Purpose

To provide a forum to explore issues, share and create solutions relating to employment strategies in each of the CERP service areas.

The three service areas are:

• The City of Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton
• The City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough
• The County of Northumberland

The service areas of the City of Kawartha Lakes, County of Haliburton, City and County of Peterborough and Northumberland County represent shared service delivery regions consistent with Consolidated Municipal Service Manager jurisdictions.

Each CERP will operate independently, with co-ordination and sharing of information as agreed between each area.

Mandate

CERP members will exchange ideas, solicit advice and feedback, and participate in strategic planning about employment services and the broader community’s needs.

Members will strive to:

• Explore innovative, results-focused employment program partnerships. Effective service partnerships will complement strategic economic development initiatives at the local level. The strength of relationships among employment agencies will directly impact the capacity of each community to respond to dynamic labour market and economic forces.
• Improve outcomes for individuals, agencies and the community as a whole through active partnerships.
• Enhance co-ordination of employment services for individuals, agencies and employers through a broader human services integration approach to planning and delivery.
• Foster and recognize excellence in innovation among the partners.
• Plan and share professional development opportunities.

Scope

While fulfilling the CERP mandate, members will:

• Represent the interests of their respective communities.
• Focus on strategic level planning and decisions.
• Respect the mandate and capacity of each other’s organizations.

Goals

Each CERP will plan specific activities appropriate to local circumstances to enhance the capacity of the community to address the employment needs of its residents.

Membership

Membership for each CERP will consist of employment service providers funded by government and their funding agencies providing service within the CERP area.

The Workforce Development Board will support CERP committees in each area.

There is a commitment by each partner for manager-level presence/representation at every meeting.

CERPs are intended to be inclusive and participatory. Any agency or provider wishing to join the CERP may request to do so through any existing member.

A copy of the Terms of Reference and an agency information template will be forwarded to interested groups to determine if they are eligible for inclusion, support the CERP mandate and are committed to the responsibilities of membership.

After review of the Terms of Reference, the completed information template, along with a letter indicating interest in membership must be forwarded to the area CERP committee.

Acceptance of new members will be based on the approval of the majority of members present at the earliest possible committee meeting.

Partners will meet on a regularly scheduled basis as agreed upon by the membership, with a minimum of four meetings per year.

As capacity permits there is mutual responsibility by members to honour commitments and to actively participate through regular attendance.

The Terms of Reference and membership will be reviewed annually or as agreed.