Resource Worker, 1.0 FTE, 18-Month Contract

Family & Children Services•Pembroke, ON

7d•CA$63,824 - CA$84,514•Hybrid

About The Position

Family & Children’s Services of Renfrew County is a multi-service agency committed to providing preventative, protective and socially inclusive services and programming that empower and strengthen everyone. We are focused on cultivating a team-oriented work environment where everyone thrives. Our goal is to develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships to increase availability, accessibility and quality of care to our communities. Our agency commitments include: moving forward Anti-Oppressive Practice, French Language Services and working alongside Indigenous Communities. POSITION SUMMARY: Family and Children’s Services approves Foster, Foster-to-Adopt, and Kin Care applicants to provide family-based care to children found in need of protection. The Resource Worker plays a key role in the recruitment, assessment, training, support, and retention of these care providers. Responsibilities include engaging with prospective applicants, facilitating training (including PRIDE or Heart and Spirit), conducting SAFE or Indigenous Family Development Assessments (IFDA), providing ongoing support to approved homes, coordinating placement matching, and participating in permanency planning and adoption processes.

Requirements

Four-year university degree in Social Sciences or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
Minimum of one year of relevant experience in child welfare or social services.
Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking skills; ability to apply evidence-informed practice.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse service and staff population, and a proven commitment to anti-oppression, equity, and inclusivity in practice.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong assessment, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
Knowledge of Ministry licensing standards, PRIDE or Heart and Spirit competencies, SAFE or IFDA assessment principles, and agency policies.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and case management systems; ability to learn new systems quickly.
Strong organizational skills and time management abilities.
Demonstrated initiative, leadership, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Access to a reliable vehicle is necessary.

Nice To Haves

PRIDE Team Training and SAFE Assessment Tool certification, or training in Heart and Spirit and IFDA are considered assets.
Bilingualism (English/French) is considered an asset

Responsibilities

Conduct inquiry contacts with prospective foster, foster-to-adopt, and kin care applicants.
Recruit, assess, and license new Resource homes, with a focus on supporting family-based options for youth currently placed in Outside Paid Resources (OPRs) and facilitating the development of customary care for Indigenous youth.
Complete SAFE Assessments and Annual Assessments in accordance with Ministry standards and agency timelines, or use the Indigenous Family Development Assessment (IFDA) as part of the Heart and Spirit model when working with Indigenous caregivers.
Deliver PRIDE training or Heart and Spirit (Helping Establish Able Resource-Homes Together & Strong Parent Indigenous Relationships Information Training) and provide ongoing learning opportunities to both new and approved Resource families.
Manage internal and external placement requests, including matching children with appropriate Resource homes.
Participate in permanency planning meetings, case conferences, and adoption conferences.
Provide guidance and support to caregivers to ensure understanding and compliance with agency policies, Ministry licensing standards, and best practices in caregiving.
Foster positive working relationships between Resource families and Agency staff.
Conduct quarterly support visits to Resource homes and maintain regular documentation.
Attend and contribute to team meetings and staff meetings.
Participate in agency and community committees as assigned.
Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.