Kinship Worker

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.