Therapeutic Foster Caregiver

Who We Are

CarePros is a leading Children's Services Agency that provides Trauma-Informed Community and Therapeutic Foster Care Placements to children and youth. We focus on cultural connection, family reunification and the transition of complex youth with disabilities into adulthood.

The Opportunity

We are currently looking to hire Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Families in Central Alberta (Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Olds, Camrose, Drayton Valley, Drumheller, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, and Wainwright) for children and youth who have complex needs. You would be the **primary caregiver** in your structured home and helping the young person work towards reuniting with their family.

Who You Are

You possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

- Located inside the the Central Alberta region including, but not limited to, town/cities such as Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Olds, Camrose, Drayton Valley, Drumheller, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, and Wainwright
- Willing to provide Foster Care for a child or youth between the ages of 10-17 inside your own home.
- Knowledge of mental wellness practices and the processes and procedures involved in providing effective home care.
- Proficiency in the English language, with the ability to comprehend instructions and communicate in a clear and logical manner.
- Build and maintain cooperative and constructive relationships by recognizing and understanding emotions and handling situations with empathy.

Foster Care Family Responsibilities:
*NOTE* This is not a comprehensive list of the expectations, but an overall understanding of the role:

- Help to create and implement individual treatment plans
- Daily review and documentation (including written reports outlining treatment progress and regular observational notes, logs and/or reports)
- Regular consultation and collaboration with supervisors and clinical team
- Create, design, and support age-appropriate daily living activities
- Initiates, organizes, monitors and actively participates in group activities (special outings, concerts, sports, dances, party games, crafts, camping, music) as part of the treatment plan.
- Teaches, supports and assists young people in acquiring appropriate skills relating to daily chores, routines, and personal hygiene habits.
- Escorts young people to medical, dental and optical appointments as necessary.
- Advocates and actively builds a therapeutic relationship with young people (and family) through interactive play, activities, and personal interactions.
- Provides opportunities for young people to focus on developing new skills based on their needs.
- Supports young people through a crisis utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Interventions (TCI) practices as necessary.
- Maintains a therapeutic approach to behaviour support and explains behavioural expectations, outcomes, and impacts to young people.

Other qualifications include:

- You have the physical wellness and mental health awareness to handle daily exercise routine and other requirements as prescribed by the care plan and a high capacity for managing stressful situations.
- Standard First Aid and Level C CPR + AED
- Class 5 Driver's License, vehicle insurance coverage and a clear Driver's Abstract.
- An adequate level of home insurance is required.
- You are financially stable, over the age of 21 years of age, and legally eligible to work in Canada.
- Ideally, there are no other children/youth living in home and you are not providing any other forms of care to clients from CarePros or other agencies or have international students living in your home.
- Must be able to support the clients on a full-time basis.
- Must be able to live with the clients providing them with a bedroom that is safe, comfortable and suitably furnished.
- All persons 18 years and older living in the home must provide a Police Information Check; including Vulnerable Sector Check (within the last 3 months) and Intervention Record Check (within the last 3 months).
- You must be able to provide proof of your current address.
- Asset: experience working with children providing direct care to clients with developmental disabilities and/or clients with mental health concerns.
- Asset: experience working with complex children and youth with high behavioural needs and significant trauma.
- Asset: working knowledge of de-escalation techniques in relation to Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.
- Indigenous families are encouraged to apply

What We Offer
- A dynamic, collaborative, and diverse organization where your voice is heard, and you make a positive impact in the life of the children and youth you care for.
- The use of innovative technology to assist in your daily routine providing care.
- Industry leading training.
- Foster Caregiver Compensation: Compensation Paid to Foster Caregivers is classified as Social Assistance Payments and is not taxable.

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