Family Preservation Counsellor- 9 Month Term (Abbotsford)-1881

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

8d•CA$73,107 - CA$92,393•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a 9-month term Family Preservation Counsellor in Abbotsford, working with the Family Preservation Youth Team. The role involves supporting families involved in child protection services with the goal of reducing the risk of harm to children and avoiding out-of-home placements. Services focus on helping families develop new problem-solving and coping skills, improve parent-child interaction, and build natural social supports to prevent future crises. The agency, Xyólheméylh, is an Indigenous Child & Family Service Agency that emphasizes cultural values and works holistically to keep families together and reintegrate children with their families and extended families. They strive to ensure children are connected to their family and community while upholding their inherent rights to heritage and identity.

Requirements

Undergraduate Degree with a focus on human services or related field; however significant cultural knowledge and a demonstrated ability to develop respectable relationships, with On-Reserve Indigenous communities, and equivalent personal experience may be accepted.
A minimum 3 years’ experience working with Indigenous children and parents in a human services capacity within an Indigenous community or urban Indigenous community setting.
Working knowledge of the Child, Family & Community Services Act, and of child protection proceedings.
Demonstrated knowledge of the generational impacts of Colonization, and historical Child welfare practice on Indigenous people and their families.
Knowledge and ability in practices and traditions of Indigenous people.
A sound understanding of child management techniques and effective parenting techniques.
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.
Effective written communication skills to meet recording and administrative requirements.
Maintain an attitude of caring, respect and optimism for their clients.
Effective group leadership and facilitation skills.
Ability to effectively manage conflict.
Maintain a clear differentiation between the professional and personal self.
Computer literacy on Microsoft Word, Excel and other computer software applications.
Valid BC Class 5 Driver’s License (no restrictions); reliable transportation with adequate vehicle insurance.
Criminal Records Check required.
Required to work flexible hours.

Nice To Haves

Preference may be given to Indigenous candidates as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.

Responsibilities

Provides an intensive in-home and community-based family preservation treatment program.
Delivers services in the family’s natural environment when they are most receptive to learning, involving family members, community, and other supports as partners in assessing, goal setting, and treatment planning.
Plans, prepares and conducts individual, group or family counselling sessions using therapeutic techniques drawn from theoretical frameworks such as family systems, solutions-focused, narrative, psychodynamics.
Provides crisis intervention and ongoing assessment as required.
Casework can include, but is not limited to: improving the physical condition of the home, improving supervision of children, decreasing parental depression and/or alcohol and substance abuse, reducing child abuse and neglect, increasing positive parenting, reducing conflict and stress, increasing effective household routine, reducing child behavior problems, increasing positive culture identify, reducing the number of children requiring alternate care arrangements, reducing the rate of re-notification for children, and helping families’ access needed community supports and service.
Services are provided in a manner that respects and supports each family’s needs, strengths, lifestyle, and culture.