Family Case Manager

About this position

                                                  EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
                                                Family Case Manager (Full-time)
                                                             October 2020

We are looking for a caring case manager to help keep Indigenous families together who are at-risk of being involved with, or already involved with the child welfare system. The successful candidate will have a University Degree in Social Work (or related field), have experience and passion for working with the Indigenous community, and work collaboratively, as equals, with parents in need of support.

If you think that might be you, then why should you choose Wabano?

1. Wabano is an award-winning Health Access Centre that takes care of the Indigenous community in Ottawa. Working at Wabano means you’ll be working for a cause that matters and making a difference in people’s lives every day;
2. Wabano offers good benefits, including health and dental benefits and one of the best pension plans in the country (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan);
3. Wabano is a place where you can experience and learn about Indigenous culture;
4. We work as a team and support one another – supporting a person’s mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs takes a village – or in this case a team of staff. Our team includes doctors, nurses, psycho-therapists, case workers, program workers, cultural staff and more. We support one another in order to deliver the care that our community deserves.

Wabano’s Mental Wellness program is growing with a newly funded program designed to work with families in order to prevent Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CAS-O) intervention, and support families where an intervention has occurred or is imminent in order to keep families together. This is your chance to be part of something important!

Purpose of Position

Through referrals from the Montfort Hospital, CAS-O, community organizations and other Wabano Programs and Services, the program will aim to prevent CAS-O intervention when possible, but will also work closely with Wabano’s Circle of Care Program to help parents keep their families together after a CAS-O intervention has taken place. The Family Case Manager will work with Indigenous parents and parents-to-be to create care plans that will connect them with culturally safe programs and services within Wabano and other partner organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a trusting relationship with clients, create goal-focussed care plans and regularly adjust care plans in order to ensure that the evolving needs of clients continue to be met;
• Connect clients with culturally safe supports and services during pregnancy and throughout the children’s early years, including: pre-natal care, health services, drop-in programs, healthy meals, nutritional learning, parenting groups, child development supports, child-care services, access to Indigenous ceremonies and teaching, and supports such as housing, mental wellness, addictions, counselling and system navigation;
• Advocate for the client and assist them with overcoming barriers in order to ensure they are able to get the needed programs and services;
• Ensure that clients are provided with all of the needed, objective information for them to make decisions about their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health, including the potential benefits and consequences;
• Work with Hospital service providers and CAS-O workers and provide case consultations in order to ensure that any interventions are done in an appropriate, culturally sensitive way;
• Participate in Case Planning Review Committees, Circle of Care meetings, Family Network Meetings, or other case conferences as appropriate;
• Be an active participant at community and Wabano events;
• Create external partnerships to maximize client service and/or improve inter-agency relationships in the Indigenous community;
• Complete all required administrative duties of the role including (but not limited to) completing case notes in the appropriate electronic systems, completing required paperwork, completing reports, etc.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor of Social Work (or related University Level Degree) with a combination of 3 years of case management experience and crisis intervention;
• Master’s Degree in a Social Services or related field will be considered an asset;
• Must have a thorough knowledge of the child welfare system and the impact it has had on the Indigenous community;
• Client service oriented;
• Extensive and in-depth knowledge of Indigenous and non-Indigenous services as well as strong knowledge of local partner sector services and access procedures, including mental health, housing, and primary care;
• Good interpersonal and counselling skills; able to work flexibly with a variety of population groups;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with Indigenous people, including a sound knowledge and understanding of the issues Indigenous impact on their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health in contemporary society;
• Demonstrated cultural competency in working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities with the ability to offer culturally appropriate services;
• A nonjudgmental, inclusive, and positive attitude towards people who are experiencing problematic substance use, and other issues;
• Ability and skills to recognize and manage the signs of a client in crisis;
• A demonstrated ability to exercise strong decision-making skills and deal with unpredictable situations.

Specifications:

• Successful applicants will be required to submit a Criminal reference check;
• Preference will be given to applicants of First Nations, Inuit or Métis descent (please self-identify to receive preference).

To pursue this opportunity, please submit a covering letter and Resume by to jobs@wabano.com. This posting is open until the position is filled.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Wabano is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If contacted for an employment opportunity or interviewing, please advise if you require accommodation.