Family Engagement Worker

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Program Coordinator and Team Leader, this position supports parents in learning new parenting skills and establishing household routines. A key component of this job is to set goals in conjunction with the family and referring social worker (if applicable). Facilitating and supporting visits between parents and their children is a key component of this position.

Reports to: Program Coordinator and Child and Family Development Team Leader

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts intakes with parents and referring Social Worker.
• Gathers information relevant to the client's challenges, needs and risks by interviewing, observing behaviour, meeting with caregivers and service providers and using Signs of Safety inventories to record and assess these and identify strengths, challenges and areas of concern.
• Provides support, guidance and problem-solving to clients to address issues related to parenting and family functioning using techniques such as active listening, conflict resolution and basic group counselling techniques to resolve the identified areas of concern.
• Participates in the development, modification and evaluation of client service plans with the integrated case management system. Participates in integrated case management meetings on a regular basis to report clients' activities and progress.
• Determines the level of knowledge/awareness of the parent (i.e., skills, childhood development) and supports with hands-on suggestions.
• Meets with clients in their own homes and in the community to establish routines and connect with community service providers, resources and other professionals as needed.
• Evaluates client's needs and develops plans to meet such needs. Ensures that clients and/or their families actively participate in the program planning.
• Provides parenting skill building to clients on issues such as parent-child interaction, child development, discipline, and guidance, and behaviour management. Provides emotional support and feedback to clients.
• Goal setting is done in conjunction with the family and referring social worker. Assessing children's development and parent's abilities.
• Recognizes concerns and emergency situations, analyzes situations accurately and develops strategies to deal with such situations. Reports all concerns to the team leader. If it is a protection concern the worker will notify the intake social worker immediately.
• Reviews and evaluates client's progress and adjusts programs as required. Provides feedback and support to clients and/or their families and social workers.
• Plans, coordinates and schedules supported visits in consultation with all participating parties.
• Provides family and cultural connection activities and resources for parents and children during scheduled family visits.
• Supports program participants in accessing culturally focused activities and teachings offered by the agency, as appropriate.
• Observes and monitors appearance, condition, and behaviour of family members in order to maintain a safe and healthy supported visit. Report any concerns to program coordinator and referring social worker.
• Observes and objectively documents supported visits and interactions. Supporting parents to follow the visit terms and conditions.
• Maintains written reports regarding clients' progress as well as case notes. Ensures that all required documentation is complete and accurate.
• Identifies community resources that will meet clients' needs. Provides liaisons with other agencies, professionals, and government officials in the community.
• In collaboration with team members, the Family Engagement Worker will facilitate a weekly support circle to build capacity in parents who are involved with the Child Health and Wellbeing system.
• Providing and/or arranging transportation for clients as needed.
• Consults with the Team Leader on a regular basis.
• Performs other duties as required.

Job Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in related human/social services, early childhood education, child and youth care or related field or the equivalent education and experience is typically required for this position
• At least one (1) year recent experience working with Indigenous children and parents is required. Direct program delivery experience is required specifically in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of the community-based program and related provincial and community support is preferred.
• Specific program legislation/policies, provincial and other government frameworks and systems, labor relations or professional knowledge may be required.

Job Skills and Abilities:

• Good knowledge of Indigenous issues
• Understanding of drug and alcohol issues and the impact on the families
• Excellent oral, written facilitation and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated teamwork skills.
• Good time and general management skills
• Ability to work effectively with program staff, volunteers, non-profit or publicly funded groups / agencies, MCFD and other organizations
• Knowledge of Child development milestones

Additional Information:

This position requires the ability to function independently frequently under pressure while managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines including effectively managing emergency situations.  Program delivery activities may require a moderate level of physical fitness to effectively carry out the duties of the position.

Core Competencies:

Indigenous Relations Behavioural Competencies

• Cultural Agility is the ability to work respectfully, knowledgeably, and effectively with Indigenous people. It is noticing and readily adapting to cultural uniqueness in order to create a sense of safety for all. It is openness to unfamiliar experiences, transforming feelings of nervousness or anxiety into curiosity and appreciation. It is examining one's own culture and worldview, and the culture of Métis Family Services, and to notice their commonalities, and distinctions with Indigenous cultures, and worldviews. It is recognition of the ways that personal and professional values may conflict or align with those of Indigenous people. It is the capacity to relate to or allow for differing cultural perspectives and being willing to experience a personal shift in perspective. Effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.

Behavioural Competencies

• Results Driven concern for surpassing a standard of excellence. The standard may be one's own past performance (striving for improvement); an objective measure (achievement orientation); challenging goals that one has set; or even improving or surpassing what has already been done (continuous improvement).
• Teamwork and Co-operation is the ability to work co-operatively with diverse teams, work groups, and across the organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the desire and ability to understand and respond effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.
• Service Orientation implies a desire to identify and serve customers/clients, who may include the public, co-workers, other branches, other ministries/agencies, other government organizations, and non-government organizations. It means focusing one's efforts on discovering and meeting the needs of the customer/client.
• Seeking and Using Feedback involves recognizing that improving performance and authenticity can occur through a reciprocal relationship. This requires an acknowledgement that here is an opportunity for mutual learning and development and levels the field in what is brought to supervision. Reciprocal learning can require active listening and modeling personal change in order to foster trust.
• Decisive Insight combines the ability to draw on one's own experience, knowledge and training and effectively problem-solve increasingly difficult and complex situations. It involves breaking down problems, tracing implications and recognizing patterns and connections that are not obviously related.
• Reflective Practice is the ability to critically assess how one's values, beliefs, ethics and culture influence decisions and relationships. An ability to demonstrate exemplary behaviour and curiosity regarding the perspectives of others, results in appropriate boundaries and insightful practice.
• Responsive Learning is facilitated through multiple approaches to encourage a deepening and expanding of skill sets with a view to continuing to build expertise that result in improved individual and organization outcomes.
• Handling crisis involves effectively managing risks and crises and handling public relations.

Other Requirements: 

•  Criminal Record Check; Class 5 Driver's License and Abstract; reliable form of transportation.

Rate of pay:  JJEP Wage Grid, Grid Level 12: $29.17 to $33.49

Start date:      As soon as possible

Please apply for this position from our website at the following link

This position requires union membership.

Metis Family Services thanks all applicants for their interest in this career opportunity; however, only those considered for the position will be contacted. No telephone inquiries please.