The Alternative Care Services Worker provides consultation and expert advice to all concerns/complaints regarding Foster Care issues. The Alternative Care worker is responsible to provide support services to Foster Families to promote family based care. Services may include recruiting, training, matching and supporting Foster Families of SCFS. Finding temporary/permanent placements for children/youth. Home studies as well as conducting personal safety background checks and home visit assessments will be conducted.

Requirements:

• Completed Bachelor of Social Work Degree with 1-year direct Foster Care experience preferred; any post-secondary degree in the Social Services with 2 yrs direct CFS/Foster Care experience; Combination of education and experience may be considered
• Valid class 5 drivers license and fully insured vehicle with $1,000,000.00 liability insurance

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (but not limited to):

Responds to enquiries/concerns regarding foster care.

Foster Home Licenses are completed with a checklist and satisfactory home study.

Prepare foster file for review by Alternative Care Manager and Executive Director.

Ensuring all necessary checks such abuse, crime and prior are completed on each applicant

Monitoring foster homes with licensing standards in regard to face-to-face contact.

Request for variances and addendums to foster home licenses.

Assisting and coordinating foster home training and orientation.

Developing foster parent recruitment strategies.

Liaison with central coordination unit for foster homes.

Manages foster care files as assigned by the Alternative Care Manager.

Develops, organizes and participates in Agency activities relating to Foster Parent functions.

Ability to open and close foster files or brief files.

Ensures placement for children in care are dealt with in a timely fashion.

Tracking placements of children in care.

Ensuring foster homes are entered on CFSIS.

Ensure courtesy calls are done when contacting other agencies to borrowing or sharing foster homes.

Ensure all prescribed forms are clearly completed and forwarded to other agencies.

Completing a place of safety package from inception as per Foster Care standards and regulations

Foster parent appeals regarding removal of children from a foster home.

Foster parent appeals regarding refusal or revoking of foster home license.

Complaints from and/or about foster parents and/or foster home.

A comprehensive understanding of Child Welfare Legislation, relevant Standards and Regulations, and AJI-CWI and this must be reflected in the work being completed.

Knowledge of substance abuse, family violence, child development, and child abuse/neglect and community resources is required. Demonstrated skills in areas of crisis intervention, abuse investigation and assessing high-risk situations, which may require immediate response.

Effective communication skills (verbal and written). Be able to deliver power point presentation of the agencys foster care orientation.

Experience and familiarity with Microsoft software (Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel Access, and PowerPoint).

Ability to navigate and perform job duties as required on CFSIS database

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

Detail oriented, Independent and complex problem-solving methods.

Must have demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal culture and traditions. Be able to deliver cultural awareness to Foster Parents

Shows an understanding of others and to be empathic by demonstrating compassion towards people

Demonstrates effective communication by sharing information, asking questions, listening to responses and explaining ideas clearly and concisely in regard to Alternative Care Program

Gathers relevant information, recognizing the issue and makes a decision in a timely manner to resolve it.

Through planning and prioritizing, monitors the progress of work to meet deadlines even under stress and pressure. Such as completing placements request from Frontline workers on an as needed basis.

Accept Intakes or referrals from the public sector

Continuously seeks opportunities to improve the Alternative Care unit by taking initiative and risks, and suggest new ideas even under uncertain times.

Creates an environment that allows the Alternative Care Team to collaborate while still contributing his/her own portion and sharing credit freely with the team. Ensuring Foster data is updated.

Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the Foster Standards and regulations, the child welfare system and relevant changes.

The ability to respond to common enquires or complaints from clients, collaterals and other governing bodies in the CFS system.

The employee will be required to travel to/from the Community to conduct the necessary job duties of the position.

Attends training when requested/required

Travelling may be required to complete job duty or attend training session

Must be willing to work late when required and requested.

Must declare any conflict of interest that may arise when case managing.

Other duties as assigned by Supervisor/Management