General Counsellor

**Duties**:

- Provides initial settlement services to Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) and/or jointly sponsored refugees upon arrival in Canada.
- Provides grief and supportive counselling as well as follow-up services in special needs cases.
- Undertakes intakes and needs assessment as required.
- Develops, delivers and monitors Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) orientation sessions.
- Advocates and case consults with other social service organizations and service providers.
- Provides crisis intervention as required e.g. in cases of family violence.
- Facilitates clients post departure services needs including: school/English classes’ registration and referral to follow-up services, e.g. CSS/Life Skills program.
- Documents records of services and activities in COSTI’s data base system and prepares necessary reports.
- Refers clients to community & social service agencies for additional settlement and legal services.
- Provides translation and interpretation services as required.

**Qualifications**:

- Social Services Worker diploma or equivalent with relevant practicum experience.
- Minimum of one (1) year of experience providing initial settlement counselling:

- Must have six (6) months experience using RAP assessment tool to identify GAR client needs and make appropriate referrals based on the assessment.
- Demonstrated experience providing workshops on rules & regulations of living in a shelter facility, accessing services in the community, health & safety, use of public transportation etc.
- Demonstrated experienced providing emotional supportive counselling.
- Demonstrated experience advocating on behalf of refugees in accessing government and non-government services and health care.
- **Fluency in any of the following languages considered an asset: Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Somali, Amharic**:

- Demonstrated experience providing services in the following areas; wife and child abuse, LGBTQ2S, supportive counselling, resettlement and victims of torture, war and displacement.
- Previous case management experience.
- Knowledge of specific issues facing resettled refugees in general and the Resettlement Assistance Program more specifically.
- Ability to negotiate and advocate with mainstream society and able to intervene during crisis.
- Demonstrated experience in data-entry, documentation and reporting.
- Excellent communication, organization and coordination skills.
- Possession of a current First Aid/CPR training certificate would be an asset.
- Required to provide a valid Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) Police check. The VSS must have been completed within past 6 months.
- Must be fully vaccinated or be exempt from vaccination on human rights grounds. COSTI reserves the right to require information establishing the validity of the exemption

**Location**:

- Dixon Rd & HWY 401

**Duration of Position**:

- February 20, 2023 to June 30, 2023

**Starting Salary Range**:

- $ 27.90 per hour to $30.03 per hour

**Posting Date**:

- 2023-01-31

**Closing Date**:

- 2023-02-13

**Notes**:

- Priority consideration will be given to those on Notice of Recall.