Newcomer Information & Support Worker, Spanish Speaking

We are currently recruiting for the role of NewcomerInformation and Support Worker - Spanish speaking tojoin our team in Surrey, B.C. The Newcomer Information and Support Workers provide newcomer immigrants and refugees with information, orientation, service linking and short-term adaptation counseling to facilitate their successful settlement and integration into the community. As part of this process, the worker acts as a liaison between the immigrant and/or refugee client, and the third-party service providers to facilitate the communication and access to programs and services.

The Key Areas of Responsibility are:

• Gather information to assess the needs and issues of newcomer immigrants and refugees and their families, and to develop and implement an action plan to meet these identified needs;
• Identify potential and actual risks and barriers encountered by the client and/or his family to access programs and services that are necessary for the successful settlement and integration into the community;
• Apply the strengths-based framework, explore with the client/client family past and present coping strategies to address identified challenges/issues, with the goal of facilitating the development of effective coping skills and support mechanisms;
• Assist clients in accessing appropriate programs and services for which they are eligible, and to ensure successful linking to these services. This includes liaising between the client and a third-party service provider to link clients to appropriate community and government resources and support services, making referrals to resources related to the economic, legal, social, health, cultural educational and recreational facilities, and assisting clients to complete application forms, such as child tax benefit, childcare subsidy, CPP, MSP, OAS, etc.
• Provide information concerning clients rights and obligations as a service recipient and resident of Canada;
• Provide interpretation services (both language and cultural) to facilitate interaction/interface between immigrant and/or refugee clients and the community;
• Detect issues such as depression, family violence, substance abuse, intergenerational conflicts through the early identification of warning signs that may be present in part as a result of the cultural adjustment challenges faced by the client/client family and to refer clients to the appropriate support services;
• Provide life skills support to assist immigrant and/or refugee client families in coping with various daily living activities, such as banking, shopping, English language acquisition, transportation, and access to a variety of community services;
• Plan, coordinate and/or provide educational workshops on a variety of topics related to the successful settlement and integration of newcomer immigrants and refugees, such as household management and budgeting, Canadian cultural norms and systems, Canadian laws and regulations regarding child-rearing, income tax, social benefits, etc.

Qualified candidates will possess:

• Degree in Social Work or related human services, or Diploma in Community Social Services, and one (1) year recent community services related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience;
• Written and verbal fluency in English and Spanish Speaking at a professional level;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the needs and issues of immigrants and refugees in Canada;
• Must be comfortable working with individuals who have experienced trauma;
• Ability to respond to or assist in emergency situations;
• Strong interpersonal, mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills;
• Knowledge and understanding of legislation and policies relevant to immigrants and/or refugees in Canada;
• Knowledge in the areas of needs and risk assessment, family dynamics, the impact of trauma, and the settlement and integration process;
• Ability to promote and implement education and support group services;
• Demonstrated cultural awareness in working with others;
• Sound knowledge of community resources, programs, and services;
• Demonstrated ability to independently and as part of a team;
• Working knowledge of standard office equipment and software applications.

A Criminal Record Check is a requirement of employment.

Please note that we currently have staff on the recall list. If an applicant on the recall list applies to this vacancy, the provisions under Article 13.5 "Recall" of the Collective Agreement will apply and we will not consider internal applications from those with less seniority.