Guardianship Social Worker Ft/permanent

**Job Summary**:
The Guardianship Social Worker, under the direction of Guardianship Team Leader, Metis Family Services’ Director of Programs and Practice, and Executive Director, and in accordance with all legislation will provide services to all children delegated to their care. The Guardianship Social Worker, as legal guardian to children and youth in the Continuing Care of the Director of Child Welfare, carries out various responsibilities under the CFCSA and the Aboriginal Operational Practice Standards & Indicators (AOPSI), while establishing appropriate permanency plans. The Guardianship Social Worker is also accountable to Métis Family Services and the community to ensure that services are delivered within the context of Métis culture and community standards. This will include formulating and implementing case plans, analyzing client’s needs and strengths, and connecting children and families to appropriate community resources; as well as, maintaining case records, and performing other duties as directed.

**Reports to**: Guardianship Team Leader

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:
Guardianship Social Workers will provide services to all children in the care of the Director of Aboriginal Child Protection (Ministry of Child & Family Development), and will:

- Ensure that all aspects of the child’s life are planned for, and goals achieved.
- Ensure that thorough documentation is completed of critical incidents and plans of care with a strong child centered approach.
- Ensure that culturally appropriate and specific Plans of Care are developed for every child and that Plan of Care meetings are scheduled regularly.
- Liaise with other involved professionals and the child’s Métis community to assist with planning for the child’s care needs.
- Ensure biological family and community involvement in the development of the Plan of Care, where possible and appropriate.
- Work closely with caregivers, and the child’s Métis community to ensure that the child’s needs are being met.
- Ensure that the child is seen separate and apart from the caregiver according to time frames set out in policy.
- Explain to the child why they are in care and involve the child in ongoing planning wherever possible.
- Provide on-going support and guidance for the duration of a child’s time in care, taking into consideration the child’s voice, and the best interests of child.
- Ensure that the child is aware of their rights as a child-in-care and advocate for the child’s needs.
- Promote the child’s existing relationships with siblings, family, and community.
- Provide access supervision with family of the child or liaise with other services that do access supervision.
- Develop permanent plans of care in the child’s best interest, including reuniting the child and family, placing a child in a home of a relative, placing the child with their cultural community, placing the child into an adoptive family.
- Assist in preparing the child for transitions into new placements or long-term plans.
- Selects or assists with the selection of a home for adoption and prepares the child for adoption placement.
- Prepare child for independence by ensuring life skills are learned through appropriate placements and support of placement.
- Arrange or facilitate access to resources for caregiver to support the child’s needs.
- Respond to requests from caregiver regarding the child as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Work with the Resource Social Worker around the placement needs of a child in care.
- Advise the Public Trustee of any injuries or legal action involving a child in continuing custody of the Director.
- Ensure that electronic and physical file documentation is complete and up to date.
- Perform other duties, as required.

**Qualifications, Education, & Experience**:

- Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Social Work OR Child and Youth Care OR Master of Education in Counselling Psychology/Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology; Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field OR Bachelor’s Degree with a Major/Honors in a Human Services 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 two years of recent related OR job-specific work experience.
- 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 basic report by the closing date of this posting to be considered.
- Must be eligible to obtain appropriate Provincial Delegation and consideration will be given to those who already hold C4 Guardianship delegation and Adoption delegation.
- Knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and history and how these affect the development of individuals, families, and communities. Knowledge of Métis culture is preferred.
- Understanding of cross
- cultural issues as t