Program Summary
The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) offers immediate and essential services to Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) that arrive in Chatham, Ontario. The RAP’s services include temporary accommodation, income assistance, assistance in finding permanent housing, basic orientation, links to settlement programming, federal, and provincial programs to Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) and other eligible clients who arrive in Canada following an overseas identification and selection process
Job Purpose
As part of the RAP Team, the RAP Worker will assist ensuring that all direct services are provided to clients while they are in temporary housing and for related case management work. The RAP Worker provides front-line services such as referral, advocacy, research, translation, and interpretation to recently arrived refugees. The role also includes identifying client needs and developing and implementing appropriate action plans and referrals to support them. Complex cases will take priority. The RAP Worker will encourage and promote superior client service by organizing and facilitating meetings, information sessions, and workshops with individuals and groups. The position also includes the responsibility to gather relevant data and feedback needed to evaluate and improve ALL’s services and improve its capacity to deliver efficient and effective services.
Job Duties
This Job Profile describes the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. Employees may perform other duties and tasks as required to meet the needs of the operation. The responsibilities listed within the job profile are only guidelines.
Associated Resettlement Tasks:
- Complex Case - Assist by addressing complex care needs, including mental health, medical, and legal support.
- Complex Case - Provide tailored services to clients with complex needs, including crisis intervention, advocacy, and support.
- Complex Case - Work with healthcare providers to ensure that newcomers receive appropriate medical care, including preventive care and screenings, immunizations, and treatments for chronic conditions.
- Complex Case - Work in collaboration with RAP Workers to ensure healthcare services are provided in a timely manner
- Complex Case - Ensure all medical and health care needs of individuals are well communicated to internal departments such as CSS for follow up care before clients move to permanent accommodations.
- Coordinate effective airport reception services and is present for newcomer arrivals.
- Accompany clients to temporary accommodation and provide required initial hotel orientation.
- Develop and deliver required Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) life skills orientation sessions.
- Conduct needs assessments to obtain case history and provide referrals that respond to the immediate needs of clients.
- Provide appropriate and relevant information and referral services on community and government programs and services such as medical services, mental health supports, housing, transportation, financial services, etc., and accompany clients if required.
- Provide support and information for clients experiencing personal and/or family issues.
- Provide or arrange for interpretation for clients when accessing community services.
- Liaise, advocate, and case consult with other social service organizations and service providers.
- Assist in applying to Canada Child Benefits and other government applications and forms.
- Provide crisis intervention as required, e.g., in cases of family violence.
- Conducts financial orientation, informing clients about income support and their financial responsibilities to ensure that they understand the basics of the Canadian banking and financial systems and the key entitlements and obligations of their income support budget.
- Respond to telephone, in-person or electronic inquiries or forward them to the appropriate person.
- Create, edit, proofread, and finalize office correspondence, reports, statements, forms, presentations, and other documents using Microsoft applications.
- Prepare and file client intake forms; keep counselling notes and records; update client files and/or client database; record additional information as specified (monthly statistics, iCARE/OCMS, updates, etc.)
- Maintain overall management of client caseload
- Ensure appropriate and confidential handling of client information and files
- Operate in accordance with the policies, guidelines, and protocols of the program and partner organizations
- Attend regular RAP team meetings and other staff meetings as required.
- Provide necessary statistics and information as requested in a timely manner.
- Participate in RAP program-related training opportunities.
- Participate in regular team and organization-wide staff meetings.
- Inform and orient staff about settlement-related issues
- Comply with ALL’s vision, values, policies, and procedures.
- Collaborate with various community partners in support of RAP programming.
- Provide services in a supportive and culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate manner
- Other duties relevant to the position shall be assigned as required
Housing Support Services:
- Provide resettlement orientations to newcomer/GARS clients
- Assist and accompany clients in their search for permanent housing
- Liaise with landlords and rental agents on behalf of clients
- Build and maintain list of landlords and rental agents for ongoing communication
- Assess housing needs in accordance with family circumstance and physical needs of clients
- Assist clients complete rental applications, lease agreements and utilities installations
- Accompany clients on the day of moving out to their current accommodation
- Assist clients with the necessary paperwork required for their initial settlement
- Address any housing concerns, complaints and issues as they arise
- Conduct follow-up home visits after clients move out to their new housing
- Advocate and mediate on behalf of clients where applicable regarding housing issues
- Place furniture orders according to family’s needs and follow-up with delivery dates
- Educate landlords and rental agents on barriers and challenges that newcomers face
Competencies :
- Creativity and Innovation - Develops new ways or adapts existing ideas to help achieve the desired result
- Communication – Communicates in a thorough, clear and timely manner; Listens attentively to comprehend both the factual content of a message and the feeling being expressed
- Conflict resolution - facilitates appropriate and timely solutions to conflict
- Cultural Sensitivity - Promotes an inclusive environment exemplified by understanding all cultural groups.
- Diversity - appreciates that people with different opinions, background and characteristics bring a richness to the ALL, our community and Canada
- Integrity – Demonstrates responsible behavior at all times and maintains high ethical standard
- Organization - Able to create or maintain processes to ensure all relevant information or tools are easily accessible.
- Problem Solving – Identifies an issue and works towards a solution; Manages own time in order to concentrate efforts on priority projects.
- Professionalism - Demonstrates professional standards of conduct when governing interactions between individuals in a business environment.
- Relationship Building - builds positive interactions both internally and externally to achieve work related goals
- Self Management - works independently with minimal supervision
- Sense of Community - demonstrates an awareness and understanding of community and responds to identified needs
- Service Orientation - Express joy and interest in serving others; ensures a 24-hour turn-a-round on all telephone, in-person and e-mail inquiries from participants and colleagues
- Teamwork - Participates proactively in the development of team goals, plans and outcomes
- Time Management - Balances a myriad of tasks; prioritizes duties as needed.
- Tolerance for Ambiguity - functions effectively in situations of less than perfect or incomplete information
- Commitment to Organization Vision and Values – Demonstrates and promotes a personal understanding of and appreciation for the Mission and values of Adult Language and Learning.
Job Requirements
- The minimum level of education required is a Community College Diploma preferable in Social Services, Counselling, Psychology, or related field
- Experience working with immigrants, refugees, and other vulnerable individuals from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds is strongly desired.
- Demonstrated understanding and sensitivity towards the challenges facing newcomers
- Experience in Housing and/or Social /Legal service within community service or non-profit sector an asset.
- Ability to work individually as well as part of a team
- Ability to prioritize and manage conflicting demands while effectively and accurately managing client caseloads, client data, and document client progress.
- Proficient in Microsoft and Adobe Reader (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PDF, etc.
- Proficiency in using online digital platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet; required to provide virtual/remote service
- Proficiency in English
- Fluency in an additional language is an asset
- Must provide a current Criminal Record Check as per the ALL’s policy
- A valid driver's license and a vehicle are required for offsite work
Work Conditions
- Office environment with moderate exposure to public speaking and training facilitation. Some driving between sites and some off-site work may be necessary.
- Moderate physical requirements to stand and facilitate sessions, bending and lifting to set up programs, manual dexterity, and light to normal physical activities such as keyboarding, filing, climbing stairs, carrying, and lifting low-weight items.
- Continuously upgrades and maintains knowledge of changing Immigration Legislation, trends, and developments in the ever-changing cultural environment
- Frequent cognitive requirements with periods of sustained concentration, client interaction, presentation, speaking to a group of individuals, emotional situations, decision-making and recommendations, and paperwork.
- Interaction with employees, management, employers, clients and the public at large
Details:
- Full- time
- This role mostly works regular hours 8:30 - 4:30 pm, occasionally work in shifts and may be on call depending on client needs requiring oversite.
- Available to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends based on client arrivals
Acknowledgement And Agreement
Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all descriptions, responsibilities and activities required of the position.
We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Adult Language and Learning is an equal opportunity employer.
Apply by email or in person with Cover letter and Resume.
Adult Language and Learning
240 King Street West, Suite 101
Chatham, ON N7M 1E7
Phone: 519-354-7424
Fax: 519-354-5758
[email protected]
Pay: $27.50-$28.25 per hour
Benefits:
Flexible language requirement:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Chatham-Kent, ON N7M 1E7: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Location:
- Chatham-Kent, ON N7M 1E7 (required)
Work Location: In person
