Family Finder Worker

Family Finder

Line Authority:

Reports to Well-Being Resource Development Manager

Position Summary:

The Family Finder Worker (FFW) is responsible for child-specific and family finding recruitment with the goal of permanence for children. The focus of work is to work actively with children and youth in care or at risk of entering care where permanence is required for their safety, security and well-being. The FFW is intended to have an intensive and short-term role with the goals of ensuring a system of supportive adults and identifying a permanent resource committed to the child/youth referred. The incumbent of this position will be responsible for locating extended family, so that to the greatest extent possible, the Agency has located the most appropriate extended family supports in the child / youth’s life who can best meet and promote their need for safety, well-being, and permanence.

Responsibilities:

Through the use of technology, file research, genograms, family research tools and interviews, the Family Finder Worker will be responsible to:

• Build on existing relationships;
• Promote stability for children and youth;
• Provide viable options to admission to care;
• Enable continuity of relationships between family / community members and the child/youth;
• Maintain the integrity of children and youth’s connections to aboriginal and other relevant cultural groups;
• Engage the extended family and / or community in the permanency planning earlier in the process; and
• Explore opportunities for life-long connections for older youth in need of support.
  
  
• Conduct thorough reviews of relevant case files to assist in identifying family members or other key people in the child/ youth’s natural network who may be options for placement, permanency planning and/or supporting life-long connections.
• Conduct interviews with a child/youth’s caregiver, relatives, community members or the child/youth themselves to assist in identifying extended family. Support foster youth in developing meaningful and enduring connections with adults who will support them across their lifespan.
• Collaborate with STC secondary level support team members and member First Nations to ensure that all relevant information relating to the search for extended family is shared and explored.
• Maintain connections that are healthy, safe and permanent relationships between children, youth, families and supportive adults regardless of what circumstances they may find themselves in.
• Ensure through planning, the timely and permanent exit from the formal service system through the development of a resilient and comprehensive network of supportive adults. Enable young adults emerging from care to live safely and productively within their communities.
• Support youth in developing a healthy sense of identity and regain dignity as well as providing family members with the opportunity to meet the needs within their family system.
• Active participation in First Nation community gatherings, events, ceremonies and celebrations with intent to build knowledge of the cultural teachings from the medicine wheel, traditions, history and personal learning journey.
• For individuals with lifetime care needs, increase connectedness, decrease dependence on the formal service system, and enhance family-driven decision making.
• Participate in case conferences, first contact panels, and placement planning.
• Participate in supervision in accordance with agency and/or supervisor requirements.
• Promotes the philosophy of family finding, which includes, safety, building on family strengths, inclusiveness, permanency for children, cultural holistic approaches, family preservation & reunification, family and community collaborative decision-making.
• Maintains an accurate record of contact information of guardians, parents, family members, Elders, counsellors, legal services, consultants, community service providers and other resource contacts.
• Prepares and maintains regular reports, analyses and statistics as required.
• Participates in regular evaluation of Family Finding and maintains a record of this evaluation.

Education and Experience:

• Post-Secondary degree in social work from an accredited post-secondary institution;
• Three (3) experience in delivering front line child and family services and working with First Nations children, families and communities;
• Must be a member in good standing or eligible for registration with the Saskatchewan Association of Social Work within 6 months of employment.
• Experience working within a governance structure in a community development capacity with First Nations; familiarity with First Nations culture, history is considered an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities:

• Must demonstrate the ability to plan, assess, and provide a high standard of delivery of care and services.
• Strong organizational and communications (verbal and written) skills;
• Ability to deal with conflict situations in a professional manner;
• Knowledge of provincial child and family services legislation, regulations, policies and procedures and mitigating factors to ensure actions are legally compliant;
• Ability to apply systematic, logical reasoning when addressing problems or situations in order to arrive at an appropriate solution or outcome;
• Ability to work independently, be self-motivated and driven, and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint with an ability to easily learn new software applications.
• Knowledge of the political, social and economic objectives of the Saskatoon Tribal Council and of the Dakota, Cree, and Saulteaux cultures will be considered an asset.

Other:

• Must possess a valid Saskatchewan driver’s license and meet STC’s insurance requirements.
• Must provide a current, original, Canadian Criminal Record Check (CPIC) with vulnerable sector search as a condition of employment