Family Support Worker

**Reporting Relationship,**

The Family Support Worker will report to the Department Manager of Family Resources.

**Position Summary,**

The Family Support Worker, on behalf of on-reserve MFN children, youth and families will assist in promoting community well-being by enabling and improving standard of living through community-based preservation programs with the inclusion of Anishinaabe culture and lifestyle.

**Essential Functions**
- Establish supportive and trusting relationships that reduce risk, promote healthier lifestyles, and support children and youths’ connection, stability and attachment to the family and community
- Establish and maintain caring relationships and effective communication with parents, children and youth
- Practice strict confidentiality, privacy, ethical and non-bias approaches
- Conduct client intake and assessment procedures and work with clients to develop needs assessment and a plan of care to include physical, spiritual ,emotional, medical, schooling, self-identification, social, identified family needs; and ensure follow-up of aftercare plan(s)
- Conducts on-reserve CAS investigations and prepares required reports
- Receives referrals from on/off reserve professionals, agencies and self-referrals
- Liaise effectively with the Foster Care Program, CAS, biological/ foster parents and other service providers
- Responds and acts on inquiries and referrals in a timely and professional manner and maintains contact with CAS and other involved social service agencies to keep abreast of client cases
- Provide and participate in alternative dispute resolution and mediation
- Responds and intervenes in family crises situations where children require immediate attention and for the prevention of child abuse and neglect
- Encourage client engagement through various methods, counselling, and other support that will assist them in relevant aspects of the case plan including building self
- motivation, goal setting and problem solving, family and peer relationships, mediation, substance misuse, behavioural self-control, self-efficacy, healthy lifestyle choices, and life skills development
- Provide advocacy, referral and community services as necessary to other helping services, treatment programs, support groups
- Provide follow-up and support in situations when appropriate or required
- Provide crisis intervention and support for youth and their families
- Perform as part of a team providing integrated, holistic services to children and young people and their families

**Case Management/Administration**
- Develop annual work plans to include professional development in relation to the position
- Ensures client records and files are current accurate, properly stored and secured ready for court subpoenas; and that files are properly closed
- Utilizes computer-based frontline case management system (Penlieu) for reporting requirements
- Follows through on case conferences and referrals from other services providers
- Coordinates and transports individuals to appointments as needed
- Assist youth in identifying and accessing educational and vocational resources, recreational pursuits, and other appropriate community contacts and resources
- Assists to plan, leads/co-leads, coordinates and evaluates group education, counselling and/or support activities for youth, parents and/or families
- Assists to coordinate and/or participate in activities with youth, including physical, outdoor, or other active elements
- Implements the procedures manual specific to the position ensuring compliance of privacy and confidentiality, and file management protocols
- Complete and submit monthly statistical and narrative reports
- Perform other duties as may be required from time to time by the Department Manager
- Attend staff and case management meetings as required
- Up-hold MFN protocol for child care, in conjunction with MFN By-Law 001/01

**Qualification & Requirements**

**Preferred**
- Bachelor of Social Work Degree in related field
- Education supported with 3 to 5 years work related experience within a First Nation community

**Minimum,**
- Social Services Diploma, Native Child & Family Worker, Child & Youth Worker Diploma or Diploma in related field
- Experience in front-line service delivery of Native child and family services
- Ability to provide assessment, referral, counselling and follow-up services to clients
- Knowledge of the Child & Family Services Act is an asset
- Working knowledge and training in interviewing techniques for children and families
- Good understanding of conflict resolution and mediation processes
- Ability to engage children, relate with youth with understanding and in a strength-based approach
- Promote strong healthy family values
- Experience working with high-risk youth in a counselling or other helping capacity
- Experience in assisting the planning and leading of counselling or support groups

**Other,**
- Must have good working knowledge of community resources