Michif Connect Worker

**INTERNAL/EXTERNAL POSTING**

**MICHIF CONNECT WORKER**

**2- Full-Time Permanent Positions**

Classification: SP3/SP4, $28.39 - $36.56 / $31.31 - $43.42 per hour

Hours of Work: 7.25 hours per day or 36.25 hours per week

Competition Numbers: 2023.20-MCW

Location: Dauphin, Portage La Prairie, Brandon, Swan River, Manitoba

Must be able to Travel

This position plays a key role in embracing and implementing an innovative best practice approach. The Connect Worker is responsible for ensuring a lifetime network of supportive adults and permanency for all children in receipt of services. The most powerful approach for healing the effects of maltreatment and trauma is positive permanent relationships and this healing happens in and with networks. The Connect Worker works collaboratively with the child’s worker throughout the family finding process. The Connect Worker establishes collaborative and effective working relationships with children/youth, family, extended family relatives, caregivers, Indigenous and other communities, agencies and Emergency Placement Resources to achieve desired results. In addition, the Connect Worker is responsible for the transfer of skills and knowledge about family decision making to other front line staff; the goal being that joint family decision making will consistently be a part of front line practice.

**Key Responsibilities and Activities**:

- Act as a catalyst, convener, and facilitator with networks and families driving the decision making process to bring a state of permanent belonging to children and youth.
- Working in an auxiliary capacity to the child’s worker, maintains a small caseload of children, youth and families
- Implements and facilitates the active steps of family led decision making
- Engages children/youth, family, relatives and other supportive adults to identify and establish lifetime networks of support for the child/youth with the goal of achieving permanency
- Facilitates planning and decision making meetings
- Identifies and facilitates the resolution of issues that may arise during the process
- Collaborates and communicates regularly with identified key stakeholders regarding goals, steps and progress of the family finding process for each child
- Ensures completion of all administrative requirements
- Acts as a practice mentor for frontline and supervisor level staff within the key duties section
- Supports front line staff in learning, practicing and implementing family led decision making into their daily work
- Provides group based training as required
- Works collaboratively with the Management Team in advancing agency practices
- Completes other related tasks as assigned (e.g. participates in related Committees as required)
- Provide coverage related to designated intake agency services where required
- Respond to emergency calls

**Key Qualifications**:
**Education**
- Minimum three years’ experience working with children and families in child and family services
- BSW or equivalent in the social services field
- Experience working with best practice approaches in child welfare that incorporate engagement skills and strategies to establish trusting and constructive partnerships with families and professionals
- Experience working with Métis, Inuit and Aboriginal people.

**Experience**
- Knowledge related to areas of substances abuse, family violence, child maltreatment, and child development
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrated skills in areas of crisis intervention, abuse investigation and assessing high risk situations
- Experience working with Metis and Inuit people
- Access to a vehicle and possession of a valid Manitoba driver’s license as travel to various Agency offices throughout the Province will be required.

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**
- Innovator, self-starter and results driven
- Ability to engage in creative planning and problem solving
- Comprehensive knowledge of child and family services practice, legislation, regulations and standards
- Experience with and commitment to working with family systems in strength and engagement based practice models
- Experience in facilitating group meetings with families and professionals
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and foster successful, trusting working relationships with children, families and professionals
- Knowledge of key issues affecting service delivery in a multicultural environment
- Understanding of social, economic and historical factors affecting Indigenous populations
- Knowledge of Indigenous issues as they relate to child welfare
- Understanding of Indigenous cultures and communities
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to set priorities and work effectively under pressure in a new and changing environment
- Excellent oral, written and organizational skills
- Understanding of how the decisions and actions made in the life of a child have life-long consequences
- Must be a permanent resident of