Designated Band Representative

**Cowichan Tribes**

**Designated** **Band** **Representative** **- **Child & Youth Advocate**:
**Reference No. SD-ADM-CYA-0524**

**COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS**:Cowichan Tribes offers an excellent benefit and pension plan available after successful completion of the probationary period. The position includes paid training, paid vacation and paid sick leave. Depending on experience, the position starts at $38.31 - $40.65 per hour ($69,717.81 - $73,975.52 annually).

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Participate in family meetings, case planning meetings and court related hearing, case conferences, contested hearings, mediations and trials primarily in the local registry jurisdiction
- Participate on the behalf of the child and Cowichan Tribes in all areas of child welfare including providing input and advocacy for youth in high risk situations
- Participate in and support the decision-making process for permanency, adoption and aging-out for current children and youth in care
- Participate in the development of cultural and youth programming
- Receive service of court notices as legislated under the CFCSA service on behalf of Cowichan Tribes; participate in all relevant court hearings to ensure the cultural and foundational rights of the child/youth are protected and considered
- Ensure the child/youth is connected to culture, family, and their rights are supported by the court plan of care
- Ensure the Cowichan teaching and rights of Cowichan citizens are respected in all agency practices
- Develop and sustain working relationships with community partners
- Provide community education presentations on topics related to child advocacy, children/ youth in care
- Maintain current knowledge of the relevant laws and policies related to Child Welfare
- Attend the Designated Representative training, court training and relevant trainings as available
- Other related duties as required

**EDUCATION** **AND** **EXPERIENCE**:_(please_** **_attach all_** **_required_** **_documents)_**
- Bachelors of Social Work, Child & Youth Care, or related field required
- 5 years’ experience in Child Welfare preferred
- Criminal Record Check (C.R.C) required
- Valid BC Class 5 Driver’s License & reliable vehicle required
- Experience in developing and maintaining strong community partnerships
- Effective December 1, 2021: full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to be eligible for employment at Cowichan Tribes. Employees must show Proof of Vaccination as a mandatory condition of employment

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES**:

- Demonstrated experience in CFCSA court proceedings
- Demonstrated experience interacting sensitively with traumatized persons and handle crisis appropriately
- Familiar with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Familiar, understand, and utilize principles of trauma informed care and the empowerment philosophy of advocacy
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of social determinants of health and the effects of intergenerational trauma that Aboriginal peoples face
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies, including the Federal Child Welfare Act, Child, Family, and Community Service Act, Youth Justice Act, Adoption Act, Family Law Act and Aboriginal Operations and Practice Standards and Indicators (AOPSI), MCFD related policies
- Knowledge of Cowichan culture, land, customs, and traditions or a willingness to learn
- Ability to travel as required
- Knowledge of Cowichan Tribes customs, land, culture and traditions or a willingness to learn

**Reference # SD-ADM-CYA-0524**
Cowichan Tribes Human Resources Department

Education : Bachelor’s degree
Experience : 5 years or more