Definition:
A set of values that indicate the client's primary relation to the labour force in the past three months prior to the initiation of treatment at an agency.
Guide for Use:
The data gathered should represent the client’s primary employment status over the past three months prior to the initiation of treatment services and no update is required during the course of treatment the employment status changes.
This information is typically client self-reported. However, it may also be obtained from referral documentation or from family members. All information collected is to be confirmed by the client or by the substitute decision maker.
Format:
| Permissible Values | Definition |
|---|---|
| Employed full-time, includes self-employed | Selected when the client is paid to work 30 or more working hours/week, including if the client is currently on sabbatical or temporary leave. |
| Employed part-time | Selected when the primary paid job is less than 30 hours worked/week . |
| Unemployed (Looking for work) | Selected when the client is actively seeking employment. |
| Student/Retraining | Selected when there is no payment to the client for his/her time; including apprenticeship programs. |
| Disabled (not working) | Selected when client unable to participate in the working labour force due to a permanent or temporary disabled i.e. on WSIB or employer sick leave. |
| Not in labour force (e.g. Homemaker) | Selected when the client is not in the workforce and not actively seeking employment - i.e. a homemaker, someone without a job and not in a training/educational program or a full or part time volunteer. |
| Retired | Selected when the client is retired and is not in the labour force. |
| Unknown | Selected when the employment status is not known. |
Context:
Assists in:
- Understanding a client's relationship to the work force and associated economic resources/constraints.
- Developing profiles of clients accessing the substance abuse and or problem gambling service system.
- Assessing resources available and the need to supplement the resources available to the person.
- Monitoring and evaluating treatment outcomes at a high level.
Addressing disparities in health service delivery and planning requires a solid understanding of key barriers to equitable access to high quality care and of the specific needs of health-disadvantaged populations; and this requires an array of effective data. The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified social determinants of health as having the potential to clarify important pathways to health outcomes and may suggest powerful approaches to address identified health inequities. These data can be used to alone and or in conjunction with other social determinants of health to:
- Monitor service utilization by vulnerable or marginalized groups within a general population
- Identify barriers to service for vulnerable or marginalized groups within a general population
- Assess issues of access equity among the population seeking and being admitted to SA and/or PG treatment
- Assess whether programs are appropriately available and targeted.
- Develop recommendations for adjustments to mitigate negative impacts as well as maximize positive impacts on the health of vulnerable and marginalized groups
- Embed equity across the organization and the system
- Support equity-based improvement in program/service and system design
