Settlement Worker

**Overview**

As a member of the YWCA’s Settlement Services’ team, the Settlement Worker is responsible for assisting newcomers to Canada to understand their rights and responsibilities and to successfully settle into the St. Thomas-Elgin community. The position supports individuals and families with making informed decisions about their lives and working towards short, medium, and long-term goals. Clients come from diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and seek support across a spectrum of needs. In addition to delivering one-on-one direct services, the Settlement Worker facilitates Community Connections’ activities for adults and youth and supports the administration of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.

The position is part of a small, interdisciplinary team that consists of Settlement Workers, English as a Second Language staff, and program volunteers under the guidance of the Settlement Services’ Manager and Director of Education and Settlement. The position also liaises with other service providers, local government offices and refugee sponsors to help newcomers succeed and feel at home in Canada.

**Major Responsibilities**
- Delivery of frontline settlement services to individuals and families.
- Carry out intakes and deliver needs and asset assessments in support of helping clients develop personalized settlement plans.
- Provide information and orientation services on a broad range of settlement topics and referrals to government and community programs and resources.
- Based on need, attend community supports with individuals and families to help them navigate resources.
- Organize professional interpretation and translation services; collaborate with interpreters to facilitate clients’ access to accurate and timely information.
- Communicate and coordinate with refugee sponsors to assist privately sponsored refugees make informed decisions and settle in the community.
- Ensure services are offered in an inclusive manner, sensitive to diversity and consistent with funder requirements.
- Administration of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.
- Provide information about the LINC program to eligible adult learners and complete intake/registration processes on a continuous basis.
- Based on need, coordinate itinerant language assessments with the assessment centre or provide support to clients booking their placement tests.
- Maintain and update HARTS and iCARE databases with registrations, attendance, withdrawals, and waitlisted learners.
- Collaborate with instructors, the PBLA Lead and/or Manager to address matters such as learner start dates, withdrawals, orientations, attendance, student needs, and emergent issues.
- Planning, implementing, and supporting Community Connections’ activities.
- Develop, organize, and facilitate group activities to meet the needs of newcomer youth and provide them with opportunities to be engaged in the community.
- Coordinate volunteers and organize the delivery of English language conversation circles.
- Prepare communication and outreach materials for Community Connections’ activities.
- Establish and maintain relationships with local agencies in support of the Newcomer Youth Club and other Community Connections’ programming.
- Provide support to colleagues with the facilitation of group activities for newcomer adults and families (i.e., outreach, event logistics).
- Outreach and Community Engagement.
- Network and liaise with community agencies, service providers, refugee sponsors, and the general public to raise awareness and knowledge of newcomers’ needs and their contributions to the community.
- Represent the YWCA and promote its programs and services at community events and networks.

**Administrative duties**:

- Maintain case notes, files, and program statistics while ensuring the confidentiality of information.
- Participate in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities.
- Attend and actively participate in team and staff meetings and professional development sessions.
- Complete other administration duties as required.

**Education (degree/diploma/certifications)**:

- Post-secondary education in a related field from a recognized college or university. For education obtained abroad, proof of Canadian equivalence may be required.
- Valid Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle.
- Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening.

**Experience**:
2+ years of experience working as a Settlement Worker with a non-profit or community-based agency.

**Knowledge/Skill/Ability**:

- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Must possess some knowledge of citizenship and/or immigration policies and settlement issues.
- Able to identify barriers to services to foster equity and inclusion for a diverse client population.
- Understanding of and experience w