The Position
This position is responsible for placement, planning and managing the delivery of support services to children, youth and their families. This individual will work with children, youth and caregivers to provide a holistic approach to services. He or she is responsible for the provision of appropriate home and community- based support services, as well as the successful delivery of programs that promote healthy lifestyles for families.
Responsibilities
- Establishes long term plans and goals for children who are wards in care based on the child’s needs and abilities. Maintains contact with the child to ensure day to day physical, safety, and emotional needs are being met. Compose extensive written documentation for purposes of child history and case management.
- Maintains contact with foster homes/extended family caregivers regarding all matters relating to the child in care. This includes: ensuring the financial maintenance of the caregiver; ensuring special needs; and guides foster homes/extended family caregivers in resolving problems by mediating, teaching problem resolution skills, and enhancing parenting techniques.
- Determines and calculates special financial needs which would include recreational expenses, travel expenses, medical needs, specialized caregiver rates, exceptional needs, educational needs and items necessary for independent living. Provide budget counselling to children and their placements. Assess and advise caregivers when financial reductions occur.
- Complete or assist with assessments to evaluate and places children for appropriate placements. This includes writing extensive information on history of the child/children, consulting with appropriate professionals for pre-placement assessments, attending medical and developmental assessments, assisting foster parent/caregiver to prepare life books, selecting and reviewing home studies on the child’s behalf, arranging and monitoring pre-placement visits, supporting child and foster parent/caregiver through separation issues and developing communication agreements between birth families and adoptive families.
- Locates, request assessment and supervises appropriate resources, as required, for children in care on a long term basis. This would include specialized institutional placements, community resources, foster homes, alternate care homes, board and room arrangements and independent living situations. Provide ongoing support and referrals to caregivers as needed.
- Provides assessment, counselling and appropriate referral services to children, foster parents or extended family as required, in partnership with the Out of Home Care program. Monitors services being provided by the referral agency, specialized school placements and contracted service providers.
- Initiates and maintains contact with the family or origin (where appropriate), persons of sufficient interest, and First Nations/Metis Indigenous agencies/bands contact with that community as applicable. Assess, arrange, transport, and supervise visits. Provide support to child and caregiver before and after visits. Ensure court decisions are followed through as specified with family/Band contact and appropriate cultural case planning for all children.
Education and Experience:
- Post-Secondary degree in social work from an accredited post-secondary institution;
- Three (3) experience in delivering front line child and family services and working with First Nations children, families and communities;
- Must be a member in good standing or eligible for registration with the Saskatchewan Association of Social Work
- Experience working within a governance structure in a community development capacity with First Nations; familiarity with First Nations culture, history is considered an asset.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Must demonstrate the ability to plan, assess, and provide a high standard of delivery of care and services.
- Strong organizational and communications (verbal and written) skills;
- Ability to deal with conflict situations in a professional manner;
- Knowledge of provincial child and family services legislation, regulations, policies and procedures and mitigating factors to ensure actions are legally compliant;
- Ability to apply systematic, logical reasoning when addressing problems or situations in order to arrive at an appropriate solution or outcome;
- Ability to work independently, be self-motivated and driven, and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint with an ability to easily learn new software applications.
- Knowledge of the political, social and economic objectives of the Saskatoon Tribal Council and of the Dakota, Cree, and Saulteaux cultures will be considered an asset.
Other Work Conditions:
- Must possess a valid driver’s license (class 5) and meet STC’s insurance requirements.
- Must provide a current, original, Canadian Criminal Record Check (CPIC) with vulnerable sector search as a condition of employment.