Specifications include, but are not limited to: A qualified contractor to perform professional services for the Workforce Solutions system. Any subsequent contract awarded under this solicitation will be executed with the Houston-Galveston Area Council as the contracting entity. The staff professional development contractor is an integral part of this system that ties the pieces together; helps contractors align with our purpose, mission, vision and values; helps ensure staff understand how they are connected; and drives system efficiencies by educating and mentoring staff in practices essential to providing exceptional service. In a system that is continuously changing and evolving, educating and mentoring staff in a cost-efficient manner is essential to providing exceptional service. To assist in this endeavor, Workforce Solutions has funded a staff professional development contractor to design and operate a Workforce Solutions staff development unit for more than 10 years. Workforce Solutions staff professional development currently includes: On-going courses developed for Workforce Solutions that teach skills necessary for work in the system (e-learning, classroom, virtual, and blended) including short, half-day seminars/workshops for key skills Courses in business writing, communication, teamwork, and leadership A course series in supervision and management Courses on diversity, domestic violence, preventing discrimination An “academy” to on-board new Workforce Solutions system staff, orient them to working in the system, and set future training plans Technical assistance, on the job training, and on-site coaching for system units as needed An online learning management system to track and record individual staff members’ training plans, course completions, and certifications Support for system workgroups and special projects designed to help improve system performance; provide ongoing support for a workgroup that facilitates staff throughout the system understanding what each part of Workforce Solutions does and how the different units work together Reports designed to help rate system performance
