Family Service Worker

Position: Family Service Worker (1 Full-Time Contract Vacancy until April 2026. Position to start in April 2025)
Location: Barrie, ON
Starting Salary Range: $70,795.26 to $85,326.27
Closing Date: January 12, 2024

Position Summary:
Within the Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services Service Model, the protection of children and youth is a total community responsibility, everyone has a role to play. Indigenous people have an inherent right and responsibility to raise children in ways that are consistent with traditional child-rearing practices. First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities retain the authority to fully participate in decisions regarding their children’s care and well-being. These partnerships are described in service agreements and protocols that the Family Service Worker respects and adheres to. The Family Service Worker plays an integral role in fostering positive outcomes for children, youth, and families who become involved in the child welfare system. This role is a primary contributor to the safety, resilience, and empowerment of Indigenous children, youth, and families. Specializing in risk assessment, intervention, and prevention from a wholistic and inclusive lens, the Family Service Worker strives to help families access resources and be empowered to overcome challenging situations. The Family Service Worker contributes to the strengthening of Indigenous families and honours the strengths and inherent capacities of Indigenous communities, utilizing culturally appropriate community-based services, internal resources, and as part of a team, to address the needs of Indigenous families.

Responsibilities:
Assessment, Intervention & Prevention: 

• Receive and review referrals assigned from the Initial Assessment team and conduct thorough assessments to evaluate allegations of child abuse and/or neglect.
• Conduct assessments and investigations with cultural competence and sensitivity, recognizing and respecting the unique cultural contexts, traditions, and practices of Indigenous communities. 
• Collaborates with families, community members and other sources (i.e., school personnel, police, and neighbours) to gather insights into the family's dynamics, strengths, challenges, and protective factors.
•  Engages families in the assessment process and service planning, demonstrating respect for their input and recognizing strengths while addressing areas of concern.
• Review historical information if available. 
• Identifies immediate and long-term risks, such as abuse, neglect, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health issues, and environmental factors that may impact a child's well-being. 
• Utilizes assessment tools and culturally adapted frameworks to evaluate the level of risk, considering the child's developmental needs, attachment relationships, and family history.
• Incorporates the socio-economic, historical, and cultural factors that may contribute to the identified risks including how systemic issues and intergenerational trauma might impact the family's situation.
• Develops service plans in collaboration with families and communities to mitigate immediate risks, identifying supportive measures that can be taken to ensure the child / youths safety while maintaining their connection to their culture, community, and family.
• Develops and maintains effective and therapeutic casework relationships, providing counselling for the child and the family, and conducting ongoing assessments of emerging strengths, any child protection issues, and the level of risk to children in the home.
• Maximizes the participation of other internal and external service providers, as appropriate, in the development and review of the service plan through facilitation of internal conferences, referrals, coordination among collateral service providers, and advocacy to ensure the receipt of appropriate and timely services. 
•  Leads, facilitates, and participates in consultations, family centered conferences, and case conferences with the client and service providers.
• Coordinate and monitor the provision of services, including counseling, parenting education, substance abuse treatment, mental health support, and more.
• Conducts investigations in ongoing child protection cases where there are new allegations of harm, including performing Safety Assessments and making Verification and Protection decisions.
• Conducts and participates in physical and sexual abuse investigations, as required.  
• Continuously monitor and reassess the level of risk as circumstances evolve, adjusting intervention strategies and support plans accordingly.
• Propose interventions that are culturally appropriate, respectful, and aligned with the agency service model.
• Ensures that interventions are trauma-informed and prioritize the healing and well-being of the family.
• Where a child cannot remain safely within the home, the Family Service Worker will first explore all alternative options, engagement with parents and extended family, to identify options, and work with the First Nation, Inuit or Métis community representative to seek alternative plans to protect the child, while maintaining involvement by parents, family, and community. 
• Performs both internal and external record checks, i.e., Fast Track, Child Abuse Register. 

Conflict Resolution: 

• Assesses and attempts to avoid the use of the legal system where possible, utilizing alternative methods of resolution, such as the use of internal cultural resources, the Circle process, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
• Assists in the process of resolution, provides support and attends necessary meetings.
• Coordinates requirements for court hearings including preparing evidentiary materials, counselling family members regarding court procedures, reviewing case information with lawyers, and arranging for or notifying witnesses.  
• Appears as a witness in child welfare, juvenile, criminal and youth courts to give evidence in support of the agency’s recommendation and acts as a support and advocate for the child and family.  
• Prepares legal documentation, as required, ensuring accuracy and completion prior to court. 
• Prepares for, attends, and provides testimony in Family Court and Criminal Court.  

 Administrative:

• Has a strong working knowledge of all pertinent legislation, including the Child, Youth & families Services Act, Ministry Standards and Guidelines, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services policies, procedures, directives, and the Regional Protocol. 
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive case records, documenting assessment findings, observations, conversations, and collateral information. Adhere to agency protocols and legal requirements for record-keeping.
• Uses advocacy strategies on behalf of family members that ensure the child(ren) receive access to services within the community. 
• Maintains effective professional working relationships with community collaterals. 
• Attends team, departmental, and staff meetings. 
• Adheres to finance and human resource policies, including the timely submission of accurate timesheets and I-expenses. 

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor of Social Work Degree; or

BSW equivalency:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services related field, and a minimum of three (3) years relevant experience working with children, youths, and families.
• Consideration will be given to candidates that have extensive experience in Child Welfare or Indigenous Child Well-Being, in a similar position, and are willing to obtain any required additional qualifications.
• Candidates with the above qualifications who are members of, or eligible for membership in the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers are preferred. 

Availability Requirements:

• Our office hours are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, with a one-hour unpaid lunch. However, based on the needs of those we serve, our frontline staff regularly find themselves working outside of these hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

TO APPLY:Please email the following to careers@binnoojiiyag.ca:

• Application for Employment (available at www.binnoojiiyag.ca/careers) - REQUIRED.
• Please indicate the preferred location in your application.
• Resume (include 3 supervisory work-related references).
• Incomplete Applications will not be considered.
• Only those selected will be contacted for an interview.
• As an Indigenous Child Wellbeing Agency, we give priority to applicants who identify as First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and those with close affiliations.

About Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services:

Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag (Nog-dah-wen-mawg) (Bin-ooh-zhee-yug) Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services is a multi-service Indigenous Child Well-Being Agency. We provide a stable foundation for children, youth, and families, through wraparound services that are culturally based and family-focused. We seek to support our families in the way they deserve, with care and authenticity, and by recognizing and respecting spirit. We form a wholistic, inclusive, and nonjudgmental circle of care. We seek to honour and support those we serve, with a constant commitment to growing our base of knowledge and expertise. We are an agency that delivers culturally-intelligent services to our partner First Nation communities in Ontario. With our team of dedicated staff, we work with children, youth, and families as early as possible to help them navigate various obstacles and access services available to them. We offer services such as Child & Youth Mental Health and Addictions, Youth Justice, Youth in Transition, Child Welfare, and Alternative Care.

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