Job Description

Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services

Guardianship & Permanency Planning Worker

Overview

Located on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen People, Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services’ (SCCFS) vision is to support the empowerment of the urban Indigenous community to continue the reclamation of traditional systems of caring for and protecting children so no child or youth will be placed into care. As an urban Delegated Indigenous Agency, SCCFS is committed to providing child and family services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and world views while ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth grow up connected to family, community, and culture.

Surrounded by Cedar receives its delegation through the Provincial Director of Child Welfare, who gives the agency the authority to undertake administration of parts of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA). Under its current delegation agreement, Surrounded by Cedar administers C3 (Family Services) & C4 services (Guardianship).

SCCFS strives to be a culturally safe employer, with a keen focus on Indigenous recruitment and retention. While working at the agency, employees will be involved in various cultural knowledge sharing opportunities, activities, and ceremonies, while being actively engaged in urban Indigenous community events.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Guardianship & Permanency Planning Team Leader, the Guardianship & Permanency Planning Worker (GPPW) acts as legal guardian to urban Indigenous children and youth in the Continuing Care of the Director of Child Welfare. While focused on individual safety and well-being, the GPPW provides service that is strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and beliefs, ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth in care remain connected to their families, communities, and cultures. Permanency plans are established in a timely manner and youth are adequately prepared to transition out of care at the age of 19. The GPPW also provides support to youth accessing the Youth Agreements (YAG) program as well as young adults accessing the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) Program.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide child welfare services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and beliefs while nurturing the cultural and spiritual identities of urban Indigenous children/youth in Continuing Care.
• Directly support youth and young adults accessing the Youth Agreements (YAG), Temporary Support Agreements (TSA), Temporary Housing Agreements (THA) and Agreements with Young Adults programs (AYA).
• Focus on the needs of youth as they transition to adulthood, including building strong circles of relational support, developing necessary life skills, establishing, and maintaining housing, and navigating adult community support services.
• Act as legal guardian to urban Indigenous children/youth in care whose ancestors come from Nations across Turtle Island with a focus on relational, cultural, physical, and legal permanency.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the history of Indigenous people in Canada and the impact of historic and intergenerational trauma. Respectful for Indigenous people and culture.
• Ability to connect in a meaningful way with urban Indigenous children and youth who have been placed in the Continuing Care of the Director, focusing on establishing a positive mentoring relationship that will create opportunity for children/youth to express themselves and their needs.
• Knowledge of resources available to urban Indigenous clients and how to access them.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a respectful and collaborative way with team members, knowledge keepers, children/youth, extended family members, Nations, caregivers, and various agencies within the community.
• Ability to work with clients, birth family members and community members from a trauma informed practice approach and promote healing opportunities for children and families.
• Skilled at conflict resolution with an ability to de-escalate challenging and sometimes volatile situations using traditional and mainstream approaches.
• Strong understanding of the Child Family and Community Service Act and relevant legislation and standards.

Training, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Child & Youth Care or a related discipline.
• An equivalent combination of education and at least 2 years of Indigenous child welfare experience, with a focus on youth services and youth transition will be considered.
• Preference may be given to candidates who currently hold C4 delegation in British Columbia (or have within the last 2 years).
• Availability to work Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• A willingness to travel, sometimes to remote locations, and work some evenings and weekends.
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license, a safe and reliable vehicle, and a favourable driver’s abstract.
• Clear criminal records check.

Preference will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit as per Section 41of the BC Human Rights Code.

An eligibility list may be established for contract opportunities.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a variety of settings including the SCCFS office, client homes, and community settings. Regular travel to attend meetings and events is required. Evening and weekend work are required from time to time.

Critical Success Factors

In support of our Vision and Mission, we embody an agency culture that is supportive, team-oriented, caring, genuine/authentic, respectful, and fun (with laughter). Most importantly, we work from the heart to support our belief that: Children are the most sacred gift that will ever be given by the Creator.

Department: Guardianship & Permanency Planning
Reports To: Guardianship and Permanency Planning Team Leader

What We Have to Offer:

• Competitive wages, comprehensive benefits and a matched RRSP contribution plan.
• A healthy working environment rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
• Flexible work schedules and leave opportunities that promote work/life/family balance.
• Physical wellness funds to support your overall well-being.
• Professional development and learning opportunities to enhance your skills.
• Opportunities to participate in agency and community cultural events, activities and ceremonies.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: $67,728.87-$86,668.39 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
Communicable Disease Prevention Handbook

Ability to commute/relocate:

• VICTORIA, BC V9A 2P8: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Do you self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit?

Experience:

• Indigenous child welfare: 2 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2023-05-18
Expected start date: 2023-06-05

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