Out of Care Options Social Worker

**Position: Out of Care Options (OOCO) Social Worker**

**Status: Regular Full-time**

**Department: Child Safety**

**Location: 2020 Yukon Street, Vancouver BC**

**Classification: Delegated Social Worker (Grid 21-24) + 1 TMA**

**Salary: $69,760.70 to $89,268.45 annually**

At VACFSS, we ensure that the rights, safety, well-being and spirit of Indigenous children and families are upheld, honored and protected. We strive to eliminate oppression, discrimination and marginalization within our community. We acknowledge and honor the inherent wisdom, capacity and resourcefulness of our community in designing programs and services to care for our own children and families. Accordingly, we are dedicated to planning, developing, and implementing creative and innovative Indigenous programs and services in collaboration with members of our community and other agencies.
- Join an Agency that strives to provide services to strengthen Indigenous families culturally and spiritually
- Receive a competitive salary $69,760.70 to $89,268.45 per year PLUS a comprehensive benefits package
- Take on a challenging role that provides membership in the Public Service Pension Plan

The objective of the Child Safety Program is to ensure the safety and well-being of children and to work towards the preservation of families. The Child Safety Program provides a continuum of services, from preventive programs which support and maintain families, to services that ensure permanency for children in care.

**JOB SUMMARY**:
Under direction of the Team Leader and/or Child Safety Practice Manager and in accordance with legislation and agency policy, the Out of Care (OOCO) Social Worker promotes the use of Out of Care placements for youth and children when an out of home option is determined to be in the child’s best interest.

The OOCO Social Worker is responsible to assess Out of Care placements for children and youth when an out of home option is determined to be in the child’s best interest. This position works in collaboration with the referring child safety social worker, family, and Indigenous community to identify and assess prospective extended family, friend, or community placements. The OOCO social worker during the assessment phase is also responsible to assist in planning for needed supports for the child/youth and care provider to ensure a successful placement.

The work of the OOCO Social Worker is guided by the values of belonging, respect, strengths-based practice, integrity, and humility. Practice is conducted in accordance with legislation, policy, and practice standards and by the VACFSS philosophy of service delivery and the principles of restorative child welfare. The goal is enacted by:

- Completing Out of Care Options Assessments by: meeting with referring Child Safety Social Workers, assessing prospective Out of Care care-providers to determine suitability, completing Restricted Foster home studies (90 day interim and SAFE studies) and completing 54.01 home studies
- Providing support to OOCO Caregivers by: Responding to care providers requests for information and supports including financial requests, community connections, providing emotional support, strategizing how to best meet the needs of the child/youth, and advocating for the needs of the care provider and the child/youth.
- Coordinating of Collaborative Meetings
- Identifying and Joining with the Child’s Circle by: determining the child’s family, community and territorial connections and maps these in a genogram, ecomap or equivalent document.
- Creating Security, Belonging and Well-being: by educating and referring children and families to community services, in addition to VACFSS ceremonies and services.
- Wrapping Supports and Building Community Around the Child and their Circle.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education and Experience**:
**1. Preferred Credentials**:

- Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Social Work or in Child & Youth Care OR Master's Degree in Educational Counselling Psychology/Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology with completion of a practicum in family and child welfare **OR**:

- C6 Delegation preferred (to be provided).

**2. Minimum Credentials**:

- Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field **OR** Bachelor’s Degree with a Major/Honors in a Human Services field **OR** Master’s level graduate Certificate/Diploma in a Human Services field AFTER the completion of an unrelated Bachelor’s Degree.
- PLUS, a minimum of one year of related **OR** job-specific work experience.
- C6 Delegation preferred (to be provided).
- **Human Services fields include**: Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies, Education, Theology or Nursing.

**NOTE**:If this education was obtained outside of Canada, you need to confirm it has been assessed for equivalency through the International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES). You must provide a comprehensive report and the supplemental report to be consider