Reports To: Family Support Team Lead
Job Purpose:
The Kinship Worker is responsible for recruiting and supporting foster and kinship caregivers for CLFN children. This role focuses on developing the kinship/foster care program, completing home studies, and creating safety and cultural plans. The Kinship Worker will also establish and maintain a file system for child and caregiver files transferred from Alberta Children's Services.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Recruit and support foster and kinship home caregivers.
Assist in the development of the Kinship/Foster Care program, including creating policies, procedures, and a specialized package for CLFN members.
Establish and maintain both manual and electronic filing systems.
Liaise between families, Alberta Children's Services, and other support services.
Review cultural and permanency plans with Alberta Children's Services to ensure they align with CLFN community values.
Conduct home studies and prepare comprehensive reports, utilizing a questionnaire relevant to residential school trauma and the Indigenous experience.
Assess the needs of children and families.
Mitigate concerns from criminal record and intervention record checks.
Facilitate family group meetings.
Provide referrals to other service providers.
Prepare and submit regular program reports for funders, the CLFN Chief and Council, and the community.
Collect and analyze statistical data for reporting purposes.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
Diploma or degree in Human Services, Social Work, or a related field.
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a relevant role.
At least 2 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory capacity is a strong asset.
Strong understanding of Indigenous cultural protocols, traditions, and the history of Cold Lake First Nations.
Knowledge of the Cold Lake First Nations community and its members.
Familiarity with relevant legislation, including the Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA), the Family Law Act (FLA), and Bill C-92.
Proficiency in creating policies, procedures, and home studies.
Ability to advocate for the rights of Indigenous children, parents, and guardians.
Experience assessing child and family needs and creating family safety plans.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and other office software like Adobe, Zoom, and Teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills.
Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and community partners.
Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
Experience with budget management and grant writing.
Working Conditions and/or Physical Requirements:
Office environment. Monday to Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm, Friday 8:30am – 2:00pm. Working hours can vary and me require a flexible schedule depending on type of assignment or work plan task.
Evening and weekend work may be required to attend meetings, events, and community engagement sessions.
Requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and using a computer.
The role involves a high degree of community interaction and may require managing emotionally charged situations with sensitivity and professionalism.
