Family Service Social Worker- F/T (Chilliwack/Abbotsford)-1926

“What we do together…our H.E.A.R.T is our difference.”

Do you have a genuine passion in promoting the values of Indigenous culture working with and for Indigenous children, youth, and families (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) while respecting their cultural diversity?

If so, consider joining our Xyólheméylh work family. We are a fully delegated Indigenous Child & Family Service Agency providing programs and services to Indigenous children, youth, and families on and off reserve within Stó:lō Territory in the Fraser Valley between Yale First Nation and Surrey BC.

Our programs and services are created and delivered with the support of our Elders Advisory Council with special attention on strengthening culture and identity, while honoring the strength of families.

• We strive to work in a holistic way to keep families together and reintegrate children back with their families and extended families.
• Our service delivery is done with an open heart and an open mind focusing on the best interest of the family while keeping children at the center.
• We work to ensure children are connected to their family, and community while striving to ensure their inherent rights to heritage and identity are upheld in all we do.

Family Services Social Worker -

Full-Time Position

Service Area- Chilliwack and Abbotsford

Base Location: Abbotsford

FS 0-12 Yrs Old -Team 2

Salary- $69,.65 to $94,.02 per annum (35 hrs. per week)

EDO Available: Friday Week 2

Please note that anyone applying for this position maybe subject to the wage growth series within the Indigenous Delegated Social Worker Progression (IDSWP) outlined in the Collective Agreement APPENDIX A1

Anyone placed on the IDSWP growth series will not be eligible for the temporary market adjustment until they reach full working level Grid 25, Step 1.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to a Delegated Team Leader, social workers will work within the communities to provide culturally appropriate, and responsive, community-based services. Services will fall within the parameters provided by the BC Child, Family and Community Services Act and the Aboriginal Operational and Practice Standards and Indicators (AOPSI). Services will support Communities in building preventative programming that strengthens the capacity and involvement of the Community in protecting, supporting, and planning for its children. The Social Worker will be the first point of contact for any child protection report, and will work in partnership with Families, Community Members, Band Designates, identified Elders, and other identified supports, in all Case Planning and Service Delivery decisions. The Social Worker will provide services within the realm of, Family Development Response, Protective and Voluntary Family Service, and Guardianship. The Social Worker will become knowledgeable of, and competent in the practice of Community Protocols, and will participate in important Community events and ceremonies.

Xyólheméylh is proud to have an Elders Advisory Council to ensure that culture is embedded throughout the agency ensuring the goals, missions and values are upheld in a good way.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Bachelor of Social Work Degree or a Social Sciences degree
• A minimum of three years of experience in the Human Services field would be an asset.
• Must be delegated or willing to attend delegation in the province of BC.
• Ability to practice standards set out in the Child Protection Response Policies, B.C. Child, Family and Community Services Act, and the Aboriginal Operational and Practice Standards and Indicators (AOPSI) Manual.
• Awareness of the B.C. Benefits Act; B.C. Adoptions Act; B.C. Family Relations Act; Young Offenders Act; and other pertinent provincial and federal legislation.
• Ability to practice standards set out in Good Recording Guide.
• Knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous culture and how culture impacts in the development of individuals and communities; and Indigenous culture in general and history in particular.
• 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 indigenous organizations mandated to provide health, counseling and child and family services.
• Strong understanding of agency policies and procedure manuals.
• Computer literacy on databases, Microsoft Word, Excel, and another computer software
• Valid BC Driver’s Class 5 License (no restrictions); reliable transportation with adequate vehicle insurance
• This is an excellent opportunity for fully delegated staff to gain experience on a Multi-Interdisciplinary Team and develop professionally towards advancing into other career options.
• Criminal Records Check is a requirement.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools

• Completes Structured Decision Making (SDM) tools, including family strengths and needs assessment, family plan, and vulnerability reassessment or reunification assessment, within required time frames (usually 6 months unless specified otherwise)
• Completes thorough review of family’s current situation and history.
• Through a review of the SDM Tools identifies situations or caregiver behaviours that requires change and communicates these to the Designated Representative and family
• Arranges a Family Case Planning Conferences or Family Group Conferences meetings to establish the family plan.
• Identifies goals and actions with the child, family, community, professionals and caregivers to plan ongoing services that will meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and cultural needs of the child.
• Develops a comprehensive, holistic and culturally appropriate family plan through planning meetings, case conferences and conferences with the Designated Representative, care committee, where appropriate the child, family, community members and other professionals working with the family
• In conjunction with the Designated Representative, family, Care Committee and other professionals working with the family monitors, evaluates and revises family plans to promote reduction of risks to their children and communities.
• Makes referrals as needed to implement the family plan.
• Regularly meets with other services providers and the family regarding family progress.
• Provides and receives ongoing feedback to and from the family, caregivers, and other professionals providing services to the child, regarding the quality and expectations of service.
• Addresses risks to the child, including arrangements for out of home placements when appropriate (applies a least disruptive, family preferred approach when child requires out of home placement).
• Ensures that service expectations are appropriate to the child’s age and level of development and realistic within the time frames available to the child and resource for such activities.
• Seeks guidance from the Team Lead as required.

Evaluation

• Monitors and evaluates every aspect of the family plan and ensures it’s progressing towards the established goals.
• Participates in actively tracking sessions with Team Lead and other members of the team.
• Receives feedback from the agency’s quality assurance process, including file documentation, cultural practice and service delivery.
• Completes all steps in family development response or an investigation as outlined in Child Protection Response Policy (Chapter 3), if a child protection concern is raised with family within FSSW’s portfolio.

Administration

• Completes all recordings and documents (opening recording, review recording, transfer recording, closing recording and running records) as per the Good Recording Guide;
• Develops and maintains a positive participatory approach to their community liaison role and will appropriately address the issues that may impact on agency and professional cooperation;
• May occasionally undertake other liaison responsibilities as assigned;
• Represents the Agency in court in matters pertaining to the B.C. Child, Family and Community Service Act;
• Prepares reports for court as required and ensures they are properly completed and filed;
• 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 summaries in a timely manner to meet both statistical and case management responsibilities, including reviewing, transferring and closing activities;
• Ensures that the SDM tools on the file are completed within the specified time frame. This includes: reunification assessment, re-vulnerability assessment, family plan, and strengths and needs.

Teamwork

• 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 staff, work units and other agencies;
• Seeks knowledge and information when there may be uncertain of policy, practice, or procedures.

Intake

• Upon receiving the file, the FSW collects, records and analyses information from the public;
• Seeks professional guidance and supervision from their Team Lead in determining if protection investigation or service assessment is required;

CONFIDENTIALITY:

FVACFSS employees are expected to be familiar with and must comply with the expectations of confidentiality as outlined in the Agency’s Human Resources Policy Manual and other policies and operational manuals, AOPSI and the

B.C. Child, Family and Community Services Act.