Community Connection Worker

Located in the picturesque town of Goderich, and Stratford, Ontario, we are committed to partnering with communities to provide professional child protection services. We advocate for and protect children’s rights; support and strengthen families and we are leaders for positive change in our community.

**Reports To: Manager/Community Engagement & Prevention Services**

**Position Summary**:
The primary responsibility of this position is to provide individual and/or group services to children, youth and families that this agency serves or to community referrals. The incumbent will develop and implement goal oriented, short
- term services that creates capacity for youth/families to care for themselves. All programs are offered to connect and support families in the community and seen as a tool of prevention. This position also may include working with children and adolescents with complex needs while residing in the residential system of the society or transitioning into an independent living situation.

This position will include daytime and evening hours and weekends when necessary.

The incumbent will be expected to keep documentation as directed by their assigned manager following agency standards and policies.

**General Responsibilities**:
1. Group Facilitation:
a. To develop/ facilitate goal-oriented parent education, parent/child interaction or self
- help client groups.

b. To utilize community resources where applicable, maintains liaison with internal teams and outside agencies.

c. To provide clinical interventions for children and youth in group settings.

2. Community Involvement:
a. To provide outreach/support programs in the community in collaboration with other agencies.

b. To develop and implement programs based on the needs of tenants (eg. Ontario Housing).

c. To connect children/youth/families to the community through time limited clinical interventions.

d. To participate in case conferences, staff meetings and community development opportunities both within and outside the agency.

e. To prepare reports, correspondence and documents for internal and external use.

f. To have a thorough knowledge of child/adolescent development and crisis intervention.

3. Collaboration:
a. To work together with staff, foster/kin families and the community as a whole to build relationships and develop services for our children/youth/families using a Signs of Safety and equity lens.

3. Undertakes other responsibilities and performs other duties as required.

**Qualifications, Skills & Experience**:
Successful completion of at a minimum a two-year Social Services, Child and Youth, or ECE Services diploma program from a Community College. Previous experience in child development/family dynamics/child and youth work or a combination of education and between 18 months and up to 3 years’ experience in the social worker field is an asset. The incumbent possesses theoretical knowledge of child/adolescent development and behaviour and familiar with a variety of parenting/treatment modalities, good communication and writing skills, personal suitability in working with children/youth/families, ability to work with colleagues, and presents as a positive role model.

**Difficulty of Execution**:
Major area of difficulty lies in establishing a strong working relationship with children/youth and families (residential and biological) and being familiar with many different modalities related to clinical intervention such as anger management, communication, problem solving, values, discipline techniques, nutrition, changing behaviours, life skills and group facilitation. The incumbent may be servicing children/youth with a wide range of complex needs such as addiction, extreme behaviours, self-harm ideation and developmental delays. There may be some defensiveness which is illustrated through anger with some children, youth and/or parents. Documentation requirements, with timelines, are mínimal with this position. However, contact logs and summary reports are an integral part of this position.

**Accountability**

The Community Connection Worker is answerable to the assigned Service Manager. The Ministry conducts protection/children service audits annually and documentation will include but not be limited to a summary of clinical intervention and clinical group intervention by the Community Connection Worker.

**Performance Indicators**:
Performance indicators include but are not limited to the following:
1. Works within an equity and reconciliation focused comprehensive work plan that aligns with the agency’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives, and is accountable for the successful completion of deliverables.

2. Ensures regular collection of data related to diversity, equity, reconciliation, and inclusion is included in service user files.

3. Works collaboratively to identify opportunities to reduce inequities across both direct and indirect service within the agency and address inequities as the relate