IRSA Employment Opportunity: Counselling Support Worker
Deadline to apply: 1 March 2023
IRSA is hiring a full-time Counselling Support Worker. This position's primary area of focus is assisting newcomers with gaining a better understanding of health and wellness. Counselling support workers provide clients with the skills and resources for building and maintaining beneficial connections at home, work and school.
Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI (IRSA) acknowledges that we are located on the traditional and unceded territory of Abegweit Mi'kmaq First Nation and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
Position: Full-time term position
Term: Through 31 March 2023 (renewable April 1st each year, subject to program funding)
Salary: $23.14 per hour, 37.5 hours per week
Location: Charlottetown
IRSA is seeking a Counselling Support Worker to help us on our mission of building a welcoming and inclusive environment by bringing diverse communities together and empowering newcomers to build a future in PEI.
We help all newly landed immigrants and newcomers to Canada by providing vital support through short-term settlement services, long-term inclusion and community integration programs in the province of Prince Edward Island.
At IRSA, as an organization and as a team, we are guided by our core values of respect, empathy, diversity, integrity, accountability, innovation and teamwork in all that we do.
How You'll Spend Your Time
As a Counselling Support Worker, your primary area of focus will be assisting newcomers with gaining a better understanding of health and wellness in Canada. You will be providing clients with the skills and resources to assist them with building and maintaining beneficial connections at home, work and school. You will be:
- Providing one-to-one counselling support, family interventions, referral and follow-up;
- Conducting outreach to relevant community groups and external stakeholders and support networks;
- Developing and facilitating group sessions, orientation sessions, and workshops for newcomer families;
- Developing and facilitating parenting sessions through preventative programming, explaining Canadian parenting expectations and helping participants to increase their support networks;
- Creating and delivering content for public presentations about available services;
- Providing supportive counselling, referrals and information to empower clients to solve problems and cope with challenges arising from immigration or refugee resettlement in Canada;
- Liaising with community organizations, social services, school well-being teams, and public schools branch to form partnerships for assisting newcomers with wellness and mental health-related concerns;
- Providing navigation support and advocacy for individual clients or families who require assistance in accessing mental health and addiction service supports;
- Referring clients to internal and external programs and services as determined through performed needs assessments;
- Representing IRSA on committees and boards to provide education and advocacy for client needs;
- Ensuring up-to-date case notes are completed on client files in a fulsome manner within IRSA's client management system;
- Evaluating service program delivery and providing regular reporting for funding partners; and
- Participating in regularly scheduled internal meetings and professional development opportunities to follow trends and understand the individual, team and organizational roles in providing programming, support and services for newcomers.
The typical work schedule is Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with availability required after hours and on weekends.
What You'll Bring
- You have a post-secondary degree in Psychology or related disciplines, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience with trauma-informed care.
- You are an effective communicator in the English language, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and are confident in public speaking and presentation settings.
- You have demonstrated a high level of empathy coupled with a strong working knowledge of challenges and issues facing the newcomer population, and networks and support organizations.
- You have demonstrated cultural competence and have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
- You have strong organizational and time-management skills with demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize.
- You are a team player who works well under pressure and with minimal supervision.
- You are computer-proficient and have experience working with MS Office applications, social media and Google applications.
- You have a valid PEI driver's licence with access to reliable transportation.
Additionally:
- The ability to communicate in languages other than English would be considered a strong asset.
- Experience working with the immigrant or refugee population would be beneficial.
- Experience working in a non-profit organization and/or a non-government organization would be an asset.
- Experience working with a Client Management System (CMS) would be considered an asset.
How to Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter by 1 March at 4:00 pm by email to careers@irsapei.ca or drop your application off in person at IRSA PEI, 49 Water Street, Charlottetown, PE
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those individuals selected for further consideration will be contacted.
IRSA PEI is committed to an equitable, diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, members of visible minority groups, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and IRSA to apply.
