Family Development Worker/ Supervised Access Worker

**Job Summary**:
The Family Development Worker/ Supervised Access Worker position is a hybrid role, providing family development support and/or supervised access services as needed. As part of the Family Programs team at Purpose Society, the FDW/SAW regularly collaborates with team members and other colleagues across the organization.
- **Family Development Workers** assist families experiencing significant levels of stress or conflict, where the development of parenting strategies, a better understanding of child development, behavior management skills, and life coping skills will reduce stress and promote stability.
- **Supervised Access Workers** provide supervision and monitoring for visits between parents/families and children, where there are child protection concerns.

**Duties**:
Family Development Worker (FDW):

- Assess the strengths and needs of families, and provide goal-focused brief intervention.
- Teach parenting skills and behavior management techniques to assist families in managing children’s behavior and promote development of skills for children to manage their own behavior.
- Assist families to manage or deal with a situational or emerging crisis and reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect.
- Participate in integrated case management, including monitoring and reviewing progress toward specified service goals and outcomes.
- Provide resources and services to stabilize families in crisis.
- Complete all required documentation and maintain files in accordance with the agency’s accreditation standards.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, the funder, and other community partners.

Supervised Access Worker (SAW):

- Provide a safe, secure and supportive environment for supervised access visits.
- Where necessary, provide transportation of children/youth to and from visitation site.
- Provide guidance and modeling for parenting skills.
- Enable children and families to promote and nurture appropriate, positive relationships with one another.
- Intervene during visits should any safety concerns arise.
- Prepare and submit clear and objective visit reports.
- Communicate regularly with child protection social workers.
- Participate in Family Case Planning Conferences and Integrated Case Management, including monitoring and reviewing expectations, progress and outcomes.
- Maintain files in accordance with the accreditation standards.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, the funder, and other community partners.

**Qualifications**:

- Minimum of an undergraduate degree in a related area (e.g. social work, child and youth care, psychology) and two years of experience in the field of family and children services, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience working with at-risk and marginalized children and families
- Experience working with families from diverse cultural backgrounds
- Strong verbal and written communication, and problem solving skills
- Knowledge of child development, positive parenting and family dynamics
- Knowledge of behavior management techniques
- Knowledge of behavioral and neurological disorders
- Willingness to actively participate in professional development opportunities
- Current First-Aid and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention certifications
- Flexibility to work evenings
- Bilingual or Multilingual an asset
- **Vehicle and valid Class 5 driver’s license required**

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care

**Attention**: Melissa Bailey, Program Director