Title: Guardianship Worker Classification: Social Program Officer 24 (Growth Series)

JOB PROFILE JOB STORE # 173

TITLE: GUARDIANSHIP WORKER CLASSIFICATION: SOCIAL PROGRAM OFFICER 24 (GROWTH SERIES)

JOB OVERVIEW

To promote and ensure the safety and well-being of children throughout their stay in care, and plan in collaboration with family and Aboriginal communities for permanency options for Aboriginal children. ACCOUNTABILITIES Required:  Develops and supervises the care plan for children in care by ensuring the child , family, Aboriginal community and caregiver have input into the plan, informs the caregiver of their responsibilities, monitors the placement; and provides assistance and guidance with addressing the child’s difficult behaviours.  Provides support to children in care by assisting the child with entry into care, placement and permanency issues; ensures the rights of the child are being met in accordance with legislation and policies; provides consent for child activities; ensures the child’s birthdays and other significant events are celebrated and oversees all payments.  Works collaboratively with families and Aboriginal communities to explore permanency options for children in care and prepares the child for permanency placement.  Assists the child in preparing for discharge and assists youth during the post-discharge period.  Facilitates the involvement of the Aboriginal community in all planning for Aboriginal children in care and ensures the child’s cultural identity is maintained.  Provides regular updates to the Aboriginal community of a child’s progress, successes and difficulties while in care.

Career Group: Social Services Job Family: Adoption/Guardianship Job Stream: Role: Professional Revised Date: November 2011  Works with the Child Protection Workers on case management, legal/court proceedings and administrative/procedural matters to provide information about the plan of care, provides input into risk assessments and assists the child in preparing for court proceedings.  Assists youth in obtaining legal counsel and provides guardianship support throughout the Young Offenders Act proceedings.  Informs the Public Trustee of any injuries or legal action involving a child in custody and investigates and resolves complaints.  Facilitates the provision of integrated services by representing each child in an inter- disciplinary team and provides information for the development of a family service plan.  Works collaboratively with a range of collaborative processes to ensure the involvement of the family, child/youth and Aboriginal community in decision making.  Works with the Roots worker in creating family and cultural connections and the cultural plan for a child in care.  Completes documentation required in planning for a child in care.  Opportunity to work with families facing challenges which may occasionally involve exposure to unpleasant dealings with angry, abusive, or abused clients; exposure to hazards from frequently working around volatile parents and/or children in crisis.

JOB REQUIREMENTS  BSW or MSW; or BA Child and Youth Care; or M.Ed. Counselling/MA Clinical Psychology, having completed a practicum in family and child welfare. NOTE: If your degree was obtained outside of Canada, you need to confirm it has been assessed for equivalency through the International Credential Evaluation Services. Confirmation for equivalency for your degree is required for you to be considered. Please indicate in your resume (cut and paste a copy of the approval. If in progress proof must be provided on or by the closing date of the competition).  Candidates must either have, or be eligible to attain, full delegation-C6. Preference may be given to applicants who have:  Two years previous experience in delegated child protection work.  Self-identify as Aboriginal; (please indicate in your resume)

Career Group: Social Services Job Family: Adoption/Guardianship Job Stream: Role: Professional Revised Date: November 2011  Extensive experience working with Aboriginal people, communities and/or Delegated Aboriginal Agencies Willingness Statements:  Meet the transportation arrangements must meet the operation requirements of the ministry i.e. - possess and maintain a British Columbia Class 5 driver's licence.  May be required to use own vehicle on an expense account basis.  Must be willing and able work flexible hours which may include evenings and weekends.  May be required to travel within Canada to accommodate client’s needs.

 Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security screening checks as required by the ministry (Note: It is important that you read the job posting carefully to understand the specific security screening requirements pertaining to the position).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Knowledge of aboriginal issues as they relate to children and families and a willingness to work in partnership with aboriginal families, elders and communities to provide best practise for Aboriginal children through an Aboriginal lens. Skills required to effectively work and provide supportive guidance to children, their families and caregivers and communities who are experiencing stressful and complex situations; high level of care and attention to provide consultation, guidance and support to children, youth, caregivers, and family in an attempt to resolve or stabilize crises and/or stressful situations. Ability to work with and facilitate group processes. Provide formal instruction to junior social workers on procedures, policies, legislation; supervise practicum students. Relatively heavy physical effort to regularly lift and carry children of moderate weight, and their belongings; opportunity to work with families facing challenges which may occasionally involve exposure to unpleasant dealings with upset children, youth, caregivers, and family; exposure to hazards from regular possibility of physical violence from children, youth, caregivers and family while promoting the safety and well-being of children-in-care. Involvement in group processes where individuals may be experiencing emotional distress. Travel and community outreach is required.

Career Group: Social Services Job Family: Adoption/Guardianship Job Stream: Role: Professional Revised Date: November 2011 BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES  Collaborative Planning, Organizing and Coordinating (Aboriginal Behavioural Competency) involves shared planning, establishing priorities jointly, and assigning resources accordingly, with sensitivity to the competing demands faced by Aboriginal people. It is expressed by building plans together prior to acting, and ensuring that plans and resourcing align with their evolving interests and needs.  Problem Solving and Judgement is the ability to analyze problems systematically, organize information, identify key factors, identify underlying causes and generate solutions.  Team Work and Co-operation is the ability to work co-operatively within diverse teams, work groups and across the organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the desire and ability to understand and respond effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.  Conflict Management is the ability to develop working relationships that facilitate the prevention and/or resolution of conflicts within the organization.  Building Partnerships with Stakeholders is the ability to build long-term or on-going relationships with stakeholders (e.g. someone who shares an interest in what you are doing). This type of relationship is often quite deliberate and is typically focused on the way the relationship is conducted. Implicit in this competency is demonstrating a respect for and stating positive expectations of the stakeholder.  Ingenuity ( Aboriginal Behavioural Competency) is the quality of being inventive and creative. It involves dealing with problems in original and creative ways that seek commonalities and links rather than gaps and differences. It is approaching issues with a willingness to question one’s assumptions and to take risks outside of common ways of thinking and doing. The value of “courage” may be strongly demonstrated when using ingenuity.  Building a Trust Based Relationship (Aboriginal Behavioural Competency) requires a fundamental understanding that “relationship” is the foundation from which all activities happen, and that building a good relationship takes time and commitment. It is a willingness to build a personal relationship in addition to a professional one, participating in open exchanges of experiences and culture. It requires a genuine, non-controlling approach and relies upon demonstrated integrity and transparency.

Career Group: Social Services Job Family: Adoption/Guardianship Job Stream: Role: Professional Revised Date: November 2011  Credible Champion (Aboriginal Behavioural Competency) show courage and conviction in advocating for change for the betterment of Aboriginal people. This means stepping forward, from a place of respect and knowledge, to name needed change and to champion it.

Career Group: Social Services Job Family: Adoption/Guardianship Job Stream: Role: Professional Revised Date: November 2011