Child Protection Worker- Permanent Full-time

**POSTING # 2021-34 **Child Protection Worker

**PAY GRADE ** 7 ($66,923.64 - $87,183.64)

**HOURS OF WORK** 33.75 Hours per Week (remote from home and in person as required)

**VACANCIES**: 1 Regular Full Time Position

York Region Children’s Aid Society (YRCAS) is focused on promoting the best interests, protection and well-being of children and youth. We work with parents, family members and community organizations to promote and support families to keep children and youth safe. YRCAS will work with families to overcome barriers that interfere with children and youth being given the opportunity to meet their full potential. YRCAS acknowledges that systemic racism is one of those barriers. York Region Children’s Aid Society is currently seeking skilled and committed individuals to join our team as Child Protection Workers.
- 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.
- 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.

Job Requirements:

- 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 field, and a minimum of three (3) years relevant experience working with children and families
- Authorized Workers with current Child Protection Worker experience preferred
- A class “G” driver’s license and daily access to an insured vehicle required
- Understanding and/or practice in Intake & Assessment and Family Services
- Excellent working knowledge of the _Child, Youth and Family Services Act 2017_, Ministry standards and guidelines, YRCAS policies and procedures
- A high level of knowledge of diagnostic and treatment theories, methodologies and practices and ability to integrate theory and practice
- Analytical skills to identify and resolve problems, assess client needs, formulate recommendations, develop appropriate service contacts and determine actions specific to the needs of the child and family
- Individual, marital and family therapy skills to provide a range of therapeutic services to children and families
- Decision-making skills to determine actions required ensuring protection of children
- Crisis intervention skills to determine the degree of risk to a child, defuse potentially hostile client situations and take appropriate action to reduce risk according