Out of Care Resource Social Worker

**Who We Are**:Located on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen People, Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services’ (SCCFS) vision is to support the empowerment of the urban Indigenous community to continue the reclamation of traditional systems of caring for and protecting children so no child or youth will be placed into care. As an urban Delegated Indigenous Agency, SCCFS is committed to providing child and family services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and world views while ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth grow up connected to family, community, and culture.

Surrounded by Cedar receives its delegation through the Provincial Director of Child Welfare, who gives the agency the authority to undertake administration of parts of the _Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA)_. Under its current delegation agreement, Surrounded by Cedar administers C3 (Family Services) & C4 services (Guardianship).

SCCFS strives to be a culturally safe employer, with a keen focus on Indigenous recruitment and retention. While working at the agency, employees will be involved in various cultural knowledge sharing opportunities, activities, and ceremonies, while being actively engaged in urban Indigenous community events.

**Position Summary**

Reporting to the Team Leader, Resources and Support Services, the Out of Care Resource Worker (OOCRW) facilitates the use of Out of Care options to assess and approve Out of Care placements for urban Indigenous children and youth and provides direct support to Out of Care care-providers. Additionally, the OOCRW may assist in the support of children, youth, families, and the community through the implementation of Out of Care placement options process. This position focuses on the health, safety and well-being of urban Indigenous children and youth by providing delegated services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and beliefs. The OOCRW supports Out of Care care-providers to nurture the cultural and spiritual identities of urban Indigenous children and youth placed in their homes.

**Primary Responsibilities**

**Caregiver Evaluation and Support**
- Assesses prospective Out of Care care-providers to determine their suitability to provide care. Working directly with the prospective Out of Care care-provider, completes required processes such as criminal record checks, prior contact checks, reference checks. Views the home, assesses suitability of the care-provider and others in the home, the safety of the home, overall placement suitability and summarizes the information in the required written format.
- Completes home studies, which may include SAFE Home Assessments.
- Establishes and maintains positive mentoring relationships with care providers while providing direct support through home visits, connecting care providers and the children/youth in their home to community supports, attending FCPCs and FGCs as required and providing emotional support.
- Advocating for the needs of the care-provider and child and any other support appropriate to the home and situation.
- Uses a holistic and collaborative approach when working with all members of the child/youth’s circle to ensure that the out of care arrangement meets the emotional, behavioural and identity needs of each child/youth in the home, while ensuring that plans and goals are realistic and achievable.
- Ensures the care provider is supported in connecting the child/youth to family, community, and culture.
- Ensures care providers are aware of child/youth’s rights under the _CFCSA_ and that these rights are honoured within the home.
- Carries out review meetings as outlined in the _CFCSA_, as well as in AOPSI and/or Ministry policies and procedures around Out of Care options.
- Responds to concerns brought forward by other workers regarding the care providers’ ability to provide quality care.
- Ensures any allegations of abuse and/or neglect are immediately reported to a fully delegated worker.
- Uses conflict resolution mechanisms embedded in resource contracts and agency policies to resolve issues that may arise between care providers and staff members.
- Facilitates training opportunities for care providers.

**Case Management and Documentation**
- Documents all contact with Out of Care care-providers according to agency standards and ensures follow up to any agreed up action items.
- Ensures documentation and file recordings are accurate, complete, and up to date according to standards and agency policy.
- Participates in scheduled case planning meetings to adequately support the care provider and documents these meetings appropriately.
- Meets with the Team Leader on a consistent basis for clinical supervision.
- Consults with the Team Leader at key points in the provision of services and ensures there is a thorough review of relevant facts and data before decisions are made.
- Completes required paperwork for each Out of Care care-provider and ensures records are con