VIVRS provides individualized vocational rehabilitation and life skills services for a number of referral agencies whose clients live on Vancouver Island.
Our referring agencies include:
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
- Gorge Road Hospital
- Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA)
- Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) Rehabilitation, Victoria
- Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Nanaimo
- Malaspina University-College
- Province of British Columbia, Brain Injury Program
- Solareh Services for Progress in Human Resources Inc.
- Various law firms
- Various private insurance companies such as Healthcare Benefit Trust, Desjardins, ManuLife, Clarica, Great West Life
- Victim's Services
- Workers Compensation Board (WCB)
- Ministry Responsible for Seniors
VIVRS has extensive experience and a proven track record in providing life skills and vocational counselling to those living with head injury, mental illness, physical and emotional disabilities, and recovery from trauma. This broad expertise allows VIVRS to provide consistent case management to clients as their recovery progresses.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services include the following:
- One-on-one individual intake, vocational assessment and career counselling
- Referral for specialized assessments (neuropsychological, psycho-educational, functional capacity etc.)
- Development of individual training and employment plans
- Guided labour market research
- Referral to community resources and funding sources
- Creative and innovative work solutions
- Specialized work experience placements
- Support in developing a résumé and interviewing
- Assisted job search
- Follow-up support during the transition to work.
- One-on-one intake and needs assessment
- Life skills coaching in areas such as budgeting, grocery shopping, activities of daily living, bus training
- Intensive cognitive rehabilitation strategies (memory, concentration, organization)
- Connection to appropriate community services
- Behavioural management
- Strategies to cope with injury and disability
- Pre-vocational skills training
- Coordination of rehabilitation teams
Success Story: Nicholas
Nicholas was 18 years old when he sustained a severe brain injury and broken neck in an automobile accident. Nicholas suffered from extreme anxiety and depression as a result of the accident.
Upon his release from hospital, Nicholas was referred to VIVRS to receive life skills and pre-employment services. Because his memory was profoundly affected by his head injury, VIVRS worked with Nicholas to teach him strategies to re-learn everyday tasks such as cooking, banking and self-care. VIVRS worked with Nicholas, his family and a team of health care workers for five years.
After three years, VIVRS and Nicholas felt that he was ready to work on pre-employment skills. Prior to his accident, Nicholas's dream was to become an automobile mechanic. There was every indication that this goal would be attainable, given the right support.
Through VIVRS' contacts with employers and schools, Nicholas was placed with a very supportive employer, who agreed to take him on as an apprentice. Nicholas began the apprenticeship program at the local college.
Nicholas continues to work on automobiles and he is now married with one child.