Métis Community Services Society of BC (MCSBC) Hiring for Roots Practicioner Full Time

The Roots Practitioner takes the lead role in researching, identifying, and developing these connections within a service team supporting children and youth who are involved with MCFD. All referrals for the Roots program come from MCFD.

The Roots Practitioner works directly with children, youth, families, social workers, elders, community, and other service providers and shares their knowledge and skills to promote and support culturally safe practices.

The Métis Community Services Society of BC (MCSBC) has a mandate from the Métis citizens to provide integrated, holistic, family centered, wraparound services to all those who need assistance. This position will be involved in the planning for ensuring that Métis children in Ministry care have the best possible placement in response to their developmental and cultural needs, including their Indigenous identity and connection to their families and communities.

Roots is a program which serves to reconnect and/or support the connection of Indigenous children and youth in care with their families, communities, and culture.

Working in a collaborative team environment, you complete the Roots planning and assessment guide by reviewing the Child’s Service Files to identify family and community-based relationships for children or youth in care. You will be working with the MCFD to identify the children’s family and Indigenous community and accordingly assist with creating a cultural and permanency plan. Given your experience working with Indigenous communities, you contact and when possible, meet with family, and extended family, and communities to gather information and elicit involvement in developing a placement or cultural plan. An excellent communicator who thrives on building valuable relationships, you meet with child or youth, foster parents, social workers and other professionals involved in the child’s current plan, identifying their family and aboriginal community to further develop their cultural and permanency plan. Highly motivated and detail oriented, you maintain a high degree of discretion and maintain confidentiality as per Ministry policies, procedures and the Child, Family and Community Services Act.

Position Summary

The position will be based primarily at Metis Community Services. If you have experience and qualified in working with Métis communities and families and want to make a difference in the lives of others, we encourage you to apply.

Experience

· First Nations ancestry or extensive experience in First Nations communities.

· Must have knowledge of the Ministry of Children and Family Development policies and practice

· Must have knowledge of the Child Family and Community Services Act (CFCSA)

· Experience working with indigenous communities/people.

· Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity

· Team building skills

· Analytical and problem-solving skills

· Decision making skills

· Effective facilitation skills

· Effective verbal, presentation and listening communications skills

· Effective negotiation and mediation skills

· Effective written communications skills

· Basic counseling skills

· Computer skills including the ability to operate computerized word-processing, at a highly proficient level

· Stress management skills

· Time management skills

· Must be prepared for flexible work schedule

· Valid BC Class 5 Drivers License

· Reliable transportation

· Ability to meet security clearance requirements (Criminal Record Check)

Administrative Duties

· Communicate effectively in writing

· Complete monthly statistics and s as required by MCFD

· Provide other statistical information as requested by MCFD

· Research including internet, libraries, Indigenous Services Canada, and others

· Research and provide information on specific Metis Settlements/Bands/Nations/Communities for cultural plans, packages, and planning purposes

Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

· Human service diploma or equivalent education and experience working with children and youth in care

· Diploma or higher in Health/Human Service or related field plus related experience; or Certificate in Health/Human Service or related field plus 2 years related experience

· Preference may be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as having Indigenous ancestry.

· Preference may be given to applicant(s) with demonstrated links to the Indigenous community.

· Preference may be given to individuals with successful experience working with Indigenous communities and families.

· Must have ability to maintain case records

· Must maintain confidentiality and professional standards

· Must have strong computer literacy

· Possess reliable transportation and hold valid B.C. driver license

· Must comply with the Criminal Records Review Act

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Paid time off
• Vision care

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Kelowna, BC: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: One location

Application deadline: 2022-11-03