Student & Family Advocate (SFA) / Success Coach

St. Clement's School; Fort Assiniboine; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Student and Family Advocate to support the social and emotional needs of students and families. The role involves providing professional social work services, counseling, and community resource information. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with school teams and families to promote student success and well-being. This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers.

Qualifications

• Experience and knowledge regarding student attendance is an asset.
• Extensive training in counseling preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling and educational interventions to students and families.
• Advocate for students’ needs with teachers and parents.
• Deliver individual/group counseling and parent coaching.

Skills

Counseling

Advocacy

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

Registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers

Job description

Pembina Hills School Division (PHSD) is currently seeking a Student and Family Advocate (Social Worker) (0.5 FTE) / Success Coach (0.5 FTE) to support the social and emotional needs of students and families. This 1.0 FTE position will commence on August 25, 2025.

Position Description:

In the capacity of a Student and Family Advocate, the successful candidate will provide support to multiple schools within the district. The Student and Family Advocate will assist in bringing insight and supported solutions to create an environment in which a student can be successful; achieve open communication and consistency between home and school; and support a holistic approach to student success. The position will provide professional social work services to students, parents and school staff including: counseling, educational interventions, community resource information and referral, crisis intervention, threat assessment, attendance, consultations and program development. This assignment includes students and families experiencing emotional, behavioural and developmental struggles. The successful candidate will work directly with clients in the home, school, or community to assess needs, set goals, and plan appropriate support and intervention strategies.

In the capacity of a Success Coach, the successful candidate must be a self-directed team player interested in providing supportive counselling to students and families of Fort Assiniboine School and Pembina Hills Outreach Schools in Barrhead and/or Westlock.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, combined with extensive practical experience.

• Registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers.

• The preferred candidate will have extensive training and experience in counselling, and preferably knowledge of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution Focused Therapy and working with students who have been exposed to trauma.

• Experience and knowledge regarding student attendance is an asset.

The Successful Candidate:

The successful candidate must be willing to work in a collaborative environment. Hours of work will be 5 days/week at 7.5 hours/day following the school calendar.

Working with school teams within a consultative and collaborative model duties may include:

• Delivering a continuum of services that includes consultation, and targeted intervention with students and families; this may include individual/group counselling and parent coaching

• Advocate for students’ needs with teachers, administrators, parents and other professionals

• Serves as a liaison between home and school and provides feedback to all parties concerning attendance and academic performance by providing information and support to enable parents to participate in their child’s education

• Help to provide a voice for parents in supporting communication with school staff

• Identifying strengths in families and goals to work towards collectively

• Provide comprehensive risk assessment, develop safety plans and ensure follow-up care for students that experience suicidal ideations and other self-harming behaviors

• Working as part of a multidisciplinary team to help meet the educational, social, emotional and communication needs of students

• Referral and navigation of community resources and advocacy for student and family needs

• Providing professional development for staff

• Providing mental wellness presentations to students

For further information, please contact:

Rob McGarva, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services at 780-674-8506
Kendra Seatter, Assistant Director of Student Services at 780-307-0502

This competition closes when a suitable candidate is found.

There are inherent risks in the work employees do throughout Pembina Hills School Division (PHSD). All staff are to be prepared to satisfactorily manage the inherent risks encountered in their work. PHSD staff are responsible for advising their Supervisors of unknown risks encountered relating directly to their work. Staff are expected to cooperate in ensuring workplace health and safety in a caring and respectful educational setting.

Apply at : https://pembinahills.simplication.com/
If you require assistance with the application process, please call Simplication @ 1-877-900-5627

PLEASE NOTE:

• Your resume should include a list of references with permission for Pembina Hills School Division to contact any or all references.
• Original Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector (dated within one year) must be provided prior to employment.
• Original Intervention Record Check (dated within one year) – issued by Child & Family Services Authority must be provided prior to employment.
• Verification of Education and relative experience is required.
  
  

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.