Facing Challenges
By Colin Butterfield, Group B Services Ltd
The Cleaning Industry turnover rate has always been higher
than some of the more formally skilled occupations, and consequently the need
for training programs that provide new and present employees with skills and
knowledge has always existed. Brent Bourne, of Servitech Training Ltd. has been
involved in the delivery of training courses for custodians since 1989 and
through his college sponsored courses (Building Service Worker I, II, III, and many
other topics), has trained literally thousands of individuals.
Ten years ago he taught a Government sponsored course at a
Community College to eleven developmentally challenged individuals on Vancouver Island. While the sponsorship wasn’t continued,
Brent still learned that there was also a challenge and great personal
satisfaction in teaching these individuals a skill that could, and did change
their lives.
For a number of years Servitech Training was directly
involved with the federally funded Youth Employment Program (YEP), this was
instrumental in changing the lives of dozens of street youth, providing them
with skills and attitudes and support including pre employment and on the job
training. With the support of BC Transit and British Columbia Buildings
Corporation, cleaning services were provided in some of their buildings in
Victoria BC with the intent to rotate candidates through the program then to
have them find employment with cleaning services in the community. While the
program was highly successful in Victoria,
many youth found permanent jobs and the sponsor companies were delighted with
the service, the Federal Government terminated the program.
In 2004 Servitech Training was approached by the Vancouver
Island Health Authority, (VIHA) to teach cleaning skills to a group of their
clients with developmental challenges caused by the use of prescription and/or
illicit drug use. Two courses, “Super Clean” and “Mighty Clean” were delivered
enabling the clients to provide basic cleaning in their own VIHA rooms and
rental facilities.
The abilities and attitudes of the best of the “Mighty
Clean” trainees impressed Brent so much that when he was approached by BC
Transit about developing a program similar to the cancelled YEP program for
cleaning their facilities he saw a chance to provide an opportunity to some of
the challenged, but highly motivated trainees. Using skills learned through his
adult education training he developed a program where each challenged employee
was paired with a mentor and assigned to provide cleaning service at the BC
Transit offices in Victoria BC.
The results of this program have been more that satisfactory
to both the trainees and to the client. While some careful scheduling is
required to ensure that the trainees do not lose Social Service benefits until
they are able to work full time, the program has continued now for two years
with some notable successes. One man, who despaired of ever holding a job now
earns $2850 a month and has not only his independence restored but also his
self respect. Other trainees have gone on to employment with private cleaning
companies, school districts and hospitals leaving space in the program for new
trainees.
Despite being heavily involved as a partner in consulting
company Group B Services Ltd. Brent finds this whole process so extremely
satisfying and challenging and with the help of sponsor companies, so
beneficial to challenged members of our community that he shows no sign of
slowing down. Brent’s challenge to the industry, “if this can work in Victoria it can work across Canada.” Why not?
