Indigenous Practice Specialist

Role Responsibilities

The South-Central Region is looking for an enthusiastic individual who has a drive and passion for advancing child intervention practice with Indigenous children, families and communities. This role supports our staff in compliance with all legislated and policy requirements related to Indigenous peoples, while engaging with community partners to develop relationships and nurturing safe environments for the children, youth and families we support. This is a regional position that provides opportunity to work with diverse people all across South-Central Alberta.

The Indigenous Practice Specialist focuses on practice implementation and skill enhancement at a Regional level delivering and informing provincial direction and knowledge in Child Intervention Casework practice applications.The Indigenous Practice Specialist acts as a regional program consultant to staff incorporating legislation, policy,and provincial practice into casework delivery. This position influences practice and the consistent application ofthe legislation, policies, and standards regionally. The position consults, leads, guides and instructs all levels of staff in applying practices that is consistent with federal, provincial and regional strategic direction and may be CFS’s representative on a variety of committees and initiatives. 

The Indigenous Practice Specialist’s extended scope includes implementing training & development, and engaging staff in developing case plan solutions andstrategies focused on supporting the successful outcomes for children and families. Your strong focus on coaching and mentoring will guide your work with the team of Children and Family Services professionals working in Child Intervention Services. Your guidance will be rooted in the Child Intervention Practice Framework, Casework Practice Model, Signs of Safety Approach, trauma informed practice lens as well asspecialized knowledge, experience and relationships of and with Indigenous peoples to ensure that services delivered are in accordance with accepted practices, standards and legislative requirements. You will also develop and deliver formal and informal training and teaching sessions to support staff in their work with children and families. Daily you will utilize your team-building, critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, time management and organizational skills. These skills will assist you to prioritize multiple projects and assignments that support better decisions for children, youth and families. Your well-developed interpersonal relationship and communication skills will enable you to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders through virtual and in-person contacts.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf

To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate the following competencies:

• CI Practitioner Competencies: Performing the Child Intervention Practitioner competencies with consistency at an advanced level of proficiency, according to the Child Intervention Practice Framework Principles, in order to provide practice supervision to CI staff.
• Mindfulness and Self-reflection: Being intentionally aware, focused and present in the moment; continuously assessing, without reaction and judgment, one’s emotions and actions to guide one’s thinking and behavior.
• Outcome Oriented: Maintaining a working knowledge of the CIPF Principles, CI outcomes and priorities. Demonstrates the ability to lead with a focus on CI outcomes and ensure the work of one’s team is in alignment with these outcomes. Demonstrates commitment to the CI outcomes and priorities by role modeling responsibility for decisions and accountability for results.
• Engaging Others: Building a foundation of trust and respect to engage staff and inspire, empower, support, coach and mentor. Building relationships individually and as a team to create a positive working environment and to achieve the best possible CI outcome.
• Leading Continuous Improvement: Demonstrate ability to seek out opportunities for innovation and creatively problem solve. Support staff through implementing organizational initiatives. Operate with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to implement learnings and achieving outcomes for children and families.
• Enabling others Growth and Development: Guiding others to strengthen their professional ability and CI practice, and fostering a climate of learning and self-reflection.
• Communication: Engaging in and fostering active listening, creating an atmosphere of respect and positive problem solving. Ensuring one’s verbal and non-verbal communication is congruent. Demonstrating an awareness of the impact of one’s communication in both oral and written form.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Social Work or Social Work Diploma and 2 years related experience.

Equivalencies:

• Master of Social Work and 1 year related experience; or
• Related university degree and 4 years related experience; or
• Related diploma and 5 years related experience; or
• Related certificate and 6 years related experience.

Related university degree can include Bachelor of Child Studies/Child & Youth Care, BA Education, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Human Services, BA/BSc Psychology, BA Sociology, Bachelor of Community Rehab, BSc. Family Studies/Human Ecology, BA Early Child Development, Bachelor of Indigenous Studies.

Related diploma can include Addictions/Counseling Diploma, Child and Youth Care Diploma, Human Services Diploma and Criminal Justice Diploma.

Required Experience:  

• 2 years of related experience in child intervention front line case management or equivalency.
• Knowledge and experience using Signs of Safety philosophy and practice.
• Knowledge of community resources is essential.
• Advance computer experience working with Microsoft office is required. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of all legislated and policy requirements related to Indigenous peoples.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act; Signs of Safety
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Knowledge and experience working with Indigenous communities. 
• Understanding of child intervention issues and trends for the purpose of analysis. 

Assets:

• Project management experience.
• Facilitation and negotiation experience.
• Experience with Intake Workflow is an asset. 
• Experience with Safety Assessment Workflow is an asset.
• Current or previous supervisory experience – cover off experience accepted. 
• Training, coaching and mentoring adults.

Preference will be given to candidates with Practice Specialist experience and employees with previous or current experience at the HSW7 classifcation.

The ideal candidates will have a working knowledge of the Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act; Signs of Safety as well as possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong critical thinking skills and previous supervisory experience.

Notes

Hours of Work:
This is a permanent, full-time position (36.25 hours per week) with a work schedule of Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm. 

Location:
This is a regional position which will be based out of Wetaskiwin. Travel is required.

This position may be required to participate in on-call/after-hours rotation (evenings and weekends) to ensure the needs of Albertans are met. 

Role Requirements:

• As per the Health Professions Act, successful applicants must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) to be eligible for this position if they possess a Bachelor, Diploma or Masters in Social Work. For more information, visit http://www.acsw.ab.ca/.
• Travel will be required in this role within the region; therefore, final candidates for this position will be asked to provide a current 5-year Commercial Driver Abstract. Employees will be required to use their own vehicles when government fleet vehicles are not available (i.e. to travel between required locations or transport children and families). Employees must have a valid Class 5 Driver’s License, vehicle insurance, valid registration and access to a vehicle that is suitable to the requirements of this position.
• Successful candidate will require a clear Intervention Record Check (IRC) + Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check (CRC VS) to be considered for the role.
• An academic check will be completed.
• Please be advised that your current supervisor and manager will be contacted as references.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 

Application Requirements:

• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 2006 – June 2009: Assistant (Part-Time).
• Complete all pre-screening questions.
• Please include your current supervisor and manager as part of your references.

Other Information:

• We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees. 

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.