Employer: Mennonite New Life Centre
Job term: Contract
Job region: Greater Toronto Area
Job city: Toronto (East York)
Deadline: April 4, 2008

The Mennonite New Life Centre requires a Settlement Worker (Spanish-speaking).

The Centre is a vibrant, multi-cultural settlement agency for newcomers to Canada. The Centre provides settlement services, language instruction and child-minding, mental health supports and capacity building workshops. Following upon an organizational visioning process, the Mennonite New Life Centre is developing new programming in the areas of advocacy and community engagement.

The ISAP Settlement Worker will be responsible for providing settlement assistance to Spanish speaking newcomers from Latin America, with a focus on Convention Refugees, Skilled Workers and Family Class Immigrants. The Settlement Worker will encourage, support and empower newcomers to meet immediate needs, build community connections, and participate in their new society.

This position is a short term contract, beginning April 1, 2008. The successful candidate will work 20 hrs/wk, covering the Spanish speaking case load of a staff member who has taken a temporary leave of absence. Contract is for six-months, with possibility of renewal.


Responsibilities:

Welcome new clients. Assess client needs, with a focus on the whole family. Special attention is paid to the needs of particularly vulnerable family members, such as children, youth and seniors.

Offer general orientation on newcomer rights and obligations under different immigration programs, as well as general information related to public transportation, housing, school registration, subsidized day care, health care, social assistance, education and training opportunities, employment, legal services, etc.

Work with client to address immediate and longer term priorities. This involves phone calls, letter writing, completion of forms, linguistic/cultural interpretation, and advocacy in order to help the client negotiate unfamiliar bureaucracies and service systems.

Perform immigration counseling. Assist newcomers with immigration processes. Complete forms, gather supporting documentation, write support letters, and consult with lawyers.

Assist newcomers with applications and communication with income support programs such as Ontario Works or Canada Pension Plan. Advocate with case workers to resolve problems and maximize benefits.

Refer clients as needed to other agency programs, outside professionals and/or community resources. Follow-up with clients to determine service satisfaction and offer support with ongoing settlement needs.

Contribute to community engagement initiatives. Participate in critical analysis of immigration and employment policies affecting newcomers and development of policy recommendations.


Qualifications:

University or college degree, preferably in social services or related field

One year of work experience in settlement field

Commitment to social justice and anti-racism work

Empathic skills and understanding of the newcomer experience

Up to date knowledge and critical analysis of immigration, employment and social service policies / practices affecting newcomers

Fluent in English and Spanish

This is a six-months short term contract position, beginning April 1, 2008, scheduled to work 20 hours a week.

Thank you to all applicants for their interest in the position. However, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.


How to Apply:

Tanya Chute Molina
Mennonite New Life Centre
Fax: 416-699-2207
Email: tmolina@mnlct.org