Resource Social Worker

FT / Temporary (18 months)

Job Summary:

The Resource Worker is responsible for recruiting, developing, and maintaining a range of resources in which to place Métis Children in Care: Foster homes; Specialized resources, and out of care placements. The position monitors services provided, supports the resource providers and liaises with staff and community resources. The worker will be responsible for the retention of current resource providers, training new care providers, recognizing current resource providers and increasing Community Awareness of fostering. The goal of this service is to provide the most culturally appropriate resource available to meet the needs of the Métis children in care. This is done under the direction of the Resource Team Leader, Director of Programs and Practice, and/or Executive Director.

This role is responsible for maintaining collaborative relationships with Ministry of Child and Family Development liaison offices and other Delegated Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies in relation to placement of children in care and joint training initiatives. The position will monitor and support Métis Children in Care: Foster homes; out of care placements and Specialized Resources by being available to help support caseload duty coverage in the absence of the Resource social worker assigned to the file.

Reports to: Resource Team Leader

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Under direction of the Team Leader, the incumbent is responsible for the following:

• Appropriate Resources: receiving requests from delegated social workers for placement of children being brought into care on an emergency and planned basis coordinating out-of-region placements, if required coordinating out-of-care options, if required
• Liaises with delegated teams regarding placements of children in care by: Participating in Integrated Case Management (Gathering the Circle) meetings on a regular basis to discuss and report on specific placement issues and general outstanding resource issues as well as quality of care issues acting as information advisor for children needing placement and/or service and transferring information to the appropriate resource worker providing ongoing evaluation and assessment of a child's progress during placement to assist in the planning process
• Facilitates the provision of foster home resources for children-in-care by: recruiting, orienting, studying, recommending for approval and training foster caregivers monitoring and provision of service standards and supporting foster caregivers coordinating the negotiation of special foster home rates, as required liaising with local foster parent associations and regional councils to resolve issues and provide information of mutual interest may be assigned to negotiate special care homes and/or parent contracts
• Recruits and develops contracted resources by: consulting with line child welfare workers and supervisors to identify resource development needs providing background information to the negotiator to aid in contract negotiation reviewing and understanding the contract negotiated, and interpreting same as required
• Monitors the provision of service by: evaluating the resource to ensure program is being provided as outlined in the contract setting overall goals with the resource for ongoing service delivery ensuring that review and revision of individual client goals is completed by involving the client's social worker coordinating all admissions and discharges and attending related meetings providing ongoing feedback to the resource regarding quality of service providing information to the negotiator to assist in contract renewal, as to whether service is acceptable maintaining up-to-date records and statistics on resource referrals and occupancy
• Supports foster homes, contracted resource providers and/or out of care options by: supporting caregivers in their role in ensuring that indigenous children and youth in care inherent rights to culture, language, tradition interpreting policy and requirements to service providers in a positive manner representing the needs of service providers to Metis Family Services staff in a positive manner acting to resolve problems between service providers and staff ensuring that requirements for use of resources are clarified, understood and met providing referrals for appropriate training planning, organizing, and hosting events such as Foster Parent Appreciation, Foster Parent Forum, etc. ensuring caregivers are equipped to meet and exceed the needs of children and youth in their homes
• Participates in Investigations of Abuse and Neglect in child welfare resources according to regional and provincial protocols.
• Collaborates with indigenous communities to: initiate or increase caregiving options in community support caregivers share resources
• Financial responsibilities and other related duties: inputting contracts in payment (RAPS) system carrying out special projects as required.
• Performs other duties as required, including, but not limited to:
• Exercising spending authority as appropriate
• Maintaining and entering information on the Resource and Payment system to ensure payments to caregivers are accurate and timely

Qualifications, Education, & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Social Work OR Child and Youth Care OR Master of Education in Counselling Psychology/Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology; Bachelor's Degree in a Human Services field OR Bachelor's Degree with a Major/Honors in a Human Services OR Master's level graduate Certificate/Diploma in a Human Services field AFTER the completion of an unrelated Bachelor's Degree.
  
  • PLUS, a minimum of two years of recent related OR job-specific work experience.
  • NOTE: If this education was obtained outside of Canada, you need to confirm it has been assessed for equivalency through the International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES). You must provide a basic report by the closing date of this posting to be considered.
• Must be eligible to obtain appropriate Provincial Delegation and consideration will be given to those who already hold C4 Guardianship delegation and Adoption delegation.
• Knowledge and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and history and how these affect the development of individuals, families, and communities. Knowledge of Métis culture is preferred.
• Understanding of cross- cultural issues as they affect children in care, foster parents, biological parents, and communities of origin.

Job Skills and abilities:

• Demonstrated abilities and experience in developing strong working relationships with children, families, Indigenous communities, Caregivers, and biological parents.
• Excellent understanding and knowledge of Métis/Indigenous cultures, traditions, and socio-economic issues affecting urban indigenous families.
• Professional commitment, flexibility, good problem solving and dispute resolution skills
• Computer literacy on databases, Microsoft Word, Excel and other computer software
• Safe Home Study training is an asset.
• Training in Integrated Case Management System (ICM) is an asset.
• Excellent oral, written, facilitation, interpersonal and communication skills
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