• Are you, or do you know someone who has a passion for providing child welfare services that are rooted in Indigenous values, world views and beliefs?
• Are you interested in expanding your professional experience within the urban Indigenous community?
• Do you have a passion for advocating for the best interest of urban Indigenous children, youth and families to build a better future for the community we all share?

Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services are recruiting Guardianship and Permanency Planning Workers who will provide services and root their practice in Indigenous values, cultural teachings and beliefs.

Working with us, you will, join a team that values your contributions and allows you to grow your career while utilizing your unique skills, creativity and passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of urban Indigenous children, youth and families.

At Surrounded by Cedar, we offer:

• Competitive wages, comprehensive benefits and an employer matched RRSP contribution plan
• A healthy and fun working environment rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and being
• Flexible work schedules and leave opportunities that promote work/life/family balance
• Opportunities for Indigenous employees to access cultural leaves to maintain/discover their unique Indigenous identity
• Access to physical wellness funds to support your overall well-being
• Professional development and learning opportunities to enhance your skills and service provision
• Encouragement to participate in agency and community events, activities and ceremonies
• From this competition pool, SCCFS will be recruiting both permanent and contract employees.

Who We Are: Located on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services’ (SCCFS) vision is to support the empowerment of the urban Indigenous community to continue the reclamation of traditional systems of caring for and protecting children so no child or youth will be placed into care. As an urban Delegated Indigenous Agency, SCCFS is committed to providing child and family services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and world views while ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth grow up connected to family, community, and culture.

Surrounded by Cedar receives its delegation through the Provincial Director of Child Welfare, who gives the agency the authority to undertake administration of parts of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA). Under its current delegation agreement, Surrounded by Cedar administers C3 (Family Services) & C4 services (Guardianship).

SCCFS strives to be a culturally safe employer, with a keen focus on Indigenous recruitment and retention. While working at the agency, employees will be involved in various cultural knowledge sharing opportunities, activities, and ceremonies, while being actively engaged in urban Indigenous community events.

In support of our Vision and Mission, we embody an agency culture that is supportive, team-oriented, caring, genuine/authentic, respectful, and fun (with laughter). Most importantly, we work from the heart to support our belief that: Children are the most sacred gift that will ever be given by the Creator.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Guardianship & Permanency Planning Team Leader, Guardianship & Permanency Planning Workers (GPPW) act as legal guardian to urban Indigenous children and youth in the Continuing Care of the Director of Child Welfare, whose ancestors come from Nations across Turtle Island. While focused on individual safety and well-being, GPPWs provide service that is strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and beliefs, ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth in care remain connected to their families, communities, and cultures while focusing on relational, cultural, physical, and legal permanency plans that are established in a timely manner.  GPPW’s will focus on the needs of youth as they transition to adulthood, including building strong circles of relational support, developing necessary life skills, establishing, and maintaining housing, navigating adult community support services and providing their support to youth accessing the Youth Agreements (YAG) program as well as young adults accessing the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) Program.

What You Bring to the Role: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the history of Indigenous people in Canada and the impact of historic and intergenerational trauma. Respectful for Indigenous people and culture.
• Ability to connect in a meaningful way with urban Indigenous children and youth who have been placed in the Continuing Care of the Director, focusing on establishing a positive mentoring relationship that will create opportunity for children/youth to express themselves and their needs.
• Knowledge of resources available to urban Indigenous clients and how to access them.
  Demonstrated ability to work in a respectful and collaborative way with team members, knowledge keepers, children/youth, extended family members, Nations, caregivers, and various agencies within the community.
• Ability to work with clients, birth family members and community members from a trauma informed practice approach and promote healing opportunities for children and families.
• Skilled at conflict resolution with an ability to de-escalate challenging and sometimes volatile situations using traditional and mainstream approaches.
• Strong understanding of the Child Family and Community Service Act and relevant legislation and standards.

Training, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Child & Youth Care or a related discipline.
• An equivalent combination of education and at least 2 years of Indigenous child welfare experience, with a focus on youth services and youth transition will be considered.
• Preference may be given to candidates who currently hold C4 delegation in British Columbia (or have within the last 2 years).
• Availability to work Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• A willingness to travel, sometimes to remote locations, and work some evenings and weekends.
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license, a safe and reliable vehicle, and a favourable driver’s abstract.
• Clear criminal records check.

Preference will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit as per Section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code.

Salary (Growth Progression): $67,728.87-$86,668.39 per year

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a variety of settings including the SCCFS office, client homes, and community settings. Regular travel to attend meetings and events is required. Evening and weekend work are required from time to time.

Help Us Get to Know You! Along with your resume, submit a cover letter outlining why you are interested in this opportunity, what specific skills and experience you will bring, and how your qualifications will make you successful in this role.

Apply Online Now! Visit our website to learn more about our organization, positions available and to view the full, detailed job description.

Application deadline: Open Until Filled