Family Development Worker

**Position Summary**:
The Family Development Worker provides a comprehensive service to clients working with Children Services. This role pairs access and visitation with support and planning. The foundation of this role is to provide opportunities and focus for the parents on their accountability for the actions that led their children to reside out of the family home and achieve the skills and conditions required to reunify their family. Support is provided utilizing service planning, assessments, outcome measures, teaching, crisis intervention and reporting on the safety and progress of the clients. The Family Development Worker must demonstrate high personal competence in the formation and maintenance of caring, therapeutic relationships.

**Responsibilities**:

- Provide transportation and supervision of visitation with children, youth, and their families;
- Provides hands on support and teaching utilizing various sources and modalities;
- Development of a trusting and therapeutic relationship with clients;
- Support families during stressful moments and in times of crisis from a trauma informed lens;
- Share and model positive behaviours and practices with families;
- Develop individualized client plans to aid and support navigation and success in remedying Children Services concerns and reasons for involvement;
- Assist clients in the development of social skills, communication skills, and meaningful relationships;
- Teaching of living skills, social skills and parenting skills through role modelling of appropriate behaviour and be able to assess client deficits and strengths and use systematic plans of instruction, teaching methods and approaches to transfer information and skill to clients;
- Counselling skills that utilize problem-solving, de-escalation, goal-setting and preventative interventions with clients in either a 1:1 or group scenario;
- Documentation of session activities and themes provided through service planning and assessments.
- Using a strength-based approach, observe and document visitation, while identifying strengths and needs in an unbiased approach;
- Provide all clients with a sense of safety, acceptance and nurturance.
- Attend ongoing trainings as outlined by Canadian Accreditation Council and Worth Resolving Youth & Family Services;
- Adhere to agency health and safety guidelines, including COVID-19 protocols;
- Consult with the Director(s) should concerns or questions arise;
- Liaise with Children Service workers and attend professional meetings when required; and,
- Attend court as requested.

**Qualifications and Requirements**:

- Hold a degree or diploma in the Human Services field;
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience working with children and families;
- Clear Intervention Record Search and Police Information Check (with vulnerable sector search);
- Must have own vehicle in safe, reliable operating condition;
- Valid Non-GDL Class 5 Driver’s License with less than six (6) demerit points;
- Vehicle Insurance with $2,000,000 liability;
- Familiarity with The Ministry of Children Services, Child and Youth Family Enhancement Act, and Signs of Safety framework;
- Ability to recognize and report child abuse and/or family violence (in general) when necessary;
- Knowledge of safety precautions and injury prevention for children and families in and outside home, vehicle, or community;
- Training in Trauma Informed Care and Foundations of Caregiver Support
- Knowledge and experience with outcome measurement
- Strong understanding of child development and healthy, appropriate parenting techniques;
- Culturally competent and LGBTQ2+ inclusive;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Critical thinking skills, in addition to ability to use ethical and sound judgment;
- Ability to work independently, in a team, and collaborate with other professionals; industry;
- Flexible, reliable, and adaptable to changing situations.

Please note - this role requires 2-3 evenings per week and 1 weekend day, in addition to daytime hours.

We thank all applicants for their interest however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Part-time

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Monday to Friday
- Night shift
- Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person