Family Engagement Worker - FT (Mission) - 1908

Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society•Mission, BC

5d•CA$53,273 - CA$61,163•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Family Engagement Worker (FEW) within an integrated team environment, focusing on mitigating and monitoring child safety concerns and supporting the ongoing well-being of families. The FEW promotes positive family relationships by providing information, guidance, and modeling to families at risk, offering ongoing support as needed and identified by the family and their Indigenous community. The role emphasizes facilitating family growth and development through direct home support visits and community interaction. The FEW arranges and facilitates visits between children in care and their families, providing feedback and support during these visits to aid in reunification. The position requires working consciously and sensitively with Stó:lō culture and traditions. Services provided are culturally appropriate and holistic, aiming to help families develop natural support systems, build community capacity, foster cultural identity, and connect clients with community resources. The agency, Xyólheméylh, is a fully delegated Child & Family Service Agency serving Indigenous children, youth, and families on and off reserve within Stó:lō Territory, with a focus on strengthening culture and identity and honoring family strengths.

Requirements

Two-year diploma in the Human Services field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
A sound understanding of child management techniques and effective parenting techniques.
Knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous and Stó:lō cultural practices and traditions and how culture and historical impacts affect individuals and communities.
Understanding of cross-cultural issues that impact Indigenous and Stó:lō people and communities.
Knowledge of the generational impacts of Colonization, and historical child welfare practice on Indigenous people and their families, as well as the finding of the TRCC and recommendations.
Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to establish trusting relationships to engage families in attaining established goals.
Ability to work collaboratively to provide service to the family with time and goal-oriented methodologies.
Ability to work from a solution-focused, strengths-based, perspective.
Provides services in a manner that supports and reflects positive cultural practices.
Maintain an attitude of caring, respect and optimism for children, families and Stó:lō community members and representatives.
Ability to build strong and positive relationships with all Stó:lō communities and other FVACFSS employees.
Professional commitment, flexibility and good problem solving and dispute resolution skills.
Effective written communication skills to meet recording and administrative requirements.
Computer literacy on Microsoft Word, Excel, and other computer software applications.
Must have a valid BC Class 5 Driver’s License with no restrictions.
Criminal Records Check required.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with Indigenous children, youth, and families in a human services capacity within an Indigenous community setting is an asset.

Responsibilities

Gathers information to assist the Social Worker and family in the ongoing assessment of the family’s strengths, needs, and cultural identity as related to the identified safety concerns.
Assists children, youth, families and community members to understand various aspects of Child and Family Services to fully understand the process, as well as their rights.
Attends and participates in collaborative meetings with the social worker and the Designated Band Representatives, Care Committees, or Matriarchs, for the development of agreements on scope, time and location for services and/or connections visits.
Provides support and “real-time” feedback to parents on how they are addressing the identified skills required to have their children returned to their care.
Actively engages parents, extended family members and other cultural/community supports to implement safety goals and actions that have been identified in the collaborative meeting.
Meets individually with the child’s parents to model (“hands on”) and educate on topics required to improve parenting and/or that address the identified protection concerns.
Becomes familiar with and use office systems and computer systems effectively to manage their workload, filing system, and internal and external electronic communications.
Demonstrates proficiency in case management and organizational skills to ensure complete and accurate records are kept on all files according to policy, the timely return of telephone messages, and reliability and predictability in terms of relationship with clients and the community.
Completes monthly caseload tracking reports that indicate direct and indirect service hours, number of families served and visits, and case activity updates.
Develops and maintains a positive and participatory approach to teamwork.
Promptly addresses issues that have an impact on cooperation, support, moral and service delivery.
Establishes respectful and effective working relationships with other staff, the child’s caregivers, the child’s extended family, the child’s community representatives, Elders.
Seeks knowledge and information when there may be uncertainty regarding policy, practice, or procedures.