Intensive Child and Family Services Worker (ICFS)

About this position

Intensive Child and Family Services Worker (ICFS)

LOCATION: Toronto, ON 

POSITION TYPE: Full-time 

POSTING CLOSING DATE: November 28, 2023

In April 2020 Adventure Place, The Etobicoke Children’s Centre, Griffin Centre and Skylark Children Youth & Families amalgamated to form Lumenus Community Services. The vision of Lumenus is to provide excellent, accessible and integrated mental health, developmental and community services where every client has the opportunity to be seen, be heard and to be well. 

Lumenus Community Services is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We value a recruitment and selection process that is inclusive and barrier-free and we encourage applications from all individuals including, but not limited to, all cultures, religions, racialized communities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.  

Lumenus believes that immunization against COVID-19 is an individual and societal responsibility and that we must do everything possible to protect our clients, families, employees, students, volunteers and contractors against the spread of COVID-19. As a condition of employment, proof of full vaccination or exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code must be submitted to Human Resources seven (7) calendar days prior to start date.

Lumenus Community Services currently has two full time vacancies in ICFS. The Intensive Child and Family Services (ICFS) workers will join our Intensive Services portfolio, working with elementary and adolescent mental health programs for neuro typical and atypical children and youth.   The ICFS employee will provide service where the client needs the support, primarily in the home and in the community, and occasionally may be provided at one of the Lumenus office locations in Toronto, North York, Toronto Central or Toronto Etobicoke. The ICFS Worker assists parents/caregivers in achieving their self-identified goals to facilitate the child’s or youth’s optimal development and/or functioning. This position will execute specific interventions, as outlined in the individualized single plan of care. This position also provides advocacy, case management, coaching, coordinating, supportive teaching in the areas of social skills development and emotional regulation, safety planning/tracking, and problem-solving.

This position is not designated to provide the controlled act of psychotherapy but could be delegated a task to execute on a treatment plan that is overseen by their manager. This position includes consultation, therapeutic interventions, and participation in the identification and development of individual program and treatment plans. Evenings and mornings are required and and flexibility is required with work hours. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide time-limited, intensive, flexible and accessible treatment services in community settings (including in the home), in collaboration with, and as an extension of, the service plan developed by the Psychotherapist/service coordinator for the youth/family;
• Assess client needs and strengths to support the development of an effective service plan. 
• Maintain focus and purpose on client goals;
• May include supporting families on issues like child/youth development, behaviour management, transitions, routines, speech and language stimulation, play and creative activities, adaptive functioning; 
• This position requires a blend of approaches that include providing support through a trauma informed attachment lens.
• Provide transparent feedback on clients’ progress to achieve goals;
• Assist families with the development of  effective parenting skills,
• Assist the client in developing improved, coping strategies, etc;
• Provide support and coaching  in skill development of children, youth, young adults and families;
• Manage caseload to ensure that all clients are receiving the appropriate level of care, prioritizing appropriately; 
• Engage clients by building and maintaining effective working relationships, gaining trust and respect; 
• Express warmth verbally and non-verbally, reflecting positives, strengths, and affective, cognitive and behavioural information skillfully;
• Promote a safe and therapeutic environment through role modeling consistent with the Agency’s Mission, Values and Philosophy; 
• Complete In-home or community assessment/ observations as a means to better understand family dynamics and sources of concern; 
• In collaboration with Service Coordinators attend case conferences, psychological consultation, school meetings/ IPRC with the client and family to help advocate on their behalf and to help ensure needs are being met;
• Organizing and facilitating parent education groups and sessions; 
• Home coaching sessions with care providers in the home;
• Providing parenting/caregiver information;
• Promoting linkage to community resources;
• Modeling techniques and strategies;
• Consulting with staff regarding the identified needs and strengths of individual children and families;
• Collaborating with child care centres and schools in the delivery of support services to children in their care;
• Facilitating referrals and engaging in advocacy;
• Maintain the client record as per agency standards; 
• Prepare Reports as per agency policies;
• Prepare client activity/statistical reports, as required; 
• Attend clinical and program meetings, as well as general staff meetings; 
• Work within a multidisciplinary team in support of client and their families;
• Participate in internal/ external consultation surrounding complex cases and referrals as required.

Qualifications & EXPERIENCE

• A university degree or college diploma in Early Childhood Education, Child and Youth Worker, Psychology, or Social Work (BSW, SSW), Developmental Services Worker from an accredited university or college
• Minimum of 3 years working in a therapeutic milieu on a multi-disciplinary team with direct responsibility for client care, service coordination and family engagement; 
• Minimum 2 years of experience working collaboratively with school boards and childcare centre staff in a consultative role; 
• Experience working with children or young people with complex special needs (social-emotional adjustment, developmental) and their families/caregivers; 
• Knowledge of community services and resources is essential; 
• Knowledge, skills and professional expertise to provide direct clinical service to youth and families;
• Thorough understanding of systems and their impact on youth and families;
• Developed competencies in the areas of identification, planning and implementation of effective intervention strategies for children/youth /young adults with moderate to severe special needs including ASD, ADHD, social/emotional challenges, trauma, academic, speech and language concerns, and developmental issues etc.;
• Good clinical judgement and understanding of practice and competencies;
• Experience in providing clinical services in the community using non-traditional, outreach and/or home based techniques/models; 
• Ability to effectively manage caseload requirements and agency reporting expectations; 
• Proficient in working with Microsoft Office; 
• Ability to identify clinical learning needs and seek consultation and support through supervision; 
• A strengths-based, anti-racism/anti-oppression philosophy of service provision and a belief in the resilience and self-determination of clients and their families;
• Understanding of child welfare issues and policies;
• Working knowledge of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act,;
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, including report writing; 
• Enjoy fast paced crisis driven periods of work; 
• Knowledge and experience in working in collaboration with other service providers; 
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team setting;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to meet deadlines. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Screening process;
• Flexibility and ability to work variable hours that might including evenings, mornings, weekdays; 
• Flexibility to work in different locations as needed;
• Must be able to participate in team meetings, supervision, and training sessions as required;
• Possession of a valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle is required
• Ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with wider staff teams and abide by Lumenus policies;
• Fluency in French or other second languages relevant to community is advantageous.

TO APPLY: Interested applicants are invited to visit our website at https://lumenus.ca/careers/ and submit their cover letter and resume through our Career Centre on or before November 28, 2023

We ask applicants to make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance by contacting Human Resources. Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process, which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.