Family Strengthening Worker

Family Strengthening Worker

**JOB SUMMARY**:
The Family Strengthening Support Workeris primarily responsible for providing a supportive environment to Aboriginal families who are experiencing life challenges. The objectives of the Family Strengthening Support Worker are to assist families in creating or increasing natural and extended family supports in the community and to assist families in developing specific strategies in dealing with family challenges. The Family Strengthening Worker will support the Indigenous cultural spiritual beliefs and value systems of the families, and will empower families to effectively meet their needs.

**REPORTS TO**: FDP Program Manager and Executive Director

**JOB RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Promote and support traditional cultural teachings and practice for our families, agency, and community.
- Utilize traditional Indigenous practices that focus on the mind, emotion, body and spirit and recognize family strengths and assets.
- Work with the family to accomplish the goals of their Goals Agreement as agreed with family and professionals during the intake.
- FSW will endeavor to spend 50% of their time in direct service, defined as face to face or voice to voice contact with families.
- Support families to advocate for themselves and their family members.
- Perform family assessments on a one-to-one basis with families, youth, parents, and/or extended family.
- Have one to one home and community visits with families, assist with transportation, and monitor and report any type of child protection issues resulting from domestic abuse, child neglect, mental health challenges, and drug and alcohol use.
- Worker will address and prioritize family challenges and will be a vehicle for intervention to help the family develop new strategies of dealing with family issues resulting from domestic abuse, child protection issues, mental health, and drug and alcohol use.
- Engage, motivate, challenge and encourage families' accountability to themselves and their family members.
- Sustain participation of families in the program by providing flexible support and establishing strong rapport.
- Act as an advocate according to the family's needs, and will be a positive role model for the family.
- Provide teachings, knowledge of Indigenous and urban Indigenous culture, traditions, and history as a way of supporting the family's connection to their culture and community.
- Incorporate safety plans in accordance to the family's needs.
- Make referrals to any other service providers based on the family's needs in order to create and increase natural and extended family supports within the community.
- The worker is responsible for report writing including, case notes, quarterly reports, tracking and recording service hours, maintain statistical records of types of referrals made to outside agencies and other types of information as required.
- Develop effective working relationships and partnerships with co-workers, community members, and representatives of other departments and agencies.
- Participate in agency event planning such as: Annual Mini-Teaching Pow-wow and Family Christmas Gathering.

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

Minimum 2 year diploma in a related field

Minimum 4 years recent work experience in working in a family support position

**Skills and Attributes**

Strong knowledge of the various service providers within the areas we serve, previous experience and knowledge of facilitating traditional family support circles, and Strong knowledge of Indigenous communities

Excellent communication skills, including strong writing skills, active listening and effective discussion leadership skills.

Food Safe Level 1

First Aid certification

Current and valid Driver’s License or willing to obtain business insurance and liability coverage.

Driver’s Abstract

Criminal Records Check

**TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT**:
This is a full time position during the contract year. This position is dependent upon negotiated funding.

People of Aboriginal Ancestryare strongly encouraged to apply. Please self-identify.

**ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**:
All workers must be aware of the potential for allegations to be brought against them by clients and therefore, must conduct themselves in a manner where behaviors/actions cannot be misinterpreted. Workers are required to take precautionary measures and to follow safety guidelines to ensure their safety. Workers must be aware of the risks when working with potentially hostile or aggressive clients and follow safety guidelines to ensure their safety.

Workers must maintain confidentiality, undergo annual successful criminal record checks, and to be sensitive to diversity among clients, co-workers and the community.

This position will be exposed to a high level of noise and distractions from children. Direct delivery may include moderate physical activity involving walking, standing, bending, and lifting children. A doctor’s note deeming the indiv