Guardianship Social Worker

**Guardianship Social Worker**

**Status : Regular Full-time**
**Hours of Work : 8:30 - 4:30 Monday to Friday**
**Department: Guardianship**
**Location: 3284 East Broadway**
**Classification: Delegated Social Worker 20-24 (+1TMA)**
**Salary: $** **65,844.70 to $** **86,668.39 annually**

The VACFSS Guardianship program is responsible for the care and well-being of Indigenous children under a Continuing Custody Order. Our approach is situated in a model of the child in the center of their circle of support, surrounded by family and community. The Guardianship program focuses on developing holistic care plans with an emphasis on connection to family, culture and community.

**PURPOSE OF POSITION**

Reporting to the Guardianship Team Leader, the Guardianship Social Worker carries out guardianship responsibilities for children in continuing care of the Director of Child and Family Services and secures culturally appropriate, child specific, permanent or adoptive homes. The Guardianship Social Worker is responsible for the day-to-day care of the child throughout the child’s stay in care. The worker develops and supervises the comprehensive plan of care and deals with issues related to placement and permanency planning. The worker has delegated responsibility for ensuring that the child’s rights under the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CF&CS) are met, and for exercising the Director’s authority under the Act by providing services to children in care in accordance with legislation, guardianship standards and VACFSS policy.

**FUNCTIONS**:.
- The Guardianship Social Worker works with the child’s circle to complete holistic and balanced care plans that honours their cultural identity, views their family and community as active members in their Circle, and supports healing and growth.
- Supports children and youth to have an active and engaged circle of care around them.
- Ensures strong collaboration between those in a child’s circle, and advocates for additional culturally relevant supports and services.
- Supports continual exploration of the child’s Circle to provide care for the child, with a focus on return to family and community.
- Supports young person to plan for independence through a holistic model that insures youth are ready to enter the community as young adults.
- Demonstrates an in - depth knowledge of First Nations and cultural groups in Canada as well as protocols associated with accessing community contacts and Elders. Develops meaningful long term therapeutic relationships with children, youth and their families that are trauma informed, and strength based.

**Key Competencies**:

- Relational Engagement
- Leadership
- Collaborative Planning and Decision Making
- Emotional Competency
- Resilience
- Cultural, Spiritual Expression

**QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education and Experience**:

- A Master of Social Work (MSW) or Master in a related human services field or;
- A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or;
- A Bachelor degree specializing in a related human services field plus two years of related experience in child and family services
- C4 delegation (to be provided)

**Job Skills and Abilities**:

- Solid understanding of the Child, Family and Community Services Act
- Awareness of resources available to Aboriginal clients, and knowledge of the referral process
- Demonstrates the ability to maintain controlled emotional involvement in dealing with self and with others.
- Ability to form therapeutic relationships with difficult to engage with children and youth.
- Demonstrated ability to work from a trauma informed practice.
- Applies the Aboriginal concept of relational engagement to persons-served, to other employees and to the land from an Aboriginal Worldview.
- Utilizes Aboriginal values and models of leadership which are entrenched in traditional Aboriginal leadership views (Siiyamints) to provide leadership to persons-served, agency employees and others under their sphere of influence.
- Applies the process of traditional problem solving utilizing collaboration and consensus in analyzing and developing appropriate solutions to problems, evaluating a course of action, reaching decisions and modifying decisions based on changing circumstances or information.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
- Computer skills for Microsoft Word and Outlook.

**Notes**:

- A valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle with business class insurance are required to perform the duties of this position.
- This position requires Union membership.

**ABOUT THE BENEFITS**:
In exchange for your contributions, you will receive a competitive salary benefits package, including:

- Medical, extended health, and dental
- Group life
- 100% employer-paid premiums
- 3 weeks of vacation
- Eligible for the VACFSS flex program after passing probation
- Membership in the Public Service Pension Plan

**APPLICATION PROCES