Settlement Worker in Schools (SWIS) – Youth Wrap Around Facilitator

1 Position requiring fluency (ability to read, write, and speak) in Tigrinya (Amharic is an asset)

JOB SUMMARY

The Wrap Around Youth Facilitator works as part of a team that assists and supports vulnerable newcomer immigrant youth and parents. The Facilitator will interact with youth, parents, staff, and community partners to facilitate sustainable solutions to the unique settlement, education, social and career development needs of this vulnerable youth group. The role integrates best practices to deliver wrap-around support services to address client complex needs, facilitate skill-building and increase access to barrier free holistic and client-centred services. Wrap around supports include but are not limited to promoting and interpreting languages and cultures, life skills development, basic one-to-one counseling, multi-disciplinary/collaborative interventions to support settlement and integration, and addressing basic necessities of life. The Facilitator works under the supervision of the Manager of the Surrey Schools Welcome Centre.

Shift times may vary, and position may include split shifts and evening work. This position follows the district school schedule regarding spring, winter, and summer breaks.

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individual care and wrap around support to students to promote self-esteem, personal hygiene, problem-solving and life skills, build social skills, and encourage interest in learning, integration into the school system and forge community connections.
• Plan and facilitate activities for youth experiencing difficulty with adjusting to life in Canada.
• Build strong rapport with and engages children, youth, and families in the program to support strong outcomes.
• Provide special supports to GAR children and youth to ensure smooth transition to school
• Provide wrap-around services to refugee parents and caregivers with complex needs.
• Address barriers to smooth transition to school life and adaptation to daily life in Canada, including migration stressors, dealing with choice, traumatic experiences, student/parent disconnect from education, living in poverty, homelessness, family conflict, peer pressure at school etc.
• Work with families, school staff and community resources to facilitate the inclusion of children with special needs, such as children with autism, visual impairment, ADHD, and other special needs.
• Assist with implementation and delivery of programs which provide guidance and support to multi-barrier immigrant youth and families as part of the school (SWIS) Program
• Identify emerging needs of immigrant youth and newcomer families and adjusts programming to meet needs as they arise.
• Communicate with SWIS team, including SWIS, Bridge Teachers, Mental Health Specialist, Settlement Intake Workers and the Digital Navigator to ensure smooth collaboration to support families with complex needs and seek viable solutions to support long term integration and adjustment.
• Support the school’s educational settlement program and connect newcomer students and families with linkage to appropriate community agencies and resources
• Ensure program services meet funder programming objectives and deliverables.
• Maintain up-to-date files and records regarding services provided to students and families and ensure the confidentiality of client information.
Perform related duties as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

• Oral and written fluency in both English and another designated language
• Ability to support disengaged youth and provide peer mentorship
• Knowledge of youth culture, trends, issues facing youth, and of common barriers faced by immigrant youth, including culture shock, adaptation to local culture, new behavioral norms and expectations. Ability to establish and maintain rapport and develop effective working relationships with vulnerable children, families, school and district personnel, community agency staff, volunteers, and the public
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting to support youth and families with complex needs and multiple barriers and seek viable solutions to complex challenges facing youth and families.
• Demonstrated practical application of conflict resolution strategies and de-escalation in the school environment.
• Experience working with diverse populations including youth newcomers with multiple barriers, people with disabilities, and able to apply an intersectional lens to service delivery.
• Ability to use a variety of platforms to develop resources and update settlement information.
• Ability to respond with sensitivity to emerging situations and to use sound judgement when dealing with cross-cultural issues and matters of a confidential nature
• Interpersonal and communication skills to deal with staff and public and the ability to work and plan in a team environment.
• Ability to develop, deliver, and facilitate group settlement and school-related workshops.
• Strong knowledge of community services and resources to support immigrant multi-barrier clients.
• Physical co-ordination and ability to work on feet for extended periods and to assist with recreation programs if necessary.
• Excellent knowledge of Outlook, Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, Zoom and ability to learn and adapt to new technologies as required for service delivery.
• Ability to identify barriers to services to promote equity and inclusion for a diverse client population.
• Ability to efficiently collect client data and meet funder requirements and project deliverables.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment and adapt to on-going changes to service delivery.
• Mental Health First Aid and Level 1 First Aid Certification

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Completion of grade 12 plus two years of post-secondary education in social sciences, social work or counseling or equivalent from a post-secondary institution recognized by the district.
• Certificate as a Child and Youth Care Counsellor from a community college or similar institution recognized by the district.
• Two years practical experience in work related to the care of children or youth with behavioural problems or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• A minimum two years' experience working in a multicultural setting with different ethnic groups. Experience working with refugees is an asset.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to support service delivery needs during the evenings and weekend hours as needed

LICENCES, CERTIFICATES AND REGISTRATIONS

• Valid B.C. Driver's License is required as position may include work at multiple sites.

This is a unionized position that offers an hourly wage rate of $36.37 per hour plus a liberal benefit package including pension, health, vacation, and sick benefits.

Interested and qualified applicants can apply by clicking the "apply" button to the right of the posting. Please ensure that you specify which position and language you are applying for in your cover letter.

Please be sure that you have received a confirmation from Make a Future that you have applied to a specific posting. Without this confirmation your application will not have been submitted.

Note: Successful applicants will be required to consent to a Criminal Records Search prior to employment. This is not required at the time of application. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. To all others, thank you for your interest .