Job Description

The Position

Under the general supervision of the Social Development Manager, the main goal of the Family Support Worker (FSW) is to assist and support parents in their role as caregivers, with the goal of promoting parental competency and strengthening family life, leading to healthy children and family development. This position promotes the safety and well-being of shíshálh Nation children, youth and families who may or may not be involved with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or are at risk for involvement. 

Note:  There are three (3) positions: full-time, part-time and on-call.

The Candidate:

• Connect with parents and families and assist them in accessing programs and services that may be useful to the child, youth and/or family; this includes making formal, verbal, or informal referrals to appropriate service providers or agencies.
• Gain and sustain the participation of families in the program by providing flexible support and establishing a good rapport with all community members and families.
• Create, implement and oversee culturally based support groups for parents and children.
• Engage and motivate families to be accountable to themselves and their family members.
• Promote and support cultural teachings and practices for our families and community.
• Support skill development such as positive parenting, household management, grocery shopping and food preparation and other practical skills.
• Work with the Supportive Family Housing Team Lead, other Social Development teams and MCFD on matters related to child safety and short/long term care planning for shishalh Nation children.
• Assist caregivers in developing plans, identifying strategies or techniques for managing challenging behaviors, and collaborating with other supports.
• Work with families to accomplish goals as identified with family and professionals.
• Work with families in assessing their needs to determine the type of program required (e.g., infant development/parent groups/recreation/culture) and supports with enrolment.
• May be required to help move a child/youth-in-care from one resource (e.g., foster home) to another.
• Develop effective working relationships and partnerships with coworkers, community members and representatives of other departments and agencies.
• Assist and support children and youth in MCFD and family-based care arrangements.
• Ensure ongoing management of assigned cases and all documentation is completed as required.
• Responsible for report writing, including case notes, quarterly reports, tracking and recording service hours, maintaining statistical records of types of referrals made to outside agencies and other types of information as required.
• Ability to work with community members with active substance use challenges, incarceration, mental health concerns and other barriers. Effectively deal with conflicts and find resolutions.
• Adjust to new or unexpected events and situations and effectively adjust priorities and time management
• Participate in job-related training.
• Other duties as assigned (i.e. program development, assisting with supportive housing, special projects, crisis intervention and more).

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:

• A secondary school diploma, employer-approved alternatives, or an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Family Support Certificate.
• Home Visitor Training.
• Time management and organizational skills, techniques and practices are required to use time effectively and to cope with conflicting or changing priorities and established service standards on a constant basis.
• Two (2) years of work experience with children, youth or families in a position requiring clear communication skills and the ability to remain calm and supportive in difficult situations, preferably within a First Nations environment.
• Proficient in using MS Office, Adobe and other software programs.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Capacity to establish effective relationships with children/ youth/ families and extended families.
• Knowledge and understanding of behavioural effects of abuse and neglect.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with external agencies and effectively/sensitively with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive situations.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work in collaboration with others.
• You are expected to enter family homes to provide direct support to families, including those with pets.
• Must have tolerance to dust and allergens.
• Valid driver’s license, a current vehicle insurance certificate, and access to reliable transportation.
• Current Criminal Records Check

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