Gender-based Violence Early Intervention Caseworker

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Early Intervention Caseworker is a part of pilot project to provide enhanced supports for families experiencing violence. The project is designed to support the needs of those involved with intimate partner violence - both those at risk of and/or using violence and those at risk of and/or experiencing violence in a relationship, as well as their children. Duties shall be performed in a manner consistent with the overall mission, vision, and values of Family Service Saskatoon. The Early Intervention Caseworker position reports to the Gender Based Violence Prevention Services Manager.

**Duties include**:

- The Early Intervention Caseworker role will utilize knowledge and skills to provide direct service casework with families as well as facilitation of groups for those at risk of using violence.
- Process referrals for situations identified as high risk of gender-based violence occurring and initiate contact to discuss services.
- Provide risk assessments to canvas for specific risk factors including the use of violence or coercive control, regardless of whether charges have been laid.
- Assess the dynamic of the family relationship, identify concurrent risks, and identify potential for creating an unsafe home/situation (for children, partners, others).
- Provide supports to potentially mitigate or decrease further risk of violence occurring by providing various individualized interventions, assess needs and make referrals as appropriate.
- Use knowledge and experience to engage those who may be at risk of using violence.
- Use a person-centred, trauma-informed, culturally safe approach when working with those at risk of using violence and those at risk of experiencing violence.
- Provide and/or make referrals for safety planning, short-term crisis counselling, crisis management and outreach services for individuals impacted by intimate partner violence as well as advocate and liaison on behalf of those clients.
- Participate in program development and public education including development and presentation of workshops, presentations, group facilitation, and group interventions.
- Maintain positive working relationships with Saskatoon Police Service, referral agencies, community partners and Early Intervention Caseworkers from our partner agency, Family Service Regina to ensure collaboration and coordination of supports.
- Participate in agency and community meetings including in-service training and ongoing professional development.
- Adhere to all reporting requirements regarding child protection and intimate partner violence issues and follow through according to agency policy and procedures.
- Perform related administrative and record keeping duties, including casework documentation, session evaluations, correspondence and statistical recording as required.
- Assist with supervision of peers, students and individual cases as required by the agency from time to time.
- Participate in clinical supervision with the GBV Prevention Services Manager.
- May be required to perform work outside of regular operating hours, including evenings and/or weekends.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Qualifications**:
**Education**:

- Bachelor of Social Work degree or Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work degree.
- One to three years of direct experience in a relevant area.
- Be eligible for registration with and maintain good standing in a relevant professional association.

**Areas of Knowledge**:

- Counselling theories and practice, including short-term, crisis counselling
- Theories of human development, behaviour, and change
- Theories and practices of communication and conflict resolution
- Knowledge of the dynamics of intimate partner violence and demonstrated experience working with those experiencing such violence and those who have used or are at risk of using violence in relationships. Awareness of the dynamics of abuse, coercive control, and violence
- Demonstrate training in and familiarity with concepts from the Safety and Repair Model, Safe & Together, Narrative Therapy, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) or be willing to become trained in and proficient with these models
- Knowledge and experience in using trauma-informed and violence-informed approaches
- Experience facilitating groups
- In-depth knowledge of community resources/agencies and the services offered in relation to intimate partner violence
- Awareness of and cultural sensitivity to the customs, traditions, spiritual beliefs and philosophy and perspective on family dynamics of Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and newcomer populations. Demonstrated ability to work in cross-cultural environments
- Awareness of addictions, mental health concerns, FASD, and influence/impact on individuals impacted by intimate partner violence
- Knowledge of the justice system and the domestic violence court
- Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and within a team environment i