Resettlement Assistance Program

Vacancy Posting – Competition #2021-05-27 p-t RAP-LSW

Posted date: May 27, 2021

Closing date: June 11, 2021

Position: RAP Life Skills Worker (part-time)

Hours of work: 21 hours per week

Contract period: March 31, 2022

Location of work: 930 Balmoral Road, Victoria BC

Rate of pay: $23.51 (benefits after successful completion of probation period)

The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) helps immigrants and refugees meet their

social, cultural, and economic goals. Comprised of dedicated staff and volunteers, ICA provides

language instruction, support finding housing and employment and a range of other services. In

addition, ICA actively engages our community to strengthen connections between immigrants and

those born in Canada. Through our work, we build a strong, diverse, and vibrant community. ICA

is a welcoming, passionate, and energetic organization that has had a positive impact in the

Greater Victoria region for nearly 50 years.

Job description

Provides resettlement assistance services (including housing support) to Government-Assisted

Refugees (GARs) under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) as prescribed by the

Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (formerly known as Citizenship and

Immigration Canada (CIC)). Delivers immediate and essential RAP support services and facilitates

client transitions from RAP to settlement services. Serves all individuals, including BIPOC,

LGBTQ2+ and Indigenous, and those with diverse abilities. Works in close cooperation with the

Resettlement Manager and RAP Coordinator. Reports to the Resettlement Manager.

Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 12 Diploma (Undergraduate Degree preferred) in related discipline on

settlement/resettlement/refugee related themes, family law, immigration and refugee studies,

social work, intercultural studies, child and youth care or combination of education, training,

and experience.

• Direct experience with settlement/resettlement/refugee service delivery and case

management.

• Keen understanding of diversity issues to work with persons from diverse cultural and ethnic

backgrounds on settlement/resettlement/refugee related issues.

• Three years’ previous work experience within social services, not-for-profit, and/or

multicultural environment, preferably targeting refugees.

• Knowledge of community resources.
• Experience working with immigrants and refugees and understanding of immigration and

refugee issues.

• Proficiency in a settlement and/or resettlement language preferred (Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya,

or Somalian).

• Indigenous cultural competencies and/or lived experience with Indigenous communities

welcomed.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Supports the RAP team with overall resettlement, integration and housing process based on

client abilities and as determined by lead worker/coordinator/manager needs assessment and

observations.

• Supports Coordinator with potential viewing of rental suites, purchase and delivery of

furniture and other household items.

• Facilitates life skills to connect clients, where appropriate, with community services and

referrals (housing, recreation, transportation, health and wellness options, volunteer

organizations or services, banking options, interpretation/translation services, LGBTQ2+, and

accompany clients to appointments.

• Supports the RAP team with moving out activities.
• Provides accompaniment to community resources as directed by supervisors to build life skills

and ability to navigate and foster independence in preparation for integration and housing.

• Provides accompaniment to medical appointments and tests as required.
• Provides airport pick up support and assist with temporary accommodation orientation upon

arrival.

• Provides support around linkages in the community especially with high medical needs and

disability resources.

• Supports effective transition from temporary housing to suitable permanent accommodation,

including provisions to assist harder to house clients.

• Assists in connecting clients directly with health care system, including mental health

supports.

• May include occasional client intake and other integration tasks across settlement and

resettlement.

• Keeps client management and case notes up to date.
• Captures data in data management systems (OCMS) and participates in training to learn new

systems and stay up to date on systems requirements.

• Creates awareness of anti-oppressive/social justice issues.
• Participates in RAP-related training opportunities to stay current on issues impacting ICA

clients.

• Participates in regular team and organization-wide staff meetings.
• Follows all ICA policies and administrative procedures.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Job skills and abilities

• Demonstrates specialized, advanced knowledge of settlement/resettlement/refugee processes

and referral practices.

• Understands inter-cultural family dynamics.
• Demonstrates knowledge of eligibility criteria; crisis intervention skills, trauma informed

practice and empathy.

• Knowledge with needs assessments, case management and working with traumatized clients

or challenging behaviours.

• Performs language interpretation and work effectively with an interpreter.
• Demonstrates the ability to design and deliver workshops, including settlement orientation

workshops.

• Manages a caseload of immigrant and refugee clients.
• Supports and promotes community-based development activities/initiatives in order to assist

with the integration of RAP clients into the community.

• Practice time and resource management techniques and demonstrate effective teamwork in a

diverse team setting.

• Practice effective interpersonal and intercultural communication techniques in working

collaboratively with staff and external partners.

• Knowledge of refugee resettlement processes and challenges newly arrived refugees face.
• Identifies, accesses, and refers appropriately to ICA programs and community services and

resources.

• Demonstrates an ability to work with individuals and families experiencing discrimination,

racism, and culture shock.

• Understands the basics of the Canadian legal system, laws, and public policy.
• Fosters self-reliance and self-management in immigrant and refugee newcomers.
• Understands and respond to client reactions to resettlement transition and challenges.
• Demonstrates computer proficiency and create, maintain, and access records in a data

management system.

• Demonstrates effective teamwork in a diverse team setting.
• Creates and maintains professional boundaries.

Additional information

• Some travel to community locations within Greater Victoria will be required. Occasional travel

to locations in other parts of British Columbia and/or Canada for purposes like professional

development, networking, or conferences may also be required.

• Some work outside of regular office hours, including evenings and weekends, may be

required. Flex time schedules will be made to accommodate non-regular work hours.

• ICA compensates overtime hours with time off in lieu.
• Valid BC driver’s license, favourable driver’s abstract and access to a car is required.
• As a condition of hire, an updated criminal record check, including vulnerable populations

check, WHMIS training and driver’s abstract are required.

Submit a cover letter and current resume (in pdf. format), noting relevant qualifications,

language proficiency and experience to the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria,

Attention: HR Manager, via email to [email protected] before 4:30 pm on June 11, 2021.

Please quote Competition #2021-05-27 p-t RAP-LSW in the subject line.

Please note: This is a unionized position subject to the terms and conditions of our Collective Agreement and of our

funding agreements with various funders. As per the Collective Agreement, internal applicants will be given consideration

with respect to filling the position prior to external candidates being hired. This position is open to applicants of all

genders. This position requires union membership. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.