At First Work, we believe strong services start with informed, confident professionals.

First Work delivers high-quality, sector-responsive training designed to strengthen Ontario’s workforce development ecosystem. Our trainings support frontline practitioners, managers, and system leaders working with youth and jobseekers facing barriers to employment.

Grounded in real-world practice and informed by policy, labour market trends, and system transformation, First Work trainings focus on building practical skills, strategic insight, and shared understanding across the employment services landscape. Topics range from foundational competencies for frontline staff to advanced leadership, employer engagement, innovation, and system-level change.

Delivered by experienced facilitators and sector experts, our trainings prioritize interactive learning, peer exchange, and immediately applicable tools. Whether you’re new to the sector or leading organizational and regional change, First Work trainings help you build capacity, adapt to evolving systems, and improve outcomes for jobseekers and communities.

Effective Case Management Training

This course was created to assist front line employment service workers in effectively managing client volume, using a strength-based approach and maintaining quality of service. The day will include discussion of considerations, techniques and best practices, interspersed with interactive, small group activities for brainstorming and sharing. This allows for not just learning from the facilitator, but from the experience of all who participate.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand integrated case management and the Case Manager’s role within and beyond your organization.
• Apply strength-based employment counselling while managing high client volumes and mis-streaming issues.
• Write effective case notes and maintain clear documentation.

Burn Out & Recovery

Through the lens of Maslach's Three Dimensions of Burnout, participants are exposed to risks for and causes of burnout. Individual, evidence-based strategies addressing burnout show where individuals can exercise agency to regain energy, empathy, and build confidence in the workplace.

Participants will leave with:

• An understanding of the dimensions of burnout (exhaustion, detachment, inefficacy) and their impact on work and life.
• The ability to identify the signs and symptoms in burnout in themselves.
• A list of coping strategies to manage or mitigate burnout.