Settlement Worker

**Position Type**:Full-time contract (35 hours/week) ending March 31, 2024

**Start Date**: June 2023

**Salary**:$24.89 - $29.28 per hour

**Position Summary**

The Settlement Worker provides information and guidance to newcomers (refugees, refugee claimants, International Students, and Temporary Workers) arriving to Kingston and area. They support individuals and families in accessing and navigating government and community services to help them meet their settlement needs.

The focus of the role is improving the health and wellbeing of the clients. The Settlement Worker will assist newcomers with more complex settlement needs and support connection to services such as housing, employment, childcare, income security, settlement processes and advocacy.

**Responsibilities**

**Case Management**
- Provide case management to newcomer clients with complex health and social needs (refugees, refugee claimants and other vulnerable newcomer clients).
- In tandem with the other settlement and resettlement workers, assist and advocate for clients to meet their short
- and long-term settlement, health and wellbeing needs.
- Using a trauma-informed care approach, provide crisis
- support to survivors of war and/or trauma, referring to appropriate professional services in a timely and discreet manner.
- Assist clients in setting short and long-term health and wellbeing goals.
- Liaise, coordinate, and mediate with appropriate internal staff of the various KCHC programs and external stakeholders and/or providers to facilitate strong service bridging and communication.
- Plan and coordinate, and facilitate as needed, a variety of wellbeing sessions, utilizing internal and external resources and professionals, all relating to the needs identified by clients and the program.
- Maintain a current knowledge of health and community resources pertinent to the client base and area of practice served.
- Make timely and appropriate internal and/or external referrals for newcomers as determined by their needs, accompany clients as needed.
- Connect with, advocate for, and provide services tailored to the unique needs of newcomer children and youth.
- Address language barriers, accessing translation and interpretation resources as appropriate.
- Other related duties may be assigned.

**Program Support**
- Support a culture of continuous improvement in health and wellbeing outcomes.
- Develop close connections with and maintain ongoing relationships with local organizations and community resources.
- Work with internal staff to develop sensitivity to newcomer issues and cultural differences and to promote sensitivity in program planning.
- Remain informed of the development and educational events, activities, and media spots about the challenges newcomers face Canada and around the world.
- Maintain current understanding of community and government services being used by and could be useful for newcomers.
- Participate in staff meetings as required.
- Contribute to the effective transfer of knowledge and best practices in the field of settlement.
- Actively take part in events related to settlement.

**Administration and Evaluation**
- Support the program team with the creation and implementation of a data management and evaluation model for the program.
- Maintain clear and accurate case notes, records, and data for reporting purposes.
- Routinely compile, enter, and report relevant data per agency and funder request.
- Perform administrative tasks as related to the position, including activities such as time planning, documentation, and report preparation.
- Participate in regular program review and planning of program evaluation initiatives with a continuous quality improvement focus.
- Effectively utilize social media and communication strategies to promote the program and supports available.

**Organizational Responsibilities**
- Complies with all relevant legislation and KCHC policies, including privacy laws.
- Commits to acquiring an understanding of the importance of trauma responsiveness and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
- Commits to demonstrating an ongoing commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization and Accessibility (EDIIA) by representing the diverse nature of our communities, promoting, and practicing inclusion.
- Supports KCHC’s student and volunteer placement programs.
- Promotes awareness of and participation in KCHC activities.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and quality improvement.
- On occasion, perform other temporary duties as required.

**Basic Education and Experience Requirements**
- Undergraduate degree and/or relevant post-secondary education.
- Three plus years practical experience in providing services to newcomers including orientation, advocacy, counselling/advising, case management, and referral work.
- Short term crisis counselling experience and/or training, experience with victims of war and trauma preferred. Strong knowledge of trauma-infor