Resettlement Worker

**Job Summary**:
Provides resettlement assistance services (including housing support) to Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) as prescribed by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Delivers immediate and essential RAP support services and facilitates client transitions from RAP to settlement services. Works in close cooperation with the RAP Manager.

**Duties & Responsibilities**:

- Conducts needs assessments and referrals that respond to the immediate needs of clients.
- Provides appropriate temporary accommodation that supports timely and effective delivery of RAP services with a mínimal burden on clients.
- Supports effective transition from temporary housing to suitable permanent accommodation, including provisions to assist harder to house clients.
- Supports the RAP team with potential viewing of rental suites, purchase and delivery of furniture and other household items.
- Facilitates life skills to connect clients, where appropriate, with community services and referrals (housing, recreation, transportation, health and wellness options, volunteer organizations or services, banking options, interpretation/translation services, and accompany clients to appointments).
- Supports the RAP team with moving out activities and other related housing duties as directed by supervisor.
- Assists in connecting clients directly with health care system, including mental health supports.
- Provides basic practical information, orientation resources and programming that address resettlement newcomers’ immediate needs, prepare them for longer term integration challenges, inform them of available services and supports including content tailored to the needs of specific client groups (e.g. youth, seniors).
- Conducts financial orientation informing clients about income support and their financial responsibilities to ensure that they understand the basics of Canadian banking and financial systems, the key entitlements and obligations of their income support budget and increasing their financial literacy.
- Engages partnerships to ensure client-focused service delivery.
- Provides support to ensure a seamless and rapid transition from RAP to broader settlement support services, minimizing disruption to the client and facilitating the client’s transition toward playing a productive role within Canadian society and economy.
- May provide support to settlement services program (intake and settlement issues).
- Contributes to overall RAP planning and implementation.
- Keeps client management and case notes up to date.
- Captures data in data management systems (OCMS) and participates in training to learn new systems and stay up to date on systems requirements.
- Participates in RAP-related training opportunities to stay current on issues impacting CVIMS clients.
- Participates in regular team and organization-wide staff meetings.
- Follows all CVIMS policies and administrative procedures.
- Other related duties as assigned; may include occasional client intake.

**Qualifications & Requirements**:

- Minimum Grade 12 Diploma (Undergraduate Degree preferred) in related discipline on settlement/ resettlement/refugee related themes, family law, immigration and refugee studies, social work, intercultural studies, child and youth care or combination of education, training and experience.
- Direct experience with settlement/resettlement/refugee service delivery and case management.
- Keen understanding of diversity issues to work with persons from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds on settlement/resettlement/refugee related issues.
- Three years’ work experience within social services, nonprofit and/or multicultural environment, preferably targeting refugees.
- Knowledge of community resources.
- Experience working with immigrants and refugees and understanding of immigration and refugee issues.
- Indigenous cultural competencies and/or lived experience with Indigenous communities welcomed.

**Additional Information**:

- Some travel to community locations within Nanaimo Regional District will be required. Occasional travel to locations in other parts of British Columbia and/or Canada for purposes like professional development, networking, or conferences may also be required.
- Some work outside of regular office hours, including evenings and weekends, will be required. Flex time schedules will be made to accommodate non-regular work hours. All overtime must be approved in advance.
- Valid BC driver’s license, favourable driver’s abstract and access to a car is a requirement.
- As a condition of hire, an updated criminal record check, including vulnerable populations check and driver’s abstract are required.

**If you are able to make a positive contribution to our Resettlement Assistance Program team of professionals** **AND** **have the combination of training and experience outlined above, we’d like to hear from you.**

**Job Types**: