The Resettlement Assistance Program provides services to clients in a twenty-four hour, seven days a week residential setting which is a temporary home to up to 100 clients

This is a full-time union contract position scheduled to work 35 hours per week.

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:
• Demonstrated 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 experience Applying Provincial and Federal Services for refugee clients or asylum seekers e.g. child tax benefits, GST/HST, OHIP, SIN 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, Spanish
• 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.
• Knowledge of Internet, Email and Windows software e.g. Microsoft Office Suite.
• 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.