Settlement Counsellor

**Job Title**

Settlement Counsellor - RAP and Life Skills

**Immediate Supervisors**
- Director of Settlement and Family Support Services, Team Lead of Settlement and Family Support Services_

**Classification**

Counsellor/Facilitator

**Wage**

Starting at $23.05 per hour

Closing Date: September 6, 2024

Start Date: ASAP until March 31, 2025. May be extended, may become permanent.

**Job Purpose**

Under the direction of the Settlement and Family Support Director, the Settlement Counsellor receives and provides initial settlement services to refugees and immigrants. This position assists immigrants and refugees with high and complex needs to become independent and self-sufficient by providing settlement counselling services. The position is frequently expected to provide service in client’s first language or a common language other than English.

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- Administration_
- Receives and provides initial settlement services to government-assisted refugees by delivering the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
- Provides settlement services to refugees and immigrants through Needs Assessment & Referral Services (NARS) and other settlement programs.
- Fosters equitable treatment of immigrants by keeping up-to-date on policies and programs affecting immigrant settlement; and maintains good working relationships with community service providers.
- Helps clients access community services by providing information, consulting, following up with referrals, advocating for clients, and translating and interpreting for clients.
- Keeps supervisor informed by regular reporting as required and advising them on emergent issues.
- Ensures service quality and collaborative work relationships by providing guidance to new staff and acting as a resource person in an identified area of expertise.
- Case Management_
- Assists immigrants with adjustment to life in Canada by providing assessment, counselling, orientation, translation, interpretation, document preparation, employment information, and organizing group activities for information, education and enjoyment.
- Provides life skills coaching, crisis intervention, and implements remedial or preventative measures.
- Manages cases by assisting immigrant families and individuals to access community services through home visits, outreach activities, providing information, consulting, making contacts and appropriate referrals, and accompany them on appointments.
- Follows up with contacts, advocates for clients, documents case files, and shares client information through case consultations.
- Life Skills_
- Provide all Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) with Life Skills training from the date of arrival to a maximum of six weeks after arrival. This includes but is not limited to:

- o Transportation- o Shopping for food, clothes, and household items- o Appliance usage- o Food preparation- o Laundry- o Personal hygiene- o Cleaning products and garbage disposal- o Mail and record keeping- o Banking and money- o Safety at home (kitchen safety, locking doors, windows, balconies, calling 911)- Emergency services - location of nearest walk in clinics, hospitals and pharmacies
- Programming_
- Provides program information and data by maintaining client records, preparing required client files, and participating in staff meetings and internal committees.
- Promotes respect for cultural diversity by informing and educating the community about immigrant and cross-cultural issues; and participating in external committees.
- Other duties as assigned._

**Education and Experience**
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, education or psychology and one year of work experience providing counselling services, OR
- Post-secondary education in the social sciences, humanities or adult education and two years’ work experience providing counselling services, OR
- An equivalent combination of directly-related training and experience.
- Training in life skills counselling not mandatory but is an asset.

**Required Licenses and/or Certifications**
- Criminal Occurrence Security Check - Must complete a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check in good standing and within three months prior to first day of employment.