Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results

This section presents the ministry’s goals and outlines how specific objectives, strategies and performance measures will help us to achieve these goals. The business of the ministry supports government’s Five Great Goals. Through employment programs, income assistance and supports, the ministry continues to improve the quality of life for vulnerable British Columbians and assist those temporarily in need. These efforts directly support three of government’s Five Great Goals:

• building the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs, children at risk and seniors;
• leading the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness; and
• creating more jobs per capita than anywhere in Canada.

The diagram on the following page displays the linkages between government’s Five Great Goals and the ministry mission, goals, objectives and performance measures. Besides the linkages specifically detailed on the next page, the ministry continues to support the government in its work on aboriginal and citizen services.

The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance supports income assistance clients in their efforts to achieve self-reliance and greater community participation. To fulfill this mandate, the ministry will continue to assist those clients who are able to work to find and maintain employment.

Clients who leave income assistance for jobs tend to have higher incomes and their children are less likely to receive income assistance when they become adults. Children whose parents work are also more likely to complete high school, attain higher levels of training and education, and be actively involved in the labour market when they reach adulthood.

Performance Measure:

Goal 1 Performance Measure	2001/02 Baseline	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
1.1 Percentage of BC’s population aged 19-64 receiving temporary assistance with employment-related obligations.	3.4%	1.1%	0.87%	0.84%	0.80%
2005/06 result for April through June			0.95%

Assisting clients to find employment continues to be a critical aspect of the ministry’s mission. Temporary assistance is provided to people who have employment-related obligations, and for those who are excused from seeking work (e.g., parents of a young child, temporary illness or injury requiring medical treatment). Measure 1.1 tracks the percentage of British Columbia’s working age population receiving temporary assistance. A lower percentage indicates that fewer people are in need of assistance and more are contributing to a strong and vibrant provincial economy.

The percentage of British Columbia’s population receiving income assistance who are able to work has been significantly reduced since 2001/02. The ministry anticipates this percentage will continue to decline as more people do not require assistance or leave income assistance.

Strategies:

1. Pre-applicants are required to undertake a three-week self-directed work search as a condition of eligibility.
2. Clients with employment-related obligations are required to complete and comply with employment plans as a condition of eligibility.

Performance Measure:

Goal 1 Performance Measures	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
1.2 Average percentage of clients with employment related obligations who leave the caseload each month.	10.7%	9.9%	8.7%	7.2%
2005/06 results for April through June		10.8%

Assisting clients who are able to work in finding sustained employment remains the highest priority of the ministry. The ministry provides pre-employment and job placement services, as well as employment supports, to assist clients achieve independence from income assistance through employment. Clients who leave income assistance for employment have higher incomes and achieve a better standard of living.

Measure 1.2 gauges the success of clients achieving financial independence. As clients with employment obligations continue to find alternatives to income assistance through their own actions and participation in ministry programs, this percentage will continue to decrease.

The ministry will continue to provide income assistance and a range of programs to support clients as they work to increase their independence. The ministry recognizes a combination of supports may be required for clients who experience barriers to employment. Some clients may benefit from services that support life-skill development or volunteer opportunities as they increase their employability and potential for more independence. The ministry will continue to fund employment programs specifically to support persons with disabilities to find sustainable employment or enhance their participation in the community.

Performance Measure:

Goal 2 Performance Measures	2001/02 Baseline	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
2.1 Percentage of BC’s population receiving income assistance.	6%	3.6%	3.7%	3.5%	3.5%
2005/06 results for April through June			3.4%

Measure 2.1 shows the overall percentage of the provincial population that is receiving income assistance. This includes clients receiving temporary assistance, as well as those receiving disability assistance. A lower percentage indicates a decreasing proportion of the provincial population is dependent on income assistance. Results for the first quarter of 2005 show that the percentage of the provincial population receiving income assistance is lower than had been expected. A number of factors have contributed to this result and the ministry anticipates the continued growth in BC’s economy and the delivery of programs that move clients towards independence will further reduce this number in future years.

Performance Measure:

Goal 2 Performance Measures	2001/02 Baseline	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
2.2 Percentage of total caseload receiving disability assistance.	29.6%	49.8%	53.6%	56.4%	58.4%
2005/06 results for April through June			53.2%

Measure 2.2 tracks the percentage of the total caseload receiving disability assistance. Results for the first quarter of 2005 indicate a continued growth in this measure. As the number of clients receiving temporary assistance declines (i.e., demonstrating success in finding employment) the proportion receiving disability assistance will grow.

Strategies:

1. Employment services and related supports are provided to persons with disabilities to enhance their self-reliance.

Performance Measure:

Goal 2 Performance Measures	2002/03 Baseline	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
2.3 Percentage of persons receiving disability assistance who declare income from working or receive volunteer supplements.	13.6%	15.1%	15.0%	15.2%	15.5%
2005/06 results to July 27			15.4%

In April 2002, the ministry introduced the Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (ESPD). The strategy includes the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD), as well as the Minister’s Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities. Both of these initiatives support persons with disabilities as they enhance their employability and engage in employment to the greatest degree possible; this may include full or part-time work, or volunteering.

The ministry will continue to provide pre-employment services, assisted job search, job coaching, job placement, follow-up services, employment crisis services and assistance with starting a business for disabled clients.

Volunteering is a valuable activity for many clients who are receiving disability assistance and are not able to fully support themselves through employment. Community work may lead to employment, as it often provides valuable skills and experience. This is an opportunity for clients to contribute to their communities, thereby enhancing their participation with others.

This measure provides a conservative count of volunteer activity, as it only tracks those who report receiving supplements for volunteering. There is a substantial amount of additional volunteer activity that the ministry is unable to measure. Results for the first four months of fiscal 2005/06 show a continued increase in the percentage of disability assistance clients who either had employment income or received volunteer supplements.

The ministry provides a range of supplementary social services designed to meet the health and transportation needs of clients. These services include confirmed job supplements, health assistance, seniors’ supplement, bus passes and travel assistance, and user fees for continuing care and alcohol and drug facilities.

Ministry clients with special health care needs frequently require equipment, supplements and supports tailored to their specific requirements. Their ability to access these resources in a timely manner assists their quality of life, ability to find employment and participation in the community. The ministry will establish specific service standards based upon the critical nature of these supports as a minimum expectation of performance.

Performance Measure:

Measure 3.1 evaluates the ministry’s performance in the review and adjudication of requests for short-term nutritional supplements provided by the ministry. Nutritional supplements are critical to the wellbeing of vulnerable clients, including infants and persons with disabilities. Future year targets anticipate continual improvements in performance and these time-frames may be shortened pending establishment of the baseline.

Strategies:

1. The efficient processing of requests for reconsideration is monitored and, when necessary, procedures are amended to ensure reconsideration timelines are within statutory requirements.

Performance Measure:

Goal 4 Performance Measures	2003/04 Baseline	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
4.1 Percentage of reconsideration decisions that are made within ten business days.	81.9%	79.7%	87%	88%	90%
2005 results to June 30			83%

Clients have the right to request a reconsideration of ministry decisions. This is an internal ministry process — a ‘second look’ — that is separate from the external appeal process. Clients can apply to Reconsideration Adjudicators to review the ministry’s decision. If unsatisfied with this decision, a client may appeal further to the Employment and Assistance Tribunal office.

A higher percentage for this measure indicates the ministry is doing a better job of meeting regulatory requirements and providing timely and efficient service to clients. Adjudication of health decisions represents a large and growing proportion of the reconsideration requests that the ministry undertakes annually. Health reconsiderations assess issues specific to individuals, such as their eligibility for a persons with disability designation or requirements for tailored medical equipment, supplies and supports. As a result, health reconsiderations are often complex, requiring additional medical evidence to be submitted by professionals and detailed examination of all case materials. Despite the impacts associated with the growing health reconsiderations caseload, the results to June 2005 show a marked increase in the ministry’s success at achieving statutory timelines. Targets for 2005/06 and subsequent years call for a steady increase in this measure.

Strategies:

1. The efficient processing of appeals is monitored and procedures are amended, when required, to ensure appeal timelines are within statutory requirements.

The BC Employment and Assistance appeal system ensures unbiased, fair, timely and transparent decision-making for clients.

The Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal operates under the authority of the Employment and Assistance Act. The tribunal operates independently of the ministry, administering its appeal process through a central office based in Victoria. The appeal process begins after a client has gone through the reconsideration process and is still unsatisfied with the outcome. The tribunal is composed of a full-time tribunal chair and one or more part-time vice-chairs appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, approximately 200 regionally-based panel members appointed by the Minister, and staff appointed under the Public Service Act.

Performance Measure:

Goal 4 Performance Measures	2002/03 Baseline	2004/05 Actual	2005/06 Target	2006/07 Target	2007/08 Target
4.2 Percentage of appeals commenced within the 15‑business day statutory time limit.	99%	100%	100%	100%	100%
2005/06 results to June 30			100%

Measure 4.2 tracks the percentage of appeals held within the 15-day statutory time limit as set out in the Employment and Assistance Regulation. Future year targets for this measure are also set at 100 per cent, reflecting the ministry’s commitment to ensuring fair and timely access to the appeal process.

Discontinued Performance Measures:

The following table provides a summary of discontinued performance measures.