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.

About the Role

Reporting to the Family Shelter Manager at the 165 Grange Avenue shelter, the Child and Family Settlement Counsellor is responsible for the provision of settlement and housing case management focused services to refugee families and couples, from an integrated anti-racism, access and equity framework in the emergency Family Shelter program of Sojourn House.
This is a full-time unionized position that works in the emergency Family Shelter program of Sojourn House

The position ensures highly effective and efficient interventions and case management of the issues of resident refugee claimant children and their parent/s and couples in compliance with all legislative requirements, including but not limited to the Refugee Protection and Child and Family Services Act.

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

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 to meet the goals of the program including but not limited to enhanced case management leading to access to permanent housing and facilitating the clients’ transition from shelter to housing

• Contribute to program planning by identifying gaps in services and communicating them
  to
  Senior Management for the development of new program initiatives

• Participate in direct service networks and coalitions to promote and advance the organization, its program and services and the issues of refugee children, youth and their families

• Identify, develop and participate in partnerships related to children and families programming and services

2. Implement the Program

• Comply with all agency policies, complete intakes and assessment of refugee families, develop and implement case plans including exit surveys.

• Provide individual and family counselling on age-specific settlement issues , make referrals to community supports and services like school, Day Care, registrations, liaise and advocate for refugee families with support and accompaniment as required.

• Plan and implement group programs for children, youth, and parents such as Life Skills, educational and recreational activities, design and run parenting support groups, and conduct outreach through school visits and parent-child meetings to support integration.

• Refer families to the Housing Counsellor to initiate housing searches
  and coordinate with staff to assist residents in making a supportive move into the community.

3. Administer the Program

• 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 service statistics and complete report writing as required.

4.Control the Program

• Complete case file notes and reports in a timely manner, ensuring they are current and up to date.

• Communicate any risks in program activities as well as any complaints to your manager in line with Sojourn House’s Risk and Complaint handling procedures.
  Complaints involving the Human Rights Code must also be reported to the Manager, People Services.

5.Community Relations/Advocacy/Education and Outreach

• Establish positive working relationships and collaborative partnerships with community groups and other organizations to help achieve the goals of the program and organization

• 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 refugees children, youth and their parent/s, 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 Community College Diploma in Social Service Worker or Community Service Worker; or a combination of post-secondary education in a similar field, and work-related experience

• 3 years minimum experience in non-profits delivering social or settlement services - experience in shelter/residential-care environments are assets

• Current Standard First Aid/CPR certificate required

• Relevant training in trauma informed, conflict resolution, crisis intervention and de-escalation required

• Knowledge of client groups
  i.e.
  refugee children, youth and separated youth and refugee families requiring high maintenance and support

• Knowledge of stages of child development and issues of separated youth

• Knowledge of Child and Family Services Legislation

• Applied knowledge of Individual, group and crisis counseling skills, including couple and family counselling

• Knowledge of refugee and settlement issues

• Knowledge of social work practices and ethics

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 workweek of 37.5 hours; with flexible hours 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 October 6th 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Sojourn House thanks all applicants but will contact only qualified candidates selected for interviews.

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.