Family Support Worker

The Children's Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay; Nipigon Township; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a compassionate Family Support Worker to join their team in Nipigon. This permanent, full-time role focuses on supporting Child Protection Workers and facilitating supervised access for families in need. Ideal candidates will possess a Child and Youth Worker Diploma and have a strong understanding of child development. The position offers excellent training opportunities and a supportive work environment, making it perfect for those passionate about social work and community support. Join a dedicated team committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families.

Benefits

Generous Salary

Pension Plan

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• Child and Youth Worker Diploma or equivalent education/experience required.
• Strong understanding of child development and maltreatment risk factors.

Responsibilities

• Support Child Protection Workers in scheduling and facilitating supervised access.
• Engage with families and children to develop trusting relationships.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Time Management

Critical Thinking

Team Collaboration

Child Development Knowledge

Risk Assessment

Education

Child and Youth Worker Diploma

Relevant Work Experience

Job description

FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER – NIPIGON, ON.
Permanent, Full Time (33.75 hours/week).

The Family Support Worker provides support to the Child Protection Workers in the Nipigon District Office in their work, with the primary focus being scheduling and facilitating supervised access. Provides a wide range of social service support functions that are instrumental in contributing to therapeutic plans and programs for individuals, families, children, and youth receiving services from the Nipigon District Office. This assistance to families and/or children and youth involved with the Agency is supportive, educative, and empowering. This work is ideal for individuals interested in rural social work, a changing and challenging work environment, and who enjoy working from a collaborative, strength-based perspective. Excellent training and professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment are provided, in addition to a generous salary, pension and benefits package.

Position Requirements:

• Child and Youth Worker Diploma or equivalent combination of education or experience.
• Candidates with other academic qualifications and related work experience, plus demonstrated ability, will be considered.
• Contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion with a commitment to the elimination of disparity and disproportionality in service outcomes.
• Thorough knowledge of the stages, processes, and milestones of normal physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children from birth through adolescence, and ability to differentiate normal development from developmental delays precipitated by trauma, maltreatment, family violence and other environmental factors.
• Demonstrated understanding of the major risk factors related to child maltreatment (e.g., domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health illnesses).
• Demonstrated understanding of the dynamics of attachment of children to their parents, extended family members and to significant others.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and develop a trusting relationship with parents, children and youth receiving child welfare services.
• Demonstrated ability to be creative, flexible and to work collaboratively with children and their caregivers, Agency case workers, and community collaterals.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of strengthening and maintaining connections between a child and those with whom the child has experienced a meaningful and beneficial relationship while a child is in placement.
• Travel within the District as required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Effective organization and planning skills to prioritize tasks.
• Demonstrated understanding of the types of permanency on the permanency continuum and the appropriateness for different children and families, and the importance of concurrent planning, through collaborative case planning and placement decisions.
• Strong observation skills related to parent- child interactions in a family home environment, or during an office or community access visit. Able to assess immediate risk concerns to self and/or child during these interactions, and to respond in an appropriate and safe manner.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and evaluate key parenting behaviour using all relevant information, to present a balanced assessment of parenting strengths (safety/protective factors) and challenges (risk/danger factors).
• Possess knowledge of, and experience in, the provision of parenting intervention strategies via feedback, coaching and collaborative goal setting with family members, consistent with a strengths-based approach.
• Strong time management skills and ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Proven ability to work as an integral member of a team.
• Reliable vehicle, safe driving record and valid G Driver’s License.
• Upon offer of employment, submission of a Current Criminal Records Check (Vulnerable Sector), deemed satisfactory to the employer.
• Demonstrated effective written communication skills; able to document information in a clear, concise, and accurate manner.

APPLICATION INFORMATION – Accepting applications until the position is filled.

Please submit a cover letter and resume on-line at www.thunderbaycas.ca “Career Opportunities”. Individuals may also submit an application directly to: Amy Wrigley, The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay, 1110 Jade Court, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6M7.

The Society is committed to supporting and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in our organization and the society in which we serve. As such, we are expressly interested in receiving inquiries and applications from individuals who identify themselves as Indigenous, racialized, or equity seeking in order to better reflect the demographic profile of Thunder Bay and District.

TBCAS is committed to a candidate selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier free. In order to ensure candidates are assessed in a fair and equitable manner, accommodations will be provided to prospective employees in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

We thank all applicants; however only those considered for an interview will be contacted.