Investigative Review Specialist
About The Position
The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) is an Office of the Legislature that promotes awareness of young people’s rights, interests, and viewpoints through stakeholder engagement and public education; advocates for children and youth receiving or seeking services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA), the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act (PSECA), and the youth justice system; and provides legal representation to young people for CYFEA and PSECA matters. The OCYA conducts investigations and publicly reports on serious injuries or deaths involving young people. The impact of colonialization continues to adversely affect Indigenous young people, their families, and their communities. Intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, and the legacy of residential schools are experienced by many Indigenous young people, who continue to be overrepresented in the child intervention system. The OCYA is deeply committed to reconciliation and a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. We are committed to a workplace that welcomes, respects and values the diversity of our employees. We also support them to be actively engaged in the workplace and the work we do to meet the needs of Alberta's young people.
Requirements
- A university degree in social work, psychology, law, social sciences, or a related field (master’s degree preferred).
- A minimum of five years of experience with the Ministry of Children and Family Services (CFS), or a combination of experience with CFS, and in the fields of mental health, education, and/or justice.
- Experience leading complex projects and demonstrated skill in project management.
- Knowledge of child development, family dynamics, parental capacity, and conditions impacting child and youth well-being.
- Experience working with Indigenous communities, and knowledge of relevant legislation and child-serving systems, is essential.
- A valid Class 5 driver’s license is required.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to changing demands, and meet legislative timelines.
- Ability to work outside of business hours and travel across the province to conduct investigative reviews.
- Building and maintaining relationships with families, professionals, and stakeholders to support investigations and system understanding.
- Collaborating effectively with internal and external partners to gather information, analyze findings, and support system improvement.
- Ability to collaborate with decision-makers to ensure that recommendations made by the OCYA are specific, measurable, achievable, results-orientated and will result in meaningful change to improve the services and supports provided to young people to help them succeed.
- Translating complex information into accessible reports and developing evidence-based, actionable recommendations.
Nice To Haves
- Preference may be given to individuals who self-identify as Indigenous or who have extensive experience working with Indigenous peoples and communities.
Responsibilities
- Conducting investigative reviews into the serious injury to or death of young people who were receiving designated services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act, and/or the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or who had received child intervention services within two years of their death.
- Gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information from across child-serving systems to develop a comprehensive understanding of a young person’s experience and the services provided to them and their family.
- Gathering and analyzing information from multiple sources to complete comprehensive file review documents outlining a young person’s journey through child-serving systems.
- Conducting formal interviews with families, professionals, and stakeholders to obtain information, provide context, and address gaps in the record.
- Identifying findings, system gaps, service and support concerns, and areas of exceptional practice based on the specific circumstances of each review.
- Tracking and documenting emerging themes across individual reviews to inform broader system understanding.
- Producing public-facing reports that are non-identifying, non-fault finding, and focused on findings, thematic trends, and public assurance.
- Examining a prevalent theme across completed reviews.
- Drawing on findings, patterns, and issues identified through individual investigative reviews.
- Incorporating research, evidence, and stakeholder input to strengthen analysis and provide context.
- Identifying broader systemic issues and recurring trends across reviews.
- Developing evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving systems, policies, and services for children, youth, and families in Alberta.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
