Changes Made to Weekly Services Spreadsheets

To better assist site administration staff to process payments from the Employment Pathway Fund relating to Additional Services, Professional Services – Psycholofist, and Professional Services – LifeSkills, a small change has been made to the Weekly Record spreadsheets.

A column has been added to the spreadsheets to indicate the site the job seeker is attached to. This is for the use of LifeSkills, Psycholigist and Reverse Marketing consultants who assist job seekers from sites other than their own site.

Please ensure you create your next Weekly Record spreadsheet (for week starting 17 August) from the updated version spreadsheets located on the DR Intranet.

Staff Induction & Training Starts Next Week

New sites. New staff. New employment services program.

Induction and training covering all aspects of our policies and procedures and a thorough overview of the new Job Services Australia program will be held over four days at the Clarion Hotel on Canterbury, corner Canterbury and Springvale Roads, Forest Hill on the following dates:

Monday 22nd June
Tuesday 23rd June
Monday 29th June
Tuesday 30th June

Days commence at 9.00am through to 5.00pm. All new and existing Direct Recruitment staff will be attending.

Skills Assessment Form Updated

A single Skills Assessment Form for use with all Stream Skills Assessments is now available on the DR Intranet. Please use this new form from this date on.

Work for the Dole List of Providers Updated

The Work for the Dole Provider list has been updated to include ABN of provider, activity cost and activity ID.

This list can be found at Forms&Handouts > JSA > Work Experience WfD Brochure.

All these activities have now been entered into ESS. You need to select the correct Activity from the Active WfD list. Ensure the activity you choose matches our Activity ID code.

New Transfer by Agreement form from DEEWR

The new TbA form should be used from this date on. Please be aware that this form is a two-page form.

Change to JRT Invoice and EPF Approval Process

A change has been made to the JRT Invoice ad EPF Approval form. The new form is now on the DR Intranet > Forms > JSA

Stream 1 ECs had previously been advised to create the JRT Invoice when the job seeker was referred to the JRT activity.

ECs should now create the JRT Invoice and EPF Approval when the job seeker in COMMENCED on ESS in the JRT activity.

(Not when you refer the job seeker as Estimated to Start)

The updated JRT invoice has a “Date Training Commenced” field which must be completed.

Once the job seeker is COMMENCED, forward the JRT Invoice to your EPF administrator for processing

These instructions are also on the updated JRT invoice.

Changes Made to Additional Services Weekly Record

A FREE TEXT COMMENTS column has been added to the Additional Services Weekly Record for all consultants to add notes relating to the activity conducted. These notes can then be cut-and-pasted into the Job seeker File Notes.

An ETS option has also been added to the RESULTS column options for Reverse Marketers to use.

Please ensure you are using the current Additional Services Weekly Record.

Documents for Comencing New Staff

The following forms have been saved to the DR Intranet / Forms&Handouts / Administration for use when commencing new staff:

Fit2Work Police Check
Fit2Work 100 Point Checklist
ATO Superannuation Fund Choice Core Staff
Bank Account Details - DR Employee

The following form has been saved to DR Intranet / Forms&Handouts / Job Services Australia

Reference Check form

Stream 1 Job Seeker Eligibility for Job Placement Fees

Now that Stream One job seekers are reaching 13 weeks period of service, they are eligible for a Placement Fee for filling jobs where there are no Stream 2-4 job seekers with the required skill set for the vacancy.

The following criteria MUST BE MET BEFORE a Placement Fee for a Stream One job seeker can be claimed –

1. Stream One job seeker must have completed 13 weeks period of service, and

2. Has a Skills Assessment completed and loaded into ESS, and

3. Has an Intensive Activity detailed in their Employment Pathway Plan.

Failure to address all three requirements will result in no Placement Fee available.

Improved Skills Assessment Form

The Skills Assessment Form is now in an ESS-friendly format.

Earlier versions of the Skills Assessment Form did not display all information entered once uploaded to ESS and did not print all information entered.

The new version contains the same questions and assessments, just presented in a different layout and with colour coding to better distinguish between questions and responses.

As some sites ask job seekers to complete part of the Skills Assessment while waiting for their appointment, the first two pages of the former Skills Assessment have been retained and renamed Skills Assessment Form Job Seeker Use.

Please ensure you are using the correct Skills Assessment form.

Intensive Activity Handout

An additional request to job seekers to bring payslips, course enrollments etc to the Intensive Activity appointment has been included in the intensive Activity Handout.

Please ensure you are using the correct document.

Job Search Record Form Updated

At the Stream 2-4 Workshop a request was made to change the Job Search Form from PDF to an electronic form for more flexible usage. This is now done and can be found in the Document Library.

Christmas Closure Advice from DEEWR

This advice can be found in the DR Document Library / Procedures / JSA.

Please take note of the additional advice on Outcome Fees and how the closure of a business over Christmas will need to be treated as a Permissable Break when it comes time to make a 13 or 26 week Outcome claim.

Two Policies Added to Document Library

The Post Placement Support policy has been updated to include changes to Provisional Exit requirement, and regular running of JRRR and JEHR when conducting PPS.

The Risk Management policy describing Evidence Based Auditing has been added.

Both of thes policies can be found at Document Library / Policy / Governance & Management.

Exit & Suspended Code Procedure Now in Document Library

To identify potential Provider Assisted placements and more efficiently manage job seekers who are Exited or Susoended, consultants must enter relevant codes into the Job Seeker Case Summary screen on ESS.

The Exit and Suspension Code Procedure detals the codes to use. This procedure is located in: Procedures / JSA

Intensive Activity Finalisation Form Updated

The Intensive Activity Finalisation form has been updated to include a list of codes for use when completing the monthly Finalisation Report. Please use these codes.

The Document Library Now has a Search Function

Skills Assessment Document now comes as RTF

Job Search Record

Direct Recruitment Training Dates

The Direct Recruitment Training Dates have been updated and are available in the Training folder of the document library on the DR Intranet.

Please ensure you have the dates applicable to you booked out in ESS.

Requirements for Re-placing on ESS within 28 Days of Losing a Job

Under the DEEWR Guidelines "Claiming Outcomes for Job Seekers who lose their Employment Placement during the 13 week or 26 week Period", where you can re-place the job seeker into another position within 28 days of finishing the first placement to achieve an Outcome, the following applies -

The Provider must enter all subsequent Employment Placements into ESS.

Note that this requirement does not apply to job seekers who voluntarily leave their employment. Job seekers who voluntarily leave their employment must be re-placed within 7 days in order to meet Full Outcome requirements based on the original placement.

The DEEWR Guidelines are available on the ECSN site - Provider Portal > Stream Services > Payments > Outcome Fees

Introducing New DR Employees

We would like to welcome a number of new faces who have joined the Direct team over the past 6 weeks or so.

At Oakleigh there's Fiona Dick and Cat Creaney (Stream 1 Home Employment Consultants), David Tran (Stream 2-4 Home Employment Consultant) and Gary Harvey (Reverse Marketing).

At Cheltenham there's Anna Tsiloulis (Stream 1 Home Employment Consultant).

At Camberwell there's Jo Halligan (Stream 2 - 4 Home Employment Consultant), Daniel Spina (Stream 1 Home Employment Consultant), David O'Meara (Reverse Marketing) and Rebecca Ritchie (Reception / Office Administration).

The Direct Recruitment Contact List has been updated on the DR Intranet and available for printing to keep you up-to-date.

Updated Training Dates

The Direct Recruitment Training Dates list has been updated detailing dates to the end of September 2010.

Please ensure that you are aware of your training dates and book yourself out on the ESS Diary for those days.

The updated list of dates can be found under the Training section of the Document Library.

Initial Interview job Seeker Information has been Updated

The information provided to job seekers at their Initial Interview has been updated to reflect the Skills Victoria website and has also had reference to 'touchscreens' removed.

Please ensure you are using the most recent version of the following documents last updated on 16 April 2010.

Stream 1 Limited Initial Interview JS Information
Stream 1 Initial Interview JS Information
Stream 2 Initial Interview JS Information
Stream 3 Initial Interview JS Information
Stream 4 Initial Interview JS Information
Work Experience Initial Interview JS Information

Our First Indigenous Job Seeker Outcome Claim

Employment Consultant, Janine Oldershaw, and Reverse Marketer, Willie Alefaio from the Cheltenham office have worked together to place an indigenous job seeker into employment and claim Direct Recruitment’s first Indigenous 13 week Full Outcome Brokered !

The job seeker commenced into Stream 2 services in July 2009 with the goal of completing his trade certificate in boiler making. While his dream job was welding, he was happy to consider any type of employment.

After nine interviews and a couple of work trials the job seeker gained an Apprentice Boiler Maker position however this did not work out. Janine encouraged the job seeker to continue to apply and attend interviews and helped pick up his confidence again while Willie kept looking for other work opportunities.

In February 2010, Willie obtained a Welding position and the job seeker commenced into full time employment working 38 hours each week and now earning $1060 per week. The result is one very happy ex-job seeker and a 13 week Full OutcomeBrokered!

Congratulations to Janine, Willie and the job seeker who gained their success through persistence and continuing to work towards their employment goal.

Now the challenge is out for other consultants to actively work to place more of our Indigenous job seekers.

Direct Post No. 4 Now Out

Tha latest Direct Post can be found on the DR Intranet under the Direct Post heading.

Stream 1 Job Seeker Eligibility Requirements for a Job Placement Fee

Stream 1 job seekers must meet the following three requirements before a Job Placement Fee can be claimed -

1/ Have a Skills Assessment loaded into ESS

2/ Have an Intensive Activity listed in their EPP (not necessarily in the

current EPP)

3/ Be at least 13 weeks in Stream 1

Change to Labour Hire Procedure

Changes have been made to Step 1 of the Labour Hire Procedure to better articulate the information required to be collected in order to prepare a Labour Hire quote.

Please ensure you use the current procedure available from the DR Intranet.

We will revisit the Labour Hire Procedure at the next Reverse Marketer Training in July.

New Resources Added

The following links have been added to the DR Intranet -

Bullseye Career posters
NewStart and Youth Allowance current rates

Updated information -

Direct Recruitment training dates to end of December 2010
Travel Log form

New Work Experience Activity Added

Another course has been added to the Work Experience Resource for Consultants.

The Ashley Group - provider of the Warehouse & Transport Cert II, is also offering retail Cert II. Both of these activities are entered into ESS. The Activity Codes are listed on the Resource. Copies of the course modules are also available from the DR Intranet.

JRT Module 9 Updated

The Job Ready Training Module 9 - Computer Skills for Job Search, has been updated by Steve Dohl. The updated Module 9 Resource and Workbook are both available on the DR Intranet.

Marketing Me and New Beginnings Updates

1. The New Beginnings Course now has its own New Beginnings Invoice & EPF Approval Form (available on the DR Intranet). It was previously named Intensive Groups Invoice & EPF Approval form which has been removed from the DR Intranet.

2. The Marketing Me script to go in the Employment Pathway Plan is now available on the DR Intranet. Search for Employment Pathway Plan Scripts. There is only one EPP script in this document at this stage.

3. The Marketing Me Course is a training course and reimbursed in EPF as a training course, therefore the EPP code should be ET59 (Training). Please ensure EPPs reflect this code.

Changes to Invoice Forms

In line with changed Australian Tax Office requirements, the following forms have been changed to indicate the GST component of Training Courses run by Direct Recruitment. To ensure you are using the updated version, please access the forms from the DR Intranet.

JRT Invoice and EPF Approval form
New Beginnings Invoice and EPF Approval form
Marketing Me Invoice and EPF Approval form

Marketing me Invoice & EPF Approval Form Changed

The Marketing Me modules have been reinstated to the "Marketing Me Invoice & EPF Approval Form". Please ensure you are using the current version - Version 3 25Oct10.

DR Training Dates for 2011

The Training Schedule for January to June 2011 has been released and is available on the DR Intranet.

Please note your training dates in your diary to avoid booking job seeker appointments for that day.

All Scripts are now in the one place!

A new one-stop document for scripts for File Notes and ESS has been placed on the DR Intranet for your use!

This document contains scripts for

Marketing Me
New Beginnings
Outcome Claims
Reverse marketing
Additional Contacts
Post Placement Support
EPP
Job Placement Claims
Upgrade in Employment

Use the hyperlink function in the Index of the document to quickly move to the script you need.

Please save this document to your desktop for quick access.

Please delete all previous documents relating to scripts for File Notes and ESS.

Direct Welcomes New Employees to the Team

Welcome aboard! In recent months a number of new faces have appeared around the sites to take up positions in Reception/Admin, Reverse Marketing, Life Skills and Home Employment Consultants.

To help you get to know who is where and doing what, refer to the updated "Direct Recruitment Staff Contact List" on the DR Intranet. (It even includes a couple of names of people starting with our company next week.)

Here's a quick summary of new employees for 2011:

Dean Kavathas, Cheltenham - Business Development Manager for our Labour Hire division

Anna Barglowski, Oakleigh - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant

Bianca Andrzejewski, Camberwell - Reception/Admin

Vanessa Schultz, Life Skills Coordinator

Margaret McCarton, Springvale - Reception/Admin

May Nashar, Oakleigh - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant

Rebecca Ritchie, Oakleigh - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant (Welcome back!)

Jessica Shelley, Springvale - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant

Jess Vella, Cheltenham - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant (Welcome back!)

Kosta Kongas, Camberwell - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant

Phillip Crawford, Cheltenham - Stream 2-4 Employment Consultant

Michelle Nugyen, Springvale - Reverse Marketer

Sick Leave Form Change of Name

The document formerly known as "Sick Leave Form" has now moved into the modern world and renamed as "Personal leave Form".

You can find it on the DR Intranet.

The "Annual Leave Form" remains the same.

Change to Education Outcome Script

There is a new version of the "Scripts for ESS & File Notes" document on the DR Intranet.

The script for an Education Outcome has been modified to include the job seeker's name.

Please ensure you are using the correct version of this document.

Welcome to Lena Laee - Our Newly Appointed Occupational Psychologist

Lena Lee commenced with Direct Recruitment on Wednesday 3 August and is taking over the position previously held by Rowan Johnston.

Lena has most recently worked with Centrelink conducting ESAt / JCAs so she understands the barriers our job seekers face and is very handy at finding her way around ESS!

Lena's timetable will vary to Rowan's. You can find the new timetable on the DR Intranet. Search "timetable". Lena is currently making appointments in the ESS Diary for your referrals.

EPF Approval and Invoice Forms Have Been Updated

Recent DEEWR directives on how we reimburse GST in the Employment Pathway Fund have meant some changes to the following forms -

JRT Invoice & Approval form (V9)

Marketing Me Invoice & Approval form (V6)

New Beginnings Invoice & Approval form (V5)

Also, a changes has been to the EPF Approval form (V5) which now asks you to specify the Provider Name, Activity Name and Activity ID for a WfD activity referral.

Please ensure you are using the current versions of these forms available on the DR Intranet

Another WfD Activity Added to the WfD Consultant Resource

Another Work for the Dole Activity has been added to the Work for the Dole Activities Consultant Resource, available on the DR Intranet.

Taskforce previously offered the Activity - Brokered Voluntary Placements, where they broker a voluntary placement for job seekers to meet their Work for the Dole participation requirements. Note that this activity is WORK for the DOLE.

Check out the consultant resource on the DR Intranet for all details.

Farewell and All the Best

Two pioneers of the Cheltenham office are leaving to take up new and wonderful positions - we're gunna miss you!

Laren McCurdy and Karen Perret have been with Direct from the start of this contract and have worked tirelessly in their contribution to the success of the site. We wish both of you good wishes for the next exciting stage in your careers.

Lauren's last day is Wednesday 7th September while Karen leaves on Monday 12th September. A large crowd will gather at Moe's on Wednesday night to say "Goodbye".

Additions to File Note Scripts

There have been some additions made to the "Scripts for File Notes & ESS" document on the DR Intranet.

Why Choose Work - add these scripts to the File Notes of participating job seekers
Bonus Outcome Claim - add the relevant script to the job seeker File Notes when a Bonus Outcome is claimed
Special Claims - add the relevant script and record of income table to the job seeker File Notes for the following types of evidence collected -

- Special Claim Full or Pathway Outcome based on JRRR where evidence is provided by the employer

- Special Claim Full Outcome based on JEHR where evidence is provided by the employer

- Special Claim Pathway Outcome based on JEHR where evidence is provided by the employer

- Special Claim Full or Pathway based on either JRRR or JEHR where evidence is provided by the job seeker

Please ensure you are using the correct version - V03 Created 27Sep11

Updated Scripts for File Notes & ESS Now Available

An updated version of the "Scripts for File Notes & ESS" procedure is now available on the DR Intranet.

The update concerns the File Note scripts for the new Marketing Me modules.

Please ensure you are using the correct scripts.

Intensive Activity Procedure Updated

The IA Procedure has been updated to reflect some changes to managing job seekers who don't attend the Skills Assessment apointment due to DNAI, working fulltime or studying fulltime.

Please discuss with your site manager.

Conflict Resolution and Aggression Management Training Reminder

The feedback from thos attending the first session of "Conflict Resolution and Aggression Management" training was very positive. The next two training days will be held Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th December. Could all participants be in the training room by 8.55am please.

OWL Activities in Early School Leaver Action Plan Updated

Following advice from OWL that they are no longer offering Cert II Community Recreation or Cert II General Education for Adults on-line, these activities have been removed from the Early School Leavers Action Plan.

Current Version of Employment Services Deed 2009-2012 Nowon DR Intranet

The Employment Services Deed 2009 - 2012 is now available on the DR Intranet. It will be updated whenever a General Contract Variation occurs.

Guidelines or reference material issued by DEEWR should be read in conjunction with the Deed.

If you are unsure about your understanding of any part of the Deed, please discuss with your Manager.

New and Updated Wage Subsidy Agreements

In line with the introduction of the Wage Connect Subsidy on 1 January 2012, two new Wage Subsidy Agreement forms have been added to the DR Intranet -

Wage Subsidy Agreement - Wage Connect 9Jan2012
Wage Subsidy Agreement - Wage Connect with EPF 9Jan2012 (Use where there isa combination of Wage Connect and a Wage Subsidy through the Employment Pathway Fund)

The original Wage subsidy form has been replaced with the current version and has been re-named in line with the above two documents

Wage Subsidy Agreement - EPF 28Sep2011

Refer to the Wage Connect Guidelines on the ECSN site for further information re: use of these forms.

New Fit2Work Police Check Form

There is a new Fit2Work Police Check form which combines the two previous Fit2Work forms. This new form is now on the DR Intranet. Please use the updated form.

New Non-Vocational Services Timetable for 2012

The new timetable for Non-Vocational Services appointments is now on the DR Intranet.