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Human Resources Manual - 121b - Relevant Experience Program

Contents

Introduction

  1. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) provides a funding subsidy to Health and Social Services Authorities who employ northern post-secondary students taking health and social services related studies to perform duties that are relevant to their post-secondary education field of study during the summer.
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Application

  1. These guidelines, procedures and definitions apply to all GNWT Health and Social Services Authorities.
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Definitions

  1. Northern Post-Secondary Health and Social Services Student (HSS student for the purposes of this section) is a student who has completed a semester of full time study at a post-secondary institution within the four months prior to being employed under the program or who has been accepted to attend a post-secondary institution on a full time basis at the start of the fall or winter semester whichever is closer to their entry into the program.  The student must be enrolled in a college or university level program, which will lead to certification in a recognized health or social services occupation.
  2. Health or Social Services Occupations are nursing and allied health occupations that are directly involved in the provision of health and social services and are found in Health and Social Service Authorities located in the Northwest Territories. 
  3. Subsidized Funding is the amount of salary dollars, which will be reimbursed to Health and Social Service Authorities.
  4. Relevant Experience Placements provide work experience relevant to a northern post-secondary student’s field of study.
  5. Relevant Experience Funding is a contribution of $525 per week per placement to a maximum of $8,400 for 16 weeks (600 hours).
  6. Returning Student is a post-secondary student who has successfully completed his/her post-secondary year, who worked for the Department, Board or Agency in the previous summer, had a positive employment history with that Department, Board or Agency and who the Department, Board or Agency wishes to rehire.
  7. CasualWork Website is the GNWT website that accepts applications for summer student employment.
  8. Management and Recruitment Services is the Management and Recruitment Services Division of the Department of Human Resources.
  9. Corporate Human Resources (CHR) is the Corporate Human Resources Division of the Department of Human Resources.
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Guidelines

  1. The Relevant Employment Program (REP) provides the university or college student with relevant practical experience in the profession in which they are studying.
  2. The program also allows Health and Social Service (HSS) Authorities to develop relevant skills and experience in northern students. 
  3. HSS students can be considered for funding through this program between April 15th and August 31st.
  4. Relevant experience funding is not provided in cases where other student employment programs are funding some or all of the position.
  5. Subsidized funding is available for up to 16 weeks (or 600 hours) of employment.
  6. HSS Authorities providing relevant experience placements are eligible to apply for subsidized funding of up to $8,400 per student, which will be prorated for placements of less than 16 weeks or 600 hours. 
  7. Required salary dollars, which exceed the maximum allowable subsidized funding amount, are the responsibility of the employing HSS Authority. 
  8. The Affirmative Action Policy, as it applies to post-secondary student employment, applies to all hiring under the REP (see the Human Resources website for a copy of the Affirmative Action Policy).
  9. Northern post-secondary students MUST register on the CasualWORK website in order to be considered for a relevant experience placement.
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Procedures

  1. As part of the promotional campaign undertaken during November and December, CHR advises northern students of the requirement to register on the CasualWORK website in order to be considered for summer student employment, including the REP program.
  2. Students are encouraged to apply on the CasualWORK website for summer employment as early as possible, preferably in January of each year.
  3. Management and Recruitment Services work with managers to identify possible job opportunities where students would receive work experience directly related to their post-secondary studies. 
  4. Managers contact a Health Recruitment Officer to request a search of the CasualWORK database to identify potential candidates for REP placements.
  5. Management and Recruitment Services help managers complete the required REP application form. 
  6. On the initial application, managers may identify one or several students whose field of study would be a match to the specified placement.
  7. Management and Recruitment Services forward REP applications to CHR by a date set by CHR each year.
  8. CHR assesses each application to ensure that the proposed job and student are appropriate for a progressive experience placement.  The assessment may result in:
    1. approval of both the position and student; or
    2. approval of the position, but not the student; or
    3. approval of neither the position, nor the student.
  9. CHR forwards the results of each assessment to Management and Recruitment Services.  In cases where a student or position was not approved, an explanation is included.
  10. If an application is not approved, Management and Recruitment Services advises the manager about the application results and works with manager to revise the job duties and/or consider other students. 
  11. If the application is approved, Management and Recruitment Services work with managers to arrange interviews and conduct reference checks.
  12. When students are hired, Management and Recruitment Services:
    1. advises the Casual Employment Coordinator of the hire by email, including:
      1. student name;
      2. affirmative action status;
      3. start and end dates;
      4. department; and
      5. Community;
    2. ensures the “student” field is checked off in the Personal Data section on PeopleSoft; and
    3. marks the student as hired in the CasualWORK database.
  13. Both the students and the managers are asked to complete an exit interview at the completion of the program for evaluative purposes.
  14. Health and Social Services Authorities must invoice CHR for the REP funding. Funding will be distributed in October of each year.
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Last Updated: March 2007