CharityVillage

About Sojourn House

Since 1989 Sojourn House has partnered with the City of Toronto providing emergency shelter and transitional supportive housing for refugee claimants, building the first integrated model of refugee specific emergency shelter and supportive housing in Canada. In 2012 Sojourn House was awarded the Newcomer Championship award by the Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in recognition of our unique model of providing both Shelter and Transitional Housing. Sojourn House received project funding in 2024 to deliver itinerant settlement and housing support services to refugee claimants currently sheltered in hotels, churches, and shelters. 

In support of its commitment to a healthy, safe, workplace and community it is recommended all staff have up-to-date vaccinations for COVID-19 with a vaccine approved for use in Canada.

About the Role

The successful candidate will be experienced delivering settlement and housing support orientation and counselling to refugee claimants. The candidate will be part of our Skills for Life program and will facilitate individual counselling as well as group sessions to groups of refugee youth and singles, as well as facilitating workshops to service providers in and outside the GTA. It is expected the incumbents will be deployed to deliver services three days per week to other agencies and shelters; and two days per week in-house doing administrative, planning coordination work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Needs Assessment: Assess client needs across a broad spectrum of settlement areas to develop a service plan that meets the needs of the client.
• Information and Orientation: Provide clients with information about living and working in Ontario, rights and responsibilities and services and resources available and assist clients to access services and resources.
• Referrals: Refer clients to community and government services such as housing, language training, legal services, social assistance, employment, credential recognition, and healthcare to support integration.
• Service Navigation: Assist clients with the referral process to access community and government services, including facilitation of service access through service bridging, form filling, interpretation/translation, and Client advocacy.
• Case Management: Assist clients with higher needs to meet their basic needs and develop life skills to promote independence. Follow up with clients at regular intervals as needed.
• Housing Support: Help clients find temporary and longer-term housing and conduct outreach to landlords and housing services.
• Documentation: Accurate documentation re case management, incident reports
• Administration: Accurately completing all settlement related forms not limited to but including work permits and applications, any case management correspondence with settlement related professionals.
• Communication: Accurate communication of information written and verbal with clients, management, and external stakeholders.
• Issue management and Conflict Resolution: Responsible to identify and manage issues and resolve conflicts in a timely and effective manner.
• Compliance with Agency Operational, Organizational Policies: demonstrate ability to understand and to comply with Sojourn House policies and procedures, Shelter Hostel Standards, Code of Conduct and Social Work Ethics and all legislated statutory regulations and Acts.
• Attend training, staff meetings etc. as directed.
• Other Duties - as required.

Required Education & Competencies:

• A minimum 2 Year Community College Diploma in Social Service Worker (SSW) or Community Service Worker (CW).
• Practical experience working with refugee claimants.
• Solid group facilitation experience is an asset.
• Current Standard First Aid/CPR certificate required.
• Demonstrated practical experience working with youth in a program environment.
• Working knowledge of IRPA, Mental Health Act, Ontario Works 
• Minimum of 3 or more years of progressive experience in youth services with immigrant and refugee youth
• Demonstrated experience in program development, design, implementation, and evaluation specific to newcomer youth.
• Relevant training in conflict resolution, crisis intervention and de-escalation required.
• Knowledge of client group separated youth requiring high maintenance and support.
• Applied knowledge of refugee and settlement issues and knowledge of social work practices and ethics.
• Knowledge and ability to apply an integrated anti-racism, access, and equity framework.
• Analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills.
• Issue management and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of community networks and resources.
• Proficiency required in the use of: Zoom or Teams, Microsoft Office, database management, email, internet.
• Relevant language such as Amharic or Tigrinya an asset  

Other:

• Rate: $29.60/hour (2024 rate)

Please submit a cover letter with resume. Sojourn House thanks all applicants but will contact only qualified candidates selected for interviews.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, a request for accommodation will be accepted throughout the hiring process.  Interview candidates are required to provide their accommodation needs at least three business days before the assessment date.  Sojourn House is committed to employment equity and encourages applicants from all equity seeking groups.