Settlement Worker

About this position

Short Description: 

Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (Access Alliance) is a Community Health Centre that aims to provide services and addresses system inequities to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable immigrants, refugees, and their communities. The Centre envisions a future in which Toronto’s diverse communities achieve health with dignity.

Acting as a member of an interdisciplinary team, the Settlement Worker connects with newly arrived GARs and PRs to provide one-on-one individual information, assessment and referral services as well as settlement counseling.  This position will also facilitate group workshops on settlement-related topics.

Responsibilities:

Client Intake and Orientation

• Support the client intake and orientation processes as required by providing one on one and group supports as necessary

Service Provision

• Support IERs with opportunities to enhance their confidence and social capital through mentorship, networking, peer and community support
• Process referrals from the settlement and community service colleague to provide digital coaching services to clients in either one-on-one or group orientation sessions
• Develop creative teaching and informative materials that will help direct potential clients to relevant online settlement services
• Identify online portals frequented by newcomers and distribute brochures and other relevant Information
• Link with newcomers in the community (library, places of worship, parks, etc.) and support them to access needed programs and services in various modalities

Planning and Evaluation

• Participate as a member of the Settlement Program to address the settlement and  integration of newly arrived GARs and PRs
• Participate in program planning and delivery within the centre. Share information obtained through client encounters about perceived settlement needs to inform service  development
• Participate in program development and committee work within the broader community and work in partnership with other institutions and agencies as required

Organizational Responsibilities

• Ensure appropriate documentation by maintaining client records, assessment notes,  progress notes and correspondence, which safeguards confidentiality, including  obtaining required consent for disclosure
• Identify the need for or participate in the development of policies and protocols, which  will improve client services and promote more effective staff functioning
• Participate in and support all organizational systems and structures as required,  including but not limited to health and safety, anti-oppression, performance evaluations, case conferencing, interdisciplinary meeting and quality assurance
• Ensure data entry is up-to date and submit program statistics and reports on a timely basis
• Carry out other duties as may be assigned from time to time

Skills and Qualifications:

Minimum requirements

• Completed undergraduate degree in Immigration and Settlement, Health Sciences, Social Work, Education, Communications or a combination of relevant education and work experience;
• Minimum three years front-line experience in a community-based organization, providing information, referrals, advocacy or settlement services, and conducting outreach;
• Thorough knowledge of community resources and services available for newcomers in Toronto;
• Experience planning and facilitating workshops and group programs focused on health and settlement information for newcomers;
• Excellent digital media literacy, competent in creating and disseminating content on multiple key social media platforms, and experienced in coaching/training other people on using these platforms;  
• Demonstrated group facilitation, presentation and training skills;
• Experience working with low-income, multi-racial, multi-lingual, LGBTQ+ newcomer communities;
• Demonstrated commitment to working from an integrated anti-oppressive, anti-racist, LGBTQ+ positive framework;

Other requirements:

• Knowledge of challenges and barriers faced by internationally educated professionals
• Knowledge of resources and services available for internationally educated researchers
• Commitment to systemic change
• Deal effectively with crisis and conflict, and demonstrate appropriate boundaries
• Thorough knowledge of community resources available to immigrants and refugees
• Strong understanding of at least two priority newcomer populations: GARs, refugees, youth, women, LGBTQ newcomers
• Strong group facilitation skills
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Computer literacy and keyboarding skills
• Problem-solving, organizational and time-management skills
• Work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Flexibility and responsiveness to community needs
• Work at least one evening shift weekly and attend occasional evening and weekend activities
• Commitment to lifelong learning and ongoing professional development

Hours: Full time, 35 hours/Week
Duration: 12 months, Relief
Bargaining Unit position: United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 175
Classification: CHW

AAMHCS is a community-based organization that operates from a pro-choice, anti-oppression, and participatory framework.  In your cover letter, we invite you to articulate why you wish to work with Access Alliance, and in what ways did you wish to put your skills, experience, and education into action for this role and for Access Alliance at this time. Knowledge of the neighbourhoods we serve and how agency values would be integrated in your day-to-day work may be interview questions.

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  Please note that a criminal background check and Vulnerable sector check will be conducted for this position as a condition of employment.

We are committed to a workforce reflective of the diversity of the City of Toronto and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from those who provide different perspective and contribute to diverse ideas including those from racialized and LGBTQ communities.

AAMHCS is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer committed to providing accommodations for applicants upon request at any stage of the recruitment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

AAMHCS encourages a scent-free environment.