Child Protection Worker

Each Child and Youth Services Worker may be responsible for any of the following: coordinating interventions and services for children/youth with in care status; facilitating permanency care arrangements when appropriate, and for the performance of other related duties as determined by their supervisor to ensure child safety and positive outcomes for all involved in each individual case.

·         Work in accordance with provincial child welfare standards and guidelines and the CYFSA

·         Responsible for all provincial reporting documents in a timely manner

·         Assists those deemed eligible for Ogwadeni:deo services in the development of a service plan that will address the identified service needs including the use of traditional interventions/services and including referral to others for the completion of clinical assessments where appropriate and the provision of needed, related services not provided by Ogwadeni:deo as appropriate.

·         Collaborates in the development of children and youth Plans of Care and Ontario Looking After Children and its assessment tool with the child, parents, alternative caregivers, Band Representative and other collaterals.

·         Address the identified children/youth service needs including the use of traditional interventions/services and including referral to others for the completion of clinical assessments where appropriate and the provision of needed, related services not provided by Ogwadeni:deo as appropriate.

·         Advises the selected alternative caregiver, in consultation with the assigned CPW, Alternative Care Resource Team, as to the needs of the child/youth, the probable adjustment problems anticipated and the methods of support that will be required/provided.

·         Advises all children/youth placed in alternative care with respect to their rights and responsibilities under legislation.

·         Assists children/youth placed in alternative, long-term or permanent care with the adjustment to the new environment through counselling and other support as required in liaison with the assigned CPW, Alternative Care Resource Team and Kotinonha or other care provider.

·         Provides required and fully adequate support to all children/youth placed in alternative care with the objective, wherever possible, of having the children/youth return home.

·         Coordinates and provides post-placement interviews when another alternative care placement is required and upon family reunification

·         Advise their Supervisor when and if they have reason to believe that a child/youth may need to be placed in another alternative care home and takes such action as approved.

·         Assists with the supervision of access between children/youth and their family as required.

·         Provides crisis intervention services as required.

·         Coordinates permanency planning meetings that support the safety, permanency and well-being of children/youth with in care status

·         Will from time-to-time, supervise post-secondary students on field placement.

·         Prepares and sends notice to and consults with a child/youth’s First Nation Representative where a child/youth that is the subject of a protection assessment is a member of a First Nation other than Six Nations or a Native Community.

·         Participates in the development of the annual staff training/professional development plan based on the results of staff evaluations.

·         Participates in the annual review of the content of the CPW position description and recommends any needed changes to the supervisor.

·         Assists with the preparation of applications for warrants to facilitate a protection assessment where an alleged situation does not require immediate action and time permits.

·         Assists with the preparation of the requisite documentation required for an application to a provincial Family Court in those cases which voluntary agreement cannot be achieved through discussion and use of the alternative dispute resolution process and where service is deemed necessary to ensure the protection of the child/youth involved.

·         Conducts reviews of the files of potential custom or legal adoptees and persons willing to apply for legal guardianship, in consultation with the Alternative Care Resource Team, in relation to long term needs of all children/youth requiring a long-term or permanent arrangement; and gathers documents with the necessary background information on any child/youth to be placed in a permanent arrangement prior to a probationary placement.

·         Participates the development of the annual budget and expenditure plan by assisting their supervisor to identify Team support and programming requirements.

·         Maintains regular communications with other community-based and external service providers pertinent to sharing general information, and ideas about effective protective interventions and service delivery as well as encouraging maximum coordination of program services.

·         Participates as directed in public forums, including the media, to communicate the responsibilities and practices of the Ogwadeni:deo Program and to develop and maintain public support.

·         Performs other duties as assigned by their Supervisor.

The successful applicant:

• Will have a BSW or equivalent University Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, preferably with one year of front line and case management work experience within the child welfare sector OR
• Social Services Worker Diploma/Certificate or equivalent College Diploma/Certificate to the employer’s satisfaction with three years of front line and case management work experience within the child welfare sector, with the willingness to upgrade their studies to a BSW University degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Child Welfare Authorization Training is preferred
• Must have a valid class “G” driver’s license.
• Must submit a favourable criminal reference check and vulnerable sector screening.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours.

Knowledge Requirements 

The successful applicant:

• Must be thoroughly familiar with the relevant provincial legislation, regulations and guidelines.
• Must be thoroughly familiar with the service delivery policies and procedures.
• Must have the knowledge of the range of methods and techniques involved in both traditional approaches to helping as well as contemporary social service work strategies.

Ability Requirements 

The successful applicant(s) must demonstrate ability to:

• Respect the Six Nations’ cultures and of the cultures of other First Nations families who reside in the designated service delivery area.
• Relate effectively to community members and their children.
• Supervise staff performing a range of service functions.
• Work effectively with the management and staff of other programs/agencies.
• Communicate effectively both in writing and verbally.
• Use basic computer software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Case Management Data Bases).
• Work effectively in a team setting.
• Speak and/or understand Mohawk and/or Cayuga language is an asset.

• Positions in the field of Ogwadeni:deo, traditional Child protection can be both mentally and emotionally challenging.  This position, given that the primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of children/youth who are alleged to be and may be found to be in need of protection and managing a team interacting with families in relation to sensitive issues can involve considerable mental and emotional stress, especially where the staff are involved in traumatic situations involving families, children and youth. This position is subject to an environment that may involve physically dangerous situationsIt is the expectation that the worker will conduct themselves within the Ogwadeni:deo Code of practice in exhibiting the values and qualities, Compassion and Kindness, respecting one another, working together, assisting one another, self reflection on actions taken, taking responsibility, encouragement, honest and moral conduct, being truthful and consistent and peaceful thoughts and actions.