Guardianship Social Worker

• Use your child welfare expertise to make a lasting difference in Vancouver’s Indigenous community!
• Receive a competitive salary of $69,760.70 to $89,268.45 annually PLUS a comprehensive benefits package!
• Take on a challenging role that provides membership in the Public Service Pension Plan!

At VACFSS, we ensure that the rights, safety, well-being and spirit of Indigenous children and families are upheld, honoured and protected. We strive to eliminate oppression, discrimination, and marginalization within our community. We acknowledge and honour the inherent wisdom, capacity, and resourcefulness of our community in designing programs and services to care for our own children and families. Accordingly, we are dedicated to planning, developing, and implementing creative and innovative Indigenous programs and services in collaboration with members of our community and other agencies.

The VACFSS Guardianship program is responsible for the care and well-being of Indigenous children under a Continuing Custody Order. Our approach is situated in a model of the child in the center of their circle of support, surrounded by family and community. The Guardianship program focuses on developing holistic care plans with an emphasis on connection to family, culture and community.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Reporting to the Guardianship Team Leader, the Guardianship Social Worker carries out guardianship responsibilities for children in continuing care of the Director of Child and Family Services and secures culturally appropriate, child specific, permanent or adoptive homes. The Guardianship Social Worker is responsible for the day-to-day care of the child throughout the child’s stay in care. The worker develops and supervises the comprehensive plan of care and deals with issues related to placement and permanency planning. The worker has delegated responsibility for ensuring that the child’s rights under the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CF&CS) are met, and for exercising the Director’s authority under the Act by providing services to children in care in accordance with legislation, guardianship standards and VACFSS policy.

FUNCTIONS:.

• The Guardianship Social Worker works with the child’s circle to complete holistic and balanced care plans that honours their cultural identity, views their family and community as active members in their Circle, and supports healing and growth.
• Supports children and youth to have an active and engaged circle of care around them.
• Ensures strong collaboration between those in a child’s circle, and advocates for additional culturally relevant supports and services.
• Supports continual exploration of the child’s Circle to provide care for the child, with a focus on return to family and community.
• Supports young person to plan for independence through a holistic model that insures youth are ready to enter the community as young adults.
• Demonstrates an in – depth knowledge of First Nations and cultural groups in Canada as well as protocols associated with accessing community contacts and Elders. Develops meaningful long term therapeutic relationships with children, youth and their families that are trauma informed, and strength based.

Key Competencies:

• Relational Engagement
• Leadership
• Collaborative Planning and Decision Making
• Emotional Competency
• Resilience
• Cultural, Spiritual Expression

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

1. Preferred Credentials:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Social Work or in Child & Youth Care OR Master's Degree in Educational Counselling Psychology/Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology with completion of a practicum in family and child welfare OR
• A candidate may be considered equivalent when they are registered and a member in good standing with the BC College of Social Workers or has a letter from the College confirming that their application for registration has been approved.
• C4 Delegation (to be provided).

2. Minimum Credentials:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field OR Bachelor’s Degree with a Major/Honors in a Human Services field 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 one year of related OR job-specific work experience.
• C4 Delegation (to be provided).

• Human Services fields include: Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies, Education, Theology or Nursing.

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 comprehensive report and the supplemental report to be considered.

Job Skills and Abilities:

• Solid understanding of the Child, Family and Community Services Act
• Awareness of resources available to Indigenous clients, and knowledge of the referral process
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain controlled emotional involvement in dealing with self and with others.
• Ability to form therapeutic relationships with difficult to engage with children and youth.
• Demonstrated ability to work from a trauma informed practice.
• Applies the Indigenous concept of relational engagement to persons-served, to other employees and to the land from an Indigenous Worldview.
• Utilizes Indigenous values and models of leadership which are entrenched in traditional Indigenous leadership views (Siiyamints) to provide leadership to persons-served, agency employees and others under their sphere of influence.
• Applies the process of traditional problem solving utilizing collaboration and consensus in analyzing and developing appropriate solutions to problems, evaluating a course of action, reaching decisions and modifying decisions based on changing circumstances or information.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
• Computer skills for Microsoft Word and Outlook.

Notes:

• A valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle with business class insurance are required to perform the duties of this position.
• This position requires Union membership.
• This position is open to applicants of all genders.
• This position requires the incumbent to be available in the office. Remote work is unavailable 

ABOUT THE BENEFITS:

In exchange for your contributions, you will receive a competitive salary benefits package, including:

• Medical, extended health, and dental
• Group life
• 100% employer-paid premiums
• 3 weeks of vacation
• Eligible for the VACFSS flex program after passing probation
• Membership in the Public Service Pension Plan

Applications will be accepted from candidates with the above qualifications or from candidates that have delegated experience with MCFD or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency. An eligibility list may be created. Preference may be given to Indigenous candidates as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted. 

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