Access to Benefits Navigator

**Access to Benefits (A to B) Navigator**

**Full-time (37.5 hours/week), Permanent Position**

**WHAT IRCOM OFFERS**:

- A warm, fun and supportive work community
- An incredibly diverse workplace that is committed to staff wellness and inclusion
- A staff team passionate, committed and unified in supporting the integration of newcomer families
- An inner-city organization committed to Truth and Reconciliation
- A family-friendly organization with a comprehensive benefits package
- A place where you can make a difference and feel the rewards of your work on a daily basis

**CANDIDATE PROFILE**:The Access to Benefits Navigator is:

- A strong advocate, willing to go as far as needed to ensure issues are resolved and benefits are received
- A creative problem solver who provides services based on the unique needs of families
- Detail oriented, organized, able to keep accurate records
- Someone who possesses strong data entry skills and experience
- Knowledgeable in financial literacy and best practices
- Experienced with community based financial resources,
- Able to communicate with and teach culturally diverse adult newcomers,
- Someone who takes initiative, is able to work independently and has good teamwork skills,
- Someone who has strong teaching and networking skills and experience,
- Passionate about assisting newcomer adults to gain independence and skill in financial management

**POSITION PURPOSE AND SUMMARY**:
Guided by the vision, mission, and values of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc., the **Access to Benefits Navigator** provides support to newcomer community members to;
overcome barriers and navigate complex systems, to gain equitable access to income support programs, appropriate financial services, and asset building opportunities. Reporting to the Settlement and Capacity Building Program (SCBP) Manager, this role works in cooperation with other program teams to meet the newcomer community’s needs for access to benefits. The Access to Benefits Navigator will exhibit and uphold IRCOM’s core values of integration, diversity, advocacy and empowerment, and they will work in a way that is people-centered, holistic and partnership based.

With the support and supervision of the Settlement and Capacity Building Program (SCBP) Manager, the Access to Benefits Navigator will fulfill the following:
**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Program Development & Delivery (70%)**
- Advocate for tenants and community members to make sure they are receiving the benefits they are entitled to, providing home visits and accompaniments when needed
- Research to see what new benefits exist, understand the criteria and make tenants aware of their entitlements. Integrate new benefits into existing programs, as is relevant
- Provide intensive, case by case support to families to overcome barriers and navigate bureaucratic systems, offering one on one financial coaching sessions, as needed
- File income tax returns and assist newcomers to navigate government systems and access financial benefits, such as GST, child tax benefits, RDSP and disability tax credit.
- Problem solve issues when there is disruption in or challenges accessing benefits
- Support ACBP Program Assistant to facilitate Money Management Training group sessions, as needed
- With the ACBP team, deliver linguistically accessible financial literacy workshops for newcomer families and individuals facing multiple barriers
- In consultation with the SCBP manager / ACBP Coordinator, provide organizational training/ to support other IRCOM staff, in areas such as system loopholes, exceptions to rules, changes to systems barriers, and other dissemination of information
- Create related resources, forms, spreadsheets, information sheets, promotional materials, etc. to share with program participants and fellow staff
- Liaise with other Access to Benefits and newcomer service providing agencies
- Actively take part in the delivery of other ACBP programs
- Provide support to the full spectrum of financial empowerment program, including matched savings programs

**Records Management and Reporting (25%)**
- Enter participant data into program specific databases as required
- Collect, store and manage participant records
- Ensure participant and organizational digital information are accurately filed
- Compile monthly reports
- Compile a mid-term and final narrative report as well as financial reports on the project as per funding guidelines
- Compose program summary of activities for public consultation with the ACBP Coordinator.
- Provide input for annual ACBP reports

**Team and Interdepartmental Support (5%)**
- Maintain open communication with the IRCOM staff, community members and program participants
- Attend IRCOM staff meetings, ACBP team meetings and other project related meetings as requested
- Complete program related training and other tasks as required
- Follow all IRCOM policies and procedures
- Collaborate with other IRC