Guardianship Social Worker-F/T (Chilliwack)-1857

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

1d•CA$69,763 - CA$89,271•Onsite

About The Position

This is a full-time position in Chilliwack, BC, for a Guardianship Social Worker (GSW) who will act as a legal guardian for children and youth in the Director's care. The role involves providing culturally appropriate and holistic services to protect and support these children, adhering to the BC Child, Family and Community Services Act and Aboriginal Operational and Practice Standards and Indicators (AOPSI). The GSW will build trusting relationships and collaborate with children in care, families/caregivers, Aboriginal Communities, elders, and support workers, ensuring their views are valued and considered. The agency, Xyólheméylh, is a fully delegated Indigenous Child & Family Service Agency focused on strengthening culture and identity, keeping families together, and reintegrating children with their families. They work holistically to ensure children are connected to their family and community, upholding their inherent rights to heritage and identity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Social Work
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Child and Youth Care
Master’s Degree in Educational Counselling Psychology/Master of Arts in Counselling
Registered and a member in good standing with the BC College of Social Workers or have a letter from the College confirming that their application for registration has been approved.
Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field (Human Services fields include Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies, Education, Theology and Nursing)
Bachelor’s Degree with a Major/Honours in a Human Services field (Human Services fields include Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies, Education, Theology and Nursing)
Master’s Level Graduate Certificate/Diploma in a Human Services field obtained AFTER the completion of an unrelated bachelor’s degree
Minimum 1 year of job-specific OR related work experience
Must be delegated or eligible for delegation in the province of B.C
Ability to practice standards set out in the Child Protection Response Policy (Chapter 3), B.C. Child, Family and Community Services Act, and the Aboriginal Operational and Practice Standards and Indicators (AOPSI) Manual
Knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous culture and how culture impacts in the development of individuals and communities; and Indigenous culture in general and history.
Understanding of cross-cultural issues as they affect children in care, foster parents, biological parents, and communities of origins.
Practical knowledge of federal, provincial, and aboriginal organizations mandated to provide health, counseling and child and family services
Strong understanding of agency policies and procedure manuals.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write concise reports for various audiences and facilitate meetings.
Ability to form trusting, respectful and effective relationships with children, Indigenous communities, caregivers, parents, and other FVACFSS employees.
Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities and work under pressure.
Ability to travel for core training and delegation training including but not limited to other training and career development requirements.
Maintain an attitude of caring, respect and optimism for their clients.
Maintain a clear differentiation between the professional and personal self.
Professional commitment, flexibility, good problem solving and dispute resolution skills.
Computer literacy on databases, Microsoft Word, Excel, and other computer software
Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License (no restrictions); reliable transportation with adequate vehicle insurance
Criminal Records Check is a requirement.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Acts as a legal guardian to children and youth in care of the Director, and ensures that they are aware of their rights while in care.
Attends all meetings, appointments, and judicial proceedings when a guardian is required to speak, or make decisions on behalf of the child.
Sign all documents that a legal guardian of the child needs to complete, such as school permission slips, medical forms, release of information forms, etc.
Develops stable, safe and long-term placements for children in care, this includes the child’s needs for stability, continuity of relationships and a sense of belonging with the child’s best interest as a priority.
Identifies and nurtures supportive familial and community relationships which will reach into adulthood.
In collaboration with the Designated Representative, community and family, connects the child to her/his aboriginal roots and community.
Provides an opportunity for children in care to develop the skills and resources necessary to succeed as an adult.
Works collaboratively with caregivers and with Resource Social Worker to ensure a Life Book that contains pictorial and written records of the life of children in care such that the child has an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging and continuity.
Seeks professional guidance and approval of the Team Leader at key points in the provision of the guardianship files and within time frames specified within AOPSI standards (and more frequently if required by the Team Leader).
Work within the four dimensions of permanency planning: Relational, Cultural, Physical, and Legal.
Develops, monitors, evaluates and revises a written Plan of Care collaboratively with family, community, Band Representative with participation and views of child where appropriate.
Ensures Plan of Care provides structure for the child and their caregivers to address the child’s health, educational, dental, spiritual, emotional, and cultural needs. Ensures it is sufficiently detailed and flexible to allow the child as many safe choices as their age and level of development will allow.
Collaborates with family, community and support workers to ensure that Aboriginal identity and culture is preserved through a Culture Plan.
Provides resources for children in care to develop the skills and resources necessary to succeed and live independently upon leaving care when reaching age of majority/becoming independent. Monitors the child’s transitions into adulthood and the acceptance of adult responsibilities.
Works in collaboration with the children and youth in care, caregivers, community and support services, to assume primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of the child’s cultural and community connections in an effort to give the child a sense of pride and understanding of their Aboriginal heritage.
Reviews appropriate discipline standards with caregiver and child in care when child is placed in care.
Meets with the child every 30 days (without the caregiver) to monitor and evaluate the child’s sense of safety, has a meaningful conversation with the child to ensure child’s views are heard, and ensures AOPSI standards are upheld.
Advocates and encourages the child to advocate on her/his behalf when appropriate.
Encourages the child to accept age-appropriate responsibility for decision-making with respect to their life planning.
Supports the caregiver to allow the child to take risks within limits to ensure the child’s ongoing safety and development.
Ensures that service expectations and goals are appropriate to the child’s age and level of development and realistic within the time frames available.
Regularly meets with Designated Representative, community, family and child to review and rupdate service expectations and goals.
Coordinates with caregivers all transfers, visits, and out of home overnight activities.
Provides ongoing feedback to the caregivers, and others providing support to the child, regarding the quality and expectations of service.
Where feasible and within the limitations of budgets, meets any extraordinary expenses necessary to develop the talents and innate abilities of children in care.
Supports the child through the protocol investigation process should an allegation of abuse is received.
Actively engages and involves the Designated Representative on all guardianship matter with child and youth from their community.
Builds familiarity with all agencies and resources in the region.
Develops and maintains a positive, partnership approach to their community liaison role and appropriately addresses issues that may impact on agency and professional cooperation.
Ensure appropriate services are present in the community for their children and youth.
Undertakes liaison responsibilities as occasionally assigned by the Team Lead.
Develops plans for youth consistent with community culture and tradition.
Prepares children, family and adoptive family for adoption or transfer of custody by engaging them in open dialogue about how adoption will impact them and their adoptive family.
Prepares documentation related to adoption/section 54.1 planning, including the proposal for permanency plan, placement and visitation schedules, exception and exemption reports, court documentation, birth, family and social history reports, life books, proposal packages, cultural safety agreements, family and cultural connections plans, and if required, the separation of siblings document.
Attends to the emotional needs of the child related to separation and loss.
Provides culturally safe services and supports to Aboriginal children and adoptive families in all areas of adoption duties.
Collaboratively works with and assists MCFD to prepare children for adoption and permanency.
Rescindments: Prepare all the court documentation related to rescindment plan, such as reports and court documentation.
Ensures the child’s community is involved in the permanency planning process.
Actively participates in the Connections meetings facilitated by the FCCW.
Demonstrates security awareness consistent with agency policy when dealing with confidential documents, office safety and personal safety.
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 reports in a timely manner to meet both statistical and case management responsibilities, including reviewing, transferring and closing activities.
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, work units and other agencies.
Seeks knowledge and information when there may be uncertain of policy, practice, or procedures.