Family Service Worker

Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services is a multi-service Indigenous wellbeing agency. We provide a stable foundation for children, youth, and families, through wraparound services that are culturally based, and family focused.

**PURPOSE OF THE POSITION**

This position provides short and long-term services to families that have been identified as having issues of child protection risk in accordance with the Child, Youth and Family Services Act. This position conducts assessments of risk in addition to providing a varied degree of intervention services to families and their children who are having trouble in family functioning. The Family Service Worker is the case manager who holds primary responsibility in the shared decision making related to child admissions, discharge from Children’s Aid Society care etc. in collaboration with the service team and the First Nations, Inuit and Métis representatives. On First Nations territory, the Family Service Worker may carry a generic caseload, and carry out the duties of Assessment, Child and Youth Service Workers and Alternative Care Worker.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Clinical**:
Reduces the risk of harm to children according to the Risk Assessment Model for Child Protection in Ontario, as follows:

- Develops a plan for risk reduction intervention, based on Comprehensive Assessments and Plans of Service as outlined in the Risk Assessment Model.
- Conducts investigations in ongoing child protection cases where there are new allegations of harm, including performing Safety Assessments and making Verification and Protection decisions.
- Where a child cannot remain safely within the home, shall first explore all options to apprehension using alternative dispute mechanisms, engagement with parents and extended family to identify options, and work with the First Nations Designated Person or community representative to seek alternative plans to protect the child while maintaining involvement by parents, family, and community.
- Brings selected cases to Family Court to protect children when authorized to do so by the Executive Director.
- Develops and maintains effective and therapeutic casework relationships with clients with the objective of reducing risk of harm to children.
- The incumbent is directly accountable for the provision and implementation of protective services to families and children within the Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag catchment area in accordance with the Child, Youth, and Family Services Act, Ministry standards and guidelines, and Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag policies and procedures.
- Performs both internal and external record checks, i.e. Fast Track, Child Abuse Register.

**Court**:

- Prepares legal documentation (as required) ensuring accuracy and completion prior to court.
- Prepares for, attends, and provides testimony in Family Court and Criminal Court.
- Prepares their clients for court.

**Administrative**:

- Has a strong working knowledge of all pertinent legislation, Ministry Standards and Guidelines, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services policy, procedures, and directives, and the Regional Protocol.
- Completes recordings within the timelines as outlined in policy.
- Uses advocacy strategies on behalf of family members that ensure the child(ren) receive access to services within the community.
- Maintains effective professional working relationships with community collaterals.
- Attends team, departmental and staff meetings.

**Other Duties**
- Performs other duties as assigned.

**Education and Experience Requirements**:

- Bachelor of Social Work Degree; or
- BSW equivalency;
- An acceptable level of formal education and extensive direct service experience in Child Welfare, with a determination of what constitutes “acceptable” at the discretion of the Executive Director, with a plan for obtaining any necessary additional qualifications or training to be formalized in writing as part of the offer and acceptance of employment.
- Experience working within Child Welfare and/or Indigenous Child-Wellbeing setting would be considered an asset.

**Availability Requirements**:

- Our office hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, with a one-hour unpaid lunch. However, based on the needs of those we serve, our frontline staff regularly find themselves working outside of these hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

**Knowledge Requirements**:

- Knowledge of and a high level of clinical skill with respect to child development, family dynamics, child abuse, and neglect.
- An excellent working knowledge of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, and other pertinent legislation, Ministry standards and guidelines, Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services policies, directives, and procedures.
- A high level of knowledge of diagnostic and treatment theories, methodologies and practices and ability to integrate theory and practice.
- A good working knowledge of community services within the D