Arrivals and Housing Settlement Counsellor - FT - RAP

Arrivals and Housing Settlement Counsellor - FT - RAP

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Catholic Social Services is currently seeking a full-time 40 hours per week, Settlement Counsellor in EDMONTON to join our Immigration and Settlement Services team. Providing excellent client-centered care, you are confident, thoughtful, and motivated to achieve success when supporting others in your community!

Job Overview:

The Settlement Counsellor for the Resettlement Assistant Program plays a vital role in the initial stages of the resettlement of the Government-Assisted Refugees. This role involves a broad spectrum of responsibilities with a significant focus on arrival (welcoming newcomers at the airport - flexible schedule (after-hours arrivals) and housing support alongside other essential RAP settlement services. These counsellors will place a particular emphasis on arrivals and housing.

Key responsibilities:

• Airport Welcome and Orientation: Greet new arrivals at the airport, provide initial orientation briefings, and transport them to their temporary accommodations.
• Housing Searches: Help Government Assisted Refugees find suitable permanent housing, understand lease agreements, and set up essential utilities. Provide ongoing support in navigating housing-related matters.
• Greet clients at the Reception House upon arrival.
• Provide a respectful, and culturally sensitive welcome to make them feel at ease.
• Familiarize newcomers with the accommodation facilities and services available.
• Conduct initial orientation to inform newcomers about life in Canada, covering topics like life-skills, rights and responsibilities.
• Assessing and prioritizing clients' needs, developing service plans.
• Identifying barriers to learning and providing relevant information.
• Providing translation/interpretation services and support with documentation.
• Assisting clients in navigating mainstream systems and community resources, enhancing their self-sufficiency.
• Drive clients to various essential appointments, including medical visits and searches for permanent housing. This involves transporting clients, ensuring punctuality, and providing support during these appointments.
• Develop a settlement plan outlining the steps for transitioning from temporary housing to permanent housing.
• Assist with applications for Social Insurance Numbers, Alberta Personal Health Number, and other documentation.
• Facilitate access to language training, and other integration programs.
• Participate in regular program, service, and agency meetings.
• Collaborate with the team leader in file reviews and case discussions.
• Maintain accurate and confidential client's records.
• Prepare regular reports on client progress and program outcomes.
• Attend mandatory training sessions.
• Share knowledge and learnings with colleagues to foster a collaborative and informed work environment.

What This Job Requires:

• Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field.
• Experience in working with refugees or in a cross-cultural service delivery environment.
• Knowledge of the Resettlement Assistance Program and Immigration/refugee policies in Canada.
• Proficiency in a second language would be an asset.
• Strong intercultural communication skills and sensitivity to the needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required.
• Excellent organizational skills and problem-solving skills.
• Empathy and patience in dealing with individuals who may be experiencing significant stress and trauma.
• Familiarity with local community resources and services for newcomers.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team.
• Police Information Check including vulnerable sector search, and Intervention Record Check current within six (6) months.
• Police Information Check including vulnerable sector search, Intervention Record Check and/or summary of driving record are conditions of employment and the financial responsibility of the candidate.

What We Offer:

• The salary for this position is $55,686.96 to $62,640.00 based on qualifications and experience.
• We offer flexibility and a supportive working environment.
• Flexible benefit options when eligible.
• Work within a highly collaborative, team-oriented organization, where your ideas are heard, and you can see your impact daily.
• Growth Opportunities: apply and grow your skills within a dynamic, innovative and expanding Agency that is taking a leadership role in our industry.

About Catholic Social Services:

You will be joining an established Agency that is guided by faith to care for and bring hope to people in need with humility, compassion and respect. With more than 50 years of service delivery, Catholic Social Services is one of the largest multi-function social services agencies in Canada, with more than 1900 staff, and hundreds of volunteers delivering 130+ programs throughout Central Alberta and Edmonton.

We welcome and celebrate the diversity of our employees and volunteers who choose to work with our Agency in support of our mission, values, and principles. We employ and serve people of all faiths, or no faith, while respecting all backgrounds and experiences.

“As a Catholic social services agency, we are guided by faith to care for and bring hope to people in need with humility, compassion and respect.”

Our values are at the core of everything we do!

• Humility: We acknowledge with gratitude our human abilities and limitations. We demonstrate humility by doing the best that we can with the resources that we have.
• Compassion: We respond to people in need with love. We demonstrate our compassion by caring for people without judgment and without condition.
• Respect: We demonstrate our respect by being personally present, open and attentive to those we care for and by honouring their dignity and freedom.

We thank all applicants. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We embrace diversity and offer equal opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of origin, culture, ethnicity, age, ability, gender identity, and people of faith or no faith.