Indigenous Social Worker

Career Opportunity : Indigenous Social Worker

Wage : $32.50 - $40.00 per hour depending on qualifications.

Employment : Full-time position, 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday)

Harmony House - BC : Located in Prince George, British Columbia, provides safe supportive housing for women who are struggling with mental health and / or problematic substance use, are pregnant or new mothers in danger of losing their child to the care of Ministry of Children and Families Development (MCFD).

Harmony House is a subsidiary of Phoenix Transition Society, a not-for-profit organization. Harmony House is growing to better serve the increasing needs of its community.

With this growth, we are looking for an Indigenous Social Worker with strong advocacy skills rooted in reconciliation and family progression, to work with our residents.

This position reports to the Director of Operations of Harmony House, and the Executive Director of Phoenix Transition Society.

Indigenous Social Worker Position :

The Indigenous Social Worker provides guidance to residents and staff through case management. Case management includes women-centered support by organizing collaborative meetings, completing referrals, providing advocacy and encouragement, and attaining documentation and certificates of completion for programs and services.

The Social Worker liaisons with the MCFD and lawyers for safety planning, family case planning conferences, mediation, family group conferences, court orders, and applications.

The position also offers one to one support for intake and discharge planning for residents accessing or exiting the Harmony House program.

Responsibilities

• Conducts intake interviews, prepares case histories, and outlines necessary services.
• Assesses the needs of residents and assists them to define and implement an action plan.
• Provides emotional support with a solution-focused lens to residents.
• Coordinates and facilitates meetings (e.g. in-house meetings, staff meetings, healing circles).
• Arranges collaborative meetings and connections with other community agents (e.g. MCFD, legal aid, financial services, band representatives, and respective delegated aboriginal agencies).
• Completes letters of support to lawyers, judges, MCFD, housing, and other agencies, when needed.
• Applies and navigates Jordan’s Principle, Persons with Disabilities Act, Freedom of Information Act, and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
• Provides information to residents and staff on resources available in the community and supports various referrals and applications.
• Maintains paper and electronic files, documents, certificates, and records

Qualifications

• Master of Social Work or Bachelor of Social Work.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working under the Child and Family Community Services Act and / or Aboriginal Operational Practice Standards and Indicators for child welfare.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of indigenous cultures, traditions, and protocols.
• Understanding of the effects of intergenerational trauma.
• Ability to respond, manage, and function effectively in high crisis / trauma situations.
• Knowledge of mental health and wellness, addictions and substance misuse, and harm reduction approaches.
• Understanding of legislation relating to the rights of Indigenous peoples, (e.g. An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families, MCFD policy 1.

1 : Working with Indigenous Children, Youth, Families and Communities, Aboriginal Policy and Practice Framework in British Columbia, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)..

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive situations and information.
• Ability to apply Indigenous-inspired consensus building team approach.
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English written, verbal, presentation.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Ability to complete a Criminal Records review and have a clean criminal record.
• Class 5 Driver’s Licence with clean drivers abstract and safe transportation, and vehicle business insurance.
• Ability to implement an individual self-care plan.

Assets : Experience supporting women and children overcoming adversity.

Harmony House offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package.

Apply Now :

Qualified applicants can send their resume and cover letter to : [email protected] with Indigenous Social Worker, in the subject line of the email.

Closing date for all applications is 12midnight Pacific Time on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your interest. We regret that we can only respond to candidates chosen for an interview.