Studies show that the average person will have 5 – 7 career changes throughout their working life. For many, this can be a daunting process. Alpha specialises in helping people with these changes, whether it is looking to make a leap to a different profession, or changes due to redundancy. Our staff have Career Development qualifications, are professional members of the Career Development Association of New Zealand and are trained to assist you with looking at options and making those decisions.

If you are unable to return to work after an accident or illness, you may need an Occupational Assessment. Alpha staff are trained and qualified to undertake the Initial Occupational Assessment (IOA) and the Vocational Independence Occupational Assessment (VIOA) for clients involved in or commencing vocational rehabilitation with ACC or for insurance companies who are looking at the next step for their client. Alpha staff understand this and the need to work with the clients to identify realistic and appropriate work types based on work history, education, training and qualifications. Assessments take approximately 60 to 90 minutes, and a report will be provided to ACC or your insurance company, which includes the work types discussed in the assessment.

The Vocational Independence Occupational Assessment reviews the vocational rehabilitation that has been carried out and ensures that the work types agreed in the Individual Rehabilitation Plan are still vocationally suitable.

Alpha staff can assist with vocational training that is targeted towards future opportunities, either as a part of a vocational rehabilitation programme or if you are looking at returning to the workforce.

Working in partnership with an NZQA provider, Alpha staff can deliver or arrange for the following:

• Customer Service – 8 Credits at Level 2
• Sales and Service Basics – 7 Credits at Level 3
• Impressive (personal presentation/customer service) – 9 credits at Level 2 & 3
• Communicating – 10 credits at Level 3

Alpha also undertakes computer training targeted to agreed-upon work types as a part of the ACC vocational rehabilitation process. We work with you to assist and arrange for other specialised training needs, such as driver’s licences and first aid courses.

Finding a job can be a difficult task if you have been injured or are returning to the workforce after a long period of time off work. Alpha is not a recruitment company, but if you are on ACC or in receipt of a benefit from Work and Income, we may be able to help you. We believe in helping prepare clients for the process of job search and retaining that job through pre-employment training and targeted CVs.

We recognise that today up to 70% of jobs are not advertised, and as one size does not fit all, Alpha uses a variety of methods to find opportunities for clients. We employ work brokers specifically to network and actively search for opportunities, and we assist clients with online applications. We are able to source introductions and gain employment opportunities for our clients through our employer networks. ACC also offers Job Brokerage and Job Search services to ACC clients.

Alpha provides vocational rehabilitation programmes to ACC, Wellnz, employers in the Partnership Programme, and Insurance companies. For ACC these programmes include:

• IOA and VIOA
• Back to Work Programmes
• Vocational Training
• Job brokerage and job search services

For Wellnz, private companies and insurers, in addition to the services provided for ACC, Alpha has a team of Occupational Therapists and Vocational Physiotherapists who provide:

• Worksite and workstation assessments
• Return to work programmes

These assessments and programmes are individually tailored and designed to get people back into the workforce in a safe and sustainable manner.

Alpha provides work readiness programmes to MSD. The Work Ready Programme may be the perfect solution for clients who have been off work for a while. Programmes range from short single-disciplinary programmes focusing on pre-employment strategies, through to longer-term programmes involving a multi-disciplinary vocational rehabilitation team of vocational consultants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other allied professionals.

For more information about any of our services, please contact us.