Family Finder - Fort Albany

Cochraneontario; Northeastern Ontario; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community service organization in Northeastern Ontario is seeking a Family Finding Worker to assist in locating and engaging family members of children/youth in care. Successful candidates will work collaboratively with the community and have experience in social services. Qualifications include a Bachelor’s in Social Work and good communication skills. This role involves conducting interviews and support activities while promoting family connections.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in social work preferred.
• Experience working directly with First Nations.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support family finding efforts and maintain connections.
• Conduct interviews with families and community members.
• Prepare and maintain regular reports as required.

Skills

Experience with families

Communication skills

Community engagement

Cree language skills

Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Social Services Worker Diploma

Job description

Reporting to the FirstNation Representative Lead, the Family Finding Worker (FFW) provides support toKaa Yaa Me Sta Maa Ket First Nation Representative and Prevention Servicesstaff in all aspects related tofamily finding. Reporting to the First Nation Representative Lead, the FFW usesthe methods and strategies from the family finding model to locate and engagerelatives of children/youth in care or at risk of entering care so that every child may benefitfrom lifelong connections that only a family provides. Family Finding is a process that is a strongly values-basedmodel with clear and definable goals.

(Discovery, engagement, planning, decision making,evaluation, and follow-up supports). DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Through the use of technology, file research, genograms, family research tools and interviews, the Family Finderwill:

· Seek out Kin in order to:

· Build on existing relationships.

· Promote stability for children and youth.

· Provide viable options to admission to care.

· Enable continuity of relationships between family/community membersand the child/youth

· Maintain the integrity of children and youth’s connections to Indigenous and other relevantcultural groups.

· Explore opportunities for life-longconnections for older youth in need of support.

· Conduct thoroughreviews of relevantcase files to assist in identifying family members or other key people in the child/youth’s natural network who may be options for placement, permanency planning and/or supporting life-long connections.

· Conduct interviews with a child/youth’s caregiver, relatives, community members or the child/youththemselves to assist in identifying Kin. Support foster youth in developing meaningful and enduringconnections with adults who will supportthem across their lifespan.

· Attempt to locate/identify Kin through the use available technology and variousresearch techniques and resources.

· Collaboratewith all Kaa Yaa Me Sta Maa Ket employees and services to ensure that allrelevant information relating to the search for Kin is shared and explored.

· Maintain connections that are healthy, safe, and permanentrelationships between children,

· youth, families,and supportive adults regardless of what circumstances they may find themselves in.

· Support youthin developing a healthy sense of identity and regain dignity as well asproviding family members with the opportunity to meet the needs within theirfamily system.

· For individuals with lifetime care needs, increase connectedness, decrease dependence on the formal service system, and enhance family-driven decision making.

· Focus effortsto achieving the anticipated outcomesthat include increasein reunification rates, improve well-being, and placement stability, transition out of the child welfaresystem, decrease re-entry rates, and stronger sense ofbelonging for children.

· Participate in case conferences, family circles, placementplanning and case conferencing.

· Delivery ofservice is completed in a safe manner and exhibits good judgment, professional conduct,and problem-solving skills.

· Educates staff and community members about Family Finding and widening family and community participation.

· Promotes thephilosophy of family finding, which includes, safety, building on familystrengths, inclusiveness, permanency for children, cultural holisticapproaches, family preservation & reunification, family, and communitycollaborative decision-making.

· Maintains an accurate recordof contact information of guardians, parents,family members, Elders, counsellors, legal services, consultants, community serviceproviders and other resource contacts.

· Prepares and maintains regularreports as required.

· Perform other tasks and assignments as requested or required by the supervisor.

· Complete other related professional duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Social Work or Social Services Worker Diploma or willingness to attain preferred.

• A combination of direct experience working with families, groups and organizing community programs.

• Ability to work cooperatively with community leaders, members, and groups.

• Ability to serve as a positive role model in the community.

• Must have experience in working directly with First Nations.

• Ability to speak Cree is an asset.

• Good verbal and written communication skills.

• Willingness to work flexible hours.

• Willingness totravel.

• Willingness to work temporaryassignments in satelliteoffices.

• Experience in writing proposalswould be an asset.

• Participation in Module trainingrequired.

• Must providea Vulnerable Sector Check prior to employment.

Interestedapplicants are asked to submit three references from recent supervisors, alongwith a cover letter, and resume, to: [e-mail] . We thank allapplicants for their interest; however, only selected applicants will becontacted for an interview.

Fort Albany First Nation Prevention & Representative Services

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