver/s where applicable.
- Be receiving appropriate supports for their medical condition (where applicable) eg. GP, Psychiatrist etc and agree to abide by the medical strategies prescribed by their medical professional/s.
- Agree to provide additional information that GCESS require to determine if GCESS has the resources and competencies to assist them and to plan required support strategies.
Assistance We Provide
GCESS will in consultation with the Service Recipient develop an Employment Assistance Plan that could include assistance with the following:
- Discussion about and planning of job options.
- Skills analysis to identify which jobs the jobseeker would be suited to.
- Pre employment training.
- Resume and job applications.
- Interview skills.
- Learning duties of a job.
- Assistance to talk to employers/co-workers about the job, disability or health issues.
- Strategies to help maintain employment by on & off worksite support.
- Learning how to use public transport.
- Workplace modifications and special equipment if required.
- Liaison with Medical Professional, Community Services and Government Departments.
- Ensuring wages are linked to an award or legally ratified agreement.
- Accessing the Supported Wage System to pay a pro-rata wage if the effects of a disability affect productivity.
Structure
The structure of the service consists of members of the Incorporated Association from which a Board of Management is elected each year.
The Australian Department of Family and Community Services fund GCESS and the Board of Management is responsible for adopting policies concerning the operation of the service, for overseeing the management and the financial affairs of the service
Features
GCESS continues to build its reputation and profile by always striving for excellence in all parameters of employment support for people with disabilities.
GCESS is committed to upholding the Legal and Human Rights of all service recipients and have embraced Policies and Procedures for the prevention of abuse and neglect.
Our Service Recipients are entitled to high quality, appropriate employment support delivered in an environment in which they feel safe, free from discrimination, abuse and with regard to their individual employment needs.
GCESS strives to operate a transparent service making as many opportunities for Service Recipient involvement and feedback as possible.
Service recipients of GCESS
- Receive a quarterly newsletter.
- Can attend our quarterly Service Recipient meetings.
- Have access to Service Improvement Forms (SIF) and are encouraged to make suggestions on the service GCESS provides.
- Are given an explanation and the opportunity to receive copies of Standards, Grievance Procedures, Rights & Responsibilities. Policies & Procedures and other pertinent information.
- Are encouraged to join our association and the Board of Management.
- Are involved in our Quality Assurance processes.
- Are given the opportunity to complete service satisfaction surveys. All Service Recipients are given the opportunity to become involved in Standards Self-Assessment and Disability Support Certification processes.
- Are encouraged to raise grievances about any area of service provision they are not entirely happy with.
The dedication of our staff and the commitment of our Board of Management have earned our reputation as a caring provider of employment support.
Mission
The Gold Coast Employment Support Service Inc. is committed to providing quality employment support and training for people with disabilities/barriers who aspire to obtain and maintain award based employment.
Corporate Mission
To provide responsible, ethical and compassionate corporate governance, to determine policies and to oversee the direction and financial viability of Gold Coast Employment Support Service Inc.
Values
GCESS recognises that an organisations culture and subsequent direction is strongly influenced by its values. In an effort to ensure that GCESS’s guiding values are explicit, underlying organisational beliefs that all GCESS stakeholders share.
The following values provide an overarching framework for every aspect of service delivery within GCESS.
Our Values:
- We are committed to upholding the Legal and Human Rights of all service recipients.
- We embrace Policies and Procedures for the prevention of Abuse and Neglect in all services.
- We acknowledge and respect the contribution and value of the individual.
- We continuously focus on the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities.
- We accept diversity, embracing “one world – one people”.
- We value professionalism, performance and teamwork.
Legal Information
The ABN Number for GCESS is: 58 594 753 942
AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000 QAS certification QEC14731
Our Disability Support Certification number is: DSC00023
