Child Protection Worker

**Child Protection Worker - Intake and Assessment**

**Permanent Full-Time**#hp**

The York Region Children’s Aid Society (YRCAS) is a non-profit community organization legally mandated to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. As a leader within the child welfare sector, we partner with parents, caregivers, and community to provide a safe environment for children and youth, through equitable, culturally aligned services.

Comprised of interdisciplinary teams of diverse professionals who push boundaries in support of family centered care, we engage with children and families for a stronger, healthier community within the York Region.

YRCAS is fully committed to a culture of belonging and an inclusive environment that encourages every team member to lead within their role, generate innovative ideas that reinforce our mission and goal to create a healthy workplace and community where children, youth, and families thrive.

To support us on our journey, YRCAS is looking for a Child Protection Worker to support our Child, Youth & Family Wellbeing Department.

**Why Work for Us?**
- Hybrid working model (working virtual and in person)
- Casual dress code
- Employer paid Group Insurance and Health & Dental Benefit
- Four (4) Weeks of Vacation accrued per calendar year
- Five (5) float days per calendar year
- One day off every five (5) weeks during Winter months
- Shortened Summer hours
- OMERS Pension, with employer and employee sharing premiums equally
- Mileage Reimbursement
- Enhanced Wellness Initiatives Virtual Fitness Classes

**SUMMARY OF DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**

Reporting to the Child Youth and Family Wellbeing Supervisor, the Child Protection Worker will work within the areas of Intake & Assessment and Family Services. The Child Protection Worker position may be asked to perform any of the following responsibilities:
**NATURE OF POSITION**:

- Screen calls, determine response, provide information, consultation, assessment, crisis intervention to sources of referral such as other professionals and liaises closely with other service providers in the community to ensure optimum delivery of services.
- Utilize anti-oppressive, critical thinking and solution focused involvements to carry out interventions with families using the least disruptive course of action required to ensure child/youth safety.
- Ensure immediate safety of children through a Safety plan that involves engagement and collaboration with family, community, community organizations evidenced by creative thinking to overcome challenges when necessary.
- Carry out investigation and assessments related to cases of alleged physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse involving children including making determinations regarding risk, verification, and recommendations.
- Conduct joint investigations with police and other governing bodies and agencies, as appropriate to ensure the safety of children.
- Have awareness and competency in identifying and addressing bias, discrimination, and racism to disrupt systemic barriers that families, children, and youth are experiencing.
- Develop a plan for risk reduction and intervention, based on Comprehensive Assessments and Plans of Service as outlined in the Risk Assessment Model.
- Determine when children require admission to the care of the Society and, where necessary, remove children to ensure their immediate safety as a last resort.
- Assess and make decisions related to reunification plans and implement such plans where appropriate.
- Develop and maintain effective and therapeutic casework relationships with service recipients with the objective of supporting and promoting their ability to reduce risk of harm to children.
- Provide referrals to appropriate internal and external resources in order to provide quality service to Society service recipients, with the objective of reducing risk of harm to children.
- Prepare admission documentation and develop initial plans of care for children who have been admitted into the Society’s care.
- Assess requests for financial assistance for clients and arrange for such assistance if deemed justified and necessary.
- Supervise therapeutic access visits between children and caregivers as required.
- Ensure both internal and external record checks are completed via “Search Request” through the CPIN Support Team.
- Determine intervention of Family Court involvement and prepare accurate legal documentation, provide testimony in Unified Family Court and Criminal Court, prepare clients for court, enforce court orders in order to protect children.
- This position requires travel inside and outside of York Region in order to fully support children, youth and families.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**Education and Experience**
- Bachelor of Social Work Degree (BSW) or BSW equivalency
- Master’s Degree in Human Services related field, and a minimum of three (3) years relevant experience working with children and families
- Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services related