Child and Family Settlement Counsellor

About Sojourn House

Sojourn House provides Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing services to newly arrived refugees coming from all parts of the world. We provide a safe place and an inclusive environment to people who have had the refugee experience. We are dedicated to providing the best possible settlement services and programs that help residents transition and integrate into the community. With decades of experience and being one of the first refugee housing facilities in Toronto, we take pride in being a leading organization in refugee care.

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

Reporting to the Manager, Transitional Housing and Skills for Life Programs at 101 Ontario Street, the Child and Family Settlement Counsellor is responsible for the provision of settlement focused case management focused services to refugee families, singles and couples, from an integrated anti-racism, access and equity framework in the Transitional Housing Program.

The position ensures effective intervention and case management of the issues of refugee residents in the Transitional Housing Program in compliance with all legislative requirements, including but not limited to the Refugee Protections and Child and Family Services Act.

You will integrate the use of trained Interpreters to provide programs and services to all residents as required ensuring the client’s right to services in their first language as per agency policy.

The Child and Family Settlement Counsellor ensures coordinated case management with various programs in the internal and external community of Sojourn House.

The Child and Family Settlement Counsellor works in coordination with the Child and Family Social Worker and the Manager of Skills for Life and Transitional Housing Programs to build a comprehensive program and support services for refugee child and family clients during their residency in the Transitional Housing Program.

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.

What you'll do

1.Plan the Program

• Develop a work plan with the Child and Family Social Worker to deliver settlement counselling, life skills, orientation, mentoring, and outreach supports that promote self-determination, independence, and focus on education or employment. Identify service gaps and share them with the Manager of Skills for Life and Transitional Housing Programs to inform new initiatives.
• Participate in networks, coalitions, meetings, and partnerships to promote the organization, address refugee claimant issues across all age groups, and contribute to program evaluation.

2.Implement the Program

• Implement individual and group settlement counselling, comprehensive life skills, the settlement orientation program, mentoring partnerships, and outreach supports for child and family refugee claimants in the Transitional Housing Program, promoting self-determination and independence with a focus on education enhancement or employment training.
• Coordinate service delivery with the Child and Family Social Worker, the Manager of Skills for Life and Transitional Housing Programs, and internal and external partners, applying an integrated anti-racism, access, and equity framework.
• Identify service gaps and use trained Interpreters to ensure clients’ right to services in their first language, in accordance with agency policy
• 3.Program Administration
• Maintain client files, complete all case management forms, and ensure documentation meets legal standards with updated notes, following organizational confidentiality and anonymity policies.
• Maintain accurate records for program expenses in accordance with organizational financial policies, including petty cash, program expenses, and tokens.
• Maintain up-to-date resources for refugees and refugee claimants such as TTC maps, lawyer lists, physicians, and community legal clinics.
• Maintain service statistics and complete report writing as required.

4.Program Control and Risk Management

• Complete case file notes and reports in a timely manner, ensuring they are current and up to date.
• Communicate any risks in programming activities and all complaints to the Manager of Skills for Life and Transitional Housing Programs for investigation, with the Executive Director investigating complaints involving the Human Rights Code.
• Write incident and serious occurrence reports and issue verbal warnings as an educational and deterrent measure for non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Transitional Housing contract, in consultation with management and in compliance with agency policies and procedures.
• 5.Community Relations/Advocacy/Education and Outreach
  Maintain positive partnerships with community groups, organizations, schools, hospitals/clinics, childcare facilities, the court system, and other resources to support the goals of the Transitional Housing Program.
• Represent the organization at community activities, networks, and coalitions on refugee settlement issues to enhance its profile.

6.Social Justice and Anti-Racism, Access and Equity

• Keep abreast with social justice issues especially as they affect youth, families, refugees and refugee claimants and ensure the advancement of their issues from an anti-racism, access and equity framework both in the internal and external community of the organization

7. General

• Comply with all agency policies, procedures, the Code of Conduct, and ethics at all times, including when representing the agency with external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with shelter and transitional housing staff, attend required meetings and training sessions, meet with funders as needed, and assist with other duties as required.

What You’ll Need

• Minimum 2-year College Diploma in Social Service Worker or Community Service Worker required
• Proof of relevant training or course work from a recognized institution in the area of trauma informed counselling
• Three (3) or more years of progressive experience in settlement child, youth and family services
• Working knowledge of IRPA, Mental Health Act, Ontario Works, Landlord/Tenant Act, RGI, Child and Family Services Act, and related procedures.
• Knowledge of refugee law, refugee determination process, settlement issues, and refugee client groups including children, single adults, and families who have experienced trauma requiring high maintenance and supports.
• Knowledge of stages of child development.
• Applied knowledge of individual, group, and crisis counselling skills, including couple and family counselling, crisis intervention, case management, and case coordination.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply an integrated anti-racism, access, and equity framework to community development and systemic legal advocacy

Working conditions

• Usually works in an office environment, but the mission of the organization may sometimes take the Child and Family Settlement Counselor to non-standard workplaces.
• Work a standard work week of 37.5 hours; Monday to Friday 10am – 5.30pm with occasional evenings to facilitate programming and client availability. May from time to time work additional hours to accommodate client needs, meetings and representing the agency at public events.

This posting expires on August 27th 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please submit a cover letter with resume.

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.