Family Service Team Leader

Scw'exmx Child and Family Services Society; Merritt; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Scw’exmx Child and Family Services Society (SCFSS) is seeking a Family Services Team Leader to guide frontline staff, uphold culturally grounded practice, and support family preservation within delegated authority. The role reports to the Child Safety Manager and focuses on reducing risk while advancing Prevention goals.

The position emphasizes Indigenous values, staff wellness, manageable caseloads, and strong documentation to ensure high-quality child safety and family services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) required.
• Registration or eligibility for registration with BC College of Social Workers preferred.
• Minimum 3 years in child protection, delegated services, or family services.
• C6 Delegation or ability to obtain within timeframe.

Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day leadership, supervision, coaching, and practice support to Family Service Social Workers and Case Aide.
• Ensure practice aligns with CFCSA, delegated service requirements, MCFD policy, and SCFSS strategy.
• Support safety, risk assessments, and escalation of high‑risk matters.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching & mentoring

Trauma-informed practice

Culturally grounded practice

Staff supervision

Communication & facilitation

Caseload management

Documentation

CFCSA knowledge

Indigenous knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

BC Social Worker registration preferred

Job description

This position is scheduled on an alternating, compressed 4-day work week. The successful candidate must be able to work a rotating schedule in alignment with operational requirements.

POSITION SUMMARY

Scw’exmx Child and Family Services Society (SCFSS) is seeking a skilled, culturally grounded, and people‑focused leader to serve as the Family Services Team Leader.

Reporting to the Child Safety Manager, this role provides day‑to‑day leadership, supervision, and practice guidance to the Family Services team delivering ongoing child safety and family services under delegated authority. The Family Services Team Leader plays a critical role in supporting frontline staff to maintain child safety while prioritizing family preservation, reunification pathways, and culturally grounded, community‑based supports.

This position supports the translation of organizational priorities into consistent frontline practice and contributes to SCFSS’s strategic shift from Protection to Prevention, while fostering staff wellness, manageable caseloads, and high‑quality documentation. The Family Services Team Leader upholds SCFSS’s commitments to Culture of Caring and Growing Our People, embedding nłeʔkepmx and syilx values into everyday work with children, families, and communities.

OVERVIEW OF DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide day‑to‑day leadership, supervision, coaching, and practice support to Family Service Social Workers and the Case Aide delivering ongoing family service and child safety work.
• Ensure family service practice aligns with the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA), delegated service requirements, MCFD policy, and SCFSS operational and strategic direction.
• Support staff in the completion, analysis, and documentation of safety and risk assessments, including mitigation planning and escalation of high‑risk matters to the Child Safety Manager as required.
• Monitor caseload distribution, service timelines, and workload pressures to support safe, timely, and sustainable practice.
• Provide daily case consultation, guidance, and problem‑solving support to promote consistent, culturally grounded, and family‑centred practice.
• Support coordination and smooth transitions between Intake and Family Services to reduce unnecessary escalation into protection services.
• Collaborate with Prevention Team Leaders to support coordinated service planning, referrals, and family‑centred supports aligned with Protection to Prevention goals.
• Support the implementation of practice improvements and quality recommendations identified through supervision, file review, or Quality Assurance processes.
• Promote adherence to SCFSS policies, procedures, Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S), and emergency management protocols.
• Foster respectful, collaborative working relationships with internal teams, prevention and cultural supports, and community‑facing partners to strengthen service outcomes for families.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Strong knowledge of guardianship, children‑in‑care practice, and delegated authority decision‑making.
• Sensitivity to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, including residential schools and child welfare systems, and the ability to apply this understanding in practice leadership.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills with the ability to support staff through complex, high‑risk, and emotionally demanding work.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor staff using trauma‑informed, strengths‑based, and culturally safe supervision practices.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, including familiarity with court‑related and permanency timelines.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and support decision‑making under pressure.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a clear Criminal Record Check and Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) Prior Contact Check.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and provide a current driver’s abstract.
• Availability to participate in after‑hours consultation or on‑call responsibilities as required by operational needs.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) is required.
• Registration, or eligibility for registration, with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW) is preferred.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in child protection, delegated services, or family services, including experience with ongoing family service practice under delegated authority.
• Current C6 Delegation or demonstrated ability to obtain C6 Delegation within a specified timeframe, as required.
• Demonstrated experience working with families involved in child safety services, including safety planning, service coordination, and ongoing monitoring.
• Previous experience in a senior practitioner, acting team leader, mentor, or supervisory support role is considered an asset.
• Strong working knowledge of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA), MCFD child protection policy, and delegated authority practice.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous children, families, and communities using culturally informed, family‑centred, and strengths‑based approaches.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, community partners, and service providers to support coordinated family services is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge and professional or personal practice of nłeʔkepmx and syilx traditional values, cultural practices, and protocols is an asset

MINIMUM REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Indigenous Knowledge: applied knowledge of nłeʔkepmx and syilx traditional values, protocols, culture and language; sensitivity to the historical and systemic impacts on Indigenous families and communities from intergenerational trauma
• Critical Thinking: analytical, methodical, fact‑based decision‑making, with a capacity for creative problem solving, and considering diverse perspectives
• Business and Strategic Acumen: proficient in business and strategic concepts in application to SCFSS
• Communication: facilitation and presentation skills, professional business writing, and ability to communicate clearly and confidently with diverse audiences
• Motivation: self‑motivated, capable of effectively motivating others and, high productivity
• Time Management: highly organized, ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, delegate responsibilities and coordinate multiple tasks to achieve goals
• Conflict Resolution: anticipates, diffuses, and resolves conflicts while fostering a positive work environment