Social Worker, Child & Family Development - Sheway

Position: Social Worker, Child & Family Development - Sheway 

Status: 1 Year Term, Full-time 

Department: Child Safety  

Location: 533 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1P9

Classification: Delegated Programs, Social Program Officer (Grid 21-24) + 1 Temporary Market  Adjustment (TMA)

Salary: $2,673.92 - $3,421.65 bi-weekly 

At VACFSS, we ensure that the rights, safety, well-being and spirit of Indigenous children and families are upheld, honored and protected. We strive to eliminate oppression, discrimination and marginalization within our community. We acknowledge and honor 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.

• Engage in restorative child welfare practice with 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!

The Sheway Program is a multi-disciplinary team jointly sponsored by VACFSS, MCFD, Vancouver Native Health Society, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and the YWCA Crabtree Corner. The Program is a preventative, early intervention outreach program for high-risk pregnant women and women with infants under eighteen months who are dealing with drug and alcohol issues in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.  The program emphasizes supporting mothers when needed in making early contact to child protection, health and education information, support and guidance, and facilitated access to resources. The aim of the program is to meet the goals of VACFSS family plans and prevention improving the health of pregnant and post-natal women, to reduce risk behaviors. 

The Child and Family Development Social Worker is responsible for supporting new mothers including the safety and well-being of children through least intrusive, trauma-informed, and restorative child welfare and support practices. The Social Worker will work in partnership with the child’s family, extended family, community, Band or Nation to: (1) Gathering the child’s Circle; (2) Listen, assess and find solutions; (3) Create security, belonging and well-being; and (4) Keep the Circle strong. This position works in partnership with the MCFD Sheway Social worker and between the two positions support approximately 250 parents and their families.

The Child and Family Development Social Worker position is a term VACFSS position reporting to the Practice Manager - Intake, Collaborative Practice and Out of Care Options at 2020 Yukon Street; however, the successful candidate will be located at Sheway, 533 E Hastings Street.  Clinical Supervision is provided by the Manager of Sheway.  

The work is guided by the values of belonging, respect, strengths-based practice, integrity, and humility. It is conducted in accordance with practice standards, legislation, and VACFSS’s philosophy of service delivery, in pursuit of a balanced and harmonious Indigenous community. The Social Worker liaises and collaborates with community-based perinatal and substances use organizations, health care agencies and providers to support women and their families in wrap-around care for improved health outcomes. Duties include: 

• Attend various meetings with the: Child Safety team, mediation, clients, family, service providers and members of the multidisciplinary team for identification and management of client mental health issues, concerns regarding services and coordination, emergent issues and discussion of on-going follow-up care to ensure a coordinated approach to treatment and a reengagement in care where possible.
• Acts as a client advocate to protect and promote client’s right to autonomy, respect, privacy, dignity, and access to information.
• Collaborates, consults, and provides expertise to colleagues, physicians, hospitals, counsellors, Delegated Aboriginal Agencies, MCFD and other community services for continuity of care, treatment concerns, specialized services, and community resource coordination for participants at risk. 
• Supports client access to services such as medical appointments, hospitals, attending court, housing services and social programs by methods such as providing information, contacting relevant programs/services and accompanying clients to appointments.
• Managing parent/child access visits at Sheway.
• Safety planning for children as well as supporting the planning at FIR, Sanctuary and Crabtree.
• Promotes development of life-skills in clients by providing them with information/referrals and practical assistance to meet their basic needs and encourages client empowerment and capacity to exercise choice and actively participate in decisions affecting their own health and healthcare.
• Prepares and maintains appropriate client records in accordance with established standards. 
• Maintain and updates current knowledge base in perinatal substance use and community services by participating in continuing education, and/or community initiatives.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of VACFSS’ Keeping Our Children Safe and Raising Our Children Together policies.
• Experience working in an Indigenous Agency on a multi-disciplinary team of Indigenous professionals, supporting Indigenous clients.  
• Demonstrated ability of cultural core competencies and restorative Indigenous Child Welfare practice. 
• Strong understanding of intergenerational trauma and the impacts of colonialism, residential school, racism, and discrimination of Indigenous people.
• Experience working with substance affected individuals and supporting them through addictions recovery utilizing harm reduction models.
• Understanding of the social and psychological dimensions of working in the sex trade.
• Understanding of and ability to work within a harm reduction philosophy.
• Ability to establish priorities, complete assignments on time, and work under limited direction.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with management, professional and support staff, as well as community agencies. 
• Ability to objectively assess problem situations and identify options to address and resolve them.
• High degree of tact and good judgment. 
• Ability to assess risk factors that may impact pregnancy and early parenting. 
• Practicing in a trauma informed way.
• Understanding the strong need to connect people to cultural supports and community.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• MSW or M. Ed in Counselling with a child welfare practicum, or MA in Psychology with a child welfare practicum; or (preferred) 
• BSW; or (preferred) 
• BA in a related human services field 
• Minimum 3 years’ experience of child and family service work is required . This may include supporting parents involved with substance use, pregnancy health, harm reduction, accessing the health care system, supporting women with their plan for care of infant after birth, and care in the community.     

 Note:

• A valid class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle is required to perform the duties of this position. 
• This position requires Union membership.
• Applications will be accepted from all genders.
• This position requires the incumbent to be available in the office.
• This position is classified as Social Program Officer 24.  Please note this position is not a Child Safety Social Worker classification and will not be eligible for the Child Safety specific temporary market adjustments (TMA).
• The term position may be returned to VACFSS at a future date and the incumbent would be returned to their base position if the term ended earlier than anticipated. 

ABOUT THE BENEFITS:

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

• Medical, extended health, and dental
• Group life and AD&D
• 100% employer-paid premiums
• 3 weeks of vacation
• Eligible for the VACFSS flex program after passing probation
• Membership in the Public Service Pension Plan
• Access to VACFSS’ Staff Cultural Clinical Counselor, Elder
• Access to Indigenous Cultural Teachings as coordinated by the Agency

APPLICATION PROCESS:

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 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. 

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