Social Worker - Child in Out-of-Home Care

This is a until –filled competition. Candidates are encouraged not to delay submitting their application as this posting can close at any time after 10 business days with 24-hour posted notice. Resumes will be screened at regular intervals until the position is filled or the competition closes, whichever is earliest.

This posting will be used to fill 1 permanent full-time positions working 75 hours bi-weekly. It will establish a 12-month eligibility list which may be used to fill similar positions.

This job is based in the thriving and diverse city of Whitehorse in the beautiful Yukon.

Who we are

Yukon's Department of Health and Social Services aims to promote, protect, and enhance the well-being of Yukon people through a continuum of quality, accessible, and appropriate health and social services.

The Family and Children's Services Branch is responsible for territory wide delivery of child protection services and programs that support positive and healthy outcomes for children, youth and their families. The unit responds to complex and crisis situations and works with families to ensure continued safety and well-being of children. Collaborative working relationships with Yukon First Nations and Indigenous Governing bodies are critical in this work. This unit also provides on-call services 24/7 to ensure that a response to concerns of child harm is available, at any time, every day of the year.

This opportunity

Reporting to the Supervisor of Family Services the Child in Out of Home Care Social Worker delivers services to children in out-of-home care in accordance with the Child and Family Services Act, and the corresponding policies and procedures. In this position the Social Worker is primarily responsible for working with children that are in out-of-home care (that is, the care or custody of the Director and extended family care) to conduct assessments, develop and implement case plans and cultural plans (where necessary), and ensure that the child’s needs are met. This position is responsible for coordinating with the child’s parents, extended family members, Yukon First Nations, Indigenous governing bodies (IGBs), and other service providers and advocates connected to the child or the child’s family.

This individual will have a passion and commitment to children's services. This role requires an individual with well–developed interpersonal skills, time management and good organizational skills, culturally sensitive, the ability to work collaboratively and committed to relationship-based social work.

If you are committed to ensuring the community is a safe and caring environment in which children and their families may develop to their full potential, we look forward to hearing from you.

• For more information on this job, please contact Diana Goboza, Supervisor, Family Services at [email protected]
• For more information about the recruitment process, please contact Katie Terrion, HR Consultant at [email protected]

Your benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer many additional financial and non-financial benefits.

• Government of Yukon’s many benefits
• Applicants may wish to review the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program for potential applicability. Federal government recently announced the expansion of its student loan repayment program
• Link: Canada Student Loan Forgiveness - Canada.ca

Your career, your home, your lifestyle

We are the Yukon public service. Every day, we come together to serve the people who live here and make a difference in so many ways. Here, you will find the diverse opportunities you desire to develop your career while enjoying a warm sense of community and vibrant artistic, cultural, and recreational amenities, all set in a spectacular natural environment.

As part of our team, your achievements and enjoyment in both your work and personal life will be valued as you explore the many opportunities the Yukon, and the Government of Yukon, has to offer.

Check out

• Yukon Life
• Working at Yukon government

Important application and job requirements

Essential qualifications

Please submit your resume clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications below. Selections for further consideration will be based solely on the information you provide in your resume; ensure you use a month/year to month/year format and include the duties you performed in each of your positions.

• Bachelor of Social Work degree
• Considerable relevant experience working in child welfare and delivering services to children involved in child protection or out of home care service delivery.
• Recent experience preparing assessments, case plans, safety plans, affidavits or court documents and intervention services for children of varying ages.
• Recent experience in providing services to families, children and individuals (i.e. including but not limited to ensuring children’s needs are met, setting up family visitations, making referrals, etc.).
• Experience working with First Nation Governments and communities will be considered an asset.

NOTE: If your Bachelor of Social Work degree was obtained outside of Canada, you need to confirm it has been assessed for equivalency through any members of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC).

It may be helpful for you to review “Prepare your resume and cover letter”.

Desired knowledge, skills and suitability

If selected for an interview, candidates should have, and may be assessed on, the following:

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment with an emphasis on Yukon First Nation's culture;
• Strong knowledge in social work principles and practices in child welfare and case management;
• Ability to foster collaborative partnerships with children and youth in out of home care, their family members, caregivers and supports, including working as part of an interdisciplinary team;
• Ability to achieve results through managing a diverse and complex workload with ability to deliver on accountabilities;
• Problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution skills in order to make and modify operational decisions;
• Sound ethical decision making skills that demonstrates the capacity to complete family, children and individual assessments at a professional level and practice guided by the Canadian Association of Social Work Code of Ethics;
• Ability to take a broad-based, strategic approach to community development in response to mandated client service; and
• The skill to work with high risk complex cases with a strong ability to help deescalate clients and/or deal with potentially volatile and aggressive individuals.

It may be helpful for you to review “The job interview process”.

Conditions of employment

You must meet the following conditions before being hired, or within the time frame noted.

• WHMIS 2015
• RCMP Criminal Record Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class 5 Driver’s License or equivalent
• Verification of Bachelor of Social Work Degree
• Must demonstrate the ability to be delegated under the Child and Family Services Act within 12 months of hire

Job requirements

This job requires you to perform, and/or be exposed to, the following:

• Exposed to emotional, angry, and sometimes physically abusive clients. May need to mediate, de-escalate, resolve, intervene and provides solutions through face-to-face contact and meetings.
• Travel and work in both formal and informal work environments within Yukon and outside of territory.

Learn more

• For help on creating your E-recruitment profile, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-9453.