Is ‘job brokerage’ just another industry buzzword?
Elke Gjergja
General Manager, Restore
 
 
On 28 July this year, WorkSafe replaced Job Seeking Assisting (JSA) services with the New Employer Services (NES) model.  Underpinning this new package of services is the principle of ‘job brokerage’.   In some respects, job brokerage has the distinct ring of yet another industry buzzword.  However, if implemented appropriately, job brokerage represents an opportunity to further enhance the traditional model of job seeking assistance used in occupational rehabilitation.  As with any occupational rehabilitation initiative, it is hoped that significant improvements in return to work outcomes will follow.      
 
In addressing the particular challenges of returning an injured individual to work with a new employer, job brokerage encompasses two main areas of service provision:
 
1) Client-facing work – tailored individual guidance and skills development; and
 
2) Employer-facing work – vacancy sourcing and matching, and post placement support.
 
This model acknowledges that there are three key clients when job seeking services are provided: the job seeker, the new employer and the funding agency.  The premise is that an improvement in return to work outcomes will be achieved by optimally balancing the needs and requirements of these different client cohorts, and by both dividing and aligning the tasks of preparing an injured individual for work, with finding a new employer and suitable duties.  
 
In responding to this challenge, ResolutionsRTK restore have recently restructured the delivery of our job seeking services in accordance with the principles of job brokerage.  On the one hand, this requires tailored training and coaching services that address competency areas related to job seeking, such as interview skills training and coaching on injury related questions as well as working with clients to maximise motivation and confidence (client-facing work).  At the same time, we deploy direct reverse marketing and vacancy sourcing with an established employer network, in order to maximise job placement outcomes (employer-facing work).  
 
Heading up our client-facing work is Julia Kemp.  Julia has worked extensively in the job seeking arena, and brings particular skills in mentoring and coaching job seekers.  It is widely acknowledged that job seekers have a vast range of needs and are at different stages of job readiness.  Julia tailors her interventions to address these individual gaps in order to build competencies and job readiness.  Her key focus with our candidates is to ensure each individual’s key job seeking competency gaps have been targeted and addressed and job seekers are empowered to independently and confidently undertake job seeking activities.  
 
Anes Mohamed leads our employer-facing activities.  Anes brings extensive experience in reverse marketing and cold canvassing employers in the job network arena, an established network of industry contacts, and an acute understanding of employer target groups and industry trends impacting on these groups.  Anes works with potential employers to obtain a thorough understanding of their needs, and utilises our vacancy and candidate databases to match vacancies with candidates.  Employers want quick and efficient service via liaison with one key person within an organisation who can broker the full range or potential candidates to meet their needs and ensure that post-employment support is effective.  This account management model drives Anes’ service delivery.
 
Without this human face, ‘job brokerage’ is just another buzzword.  But the proof will be in the pudding, and we will be closely monitoring the return to work outcomes achieved under this new model.  If comparisons to current industry benchmarks are any indication, our NES ‘brokers’ are on the right track.