Family Social Worker

Full-Time contract (approximately 8 months)

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is a diverse, dynamic, multiservice Aboriginal health and wellness agency.  We strive to provide quality, holistic health services by sharing and promoting traditional and western health practices to enable people to live in a more balanced state of well-being. SOAHAC provides services to Aboriginal people including those who live on and off reserve, status, non-status, Inuit, and Metis within the southwest region.  SOAHAC has a mandate of ensuring that health services are accessible, of high quality, and are culturally appropriate. We are also mandated to build health care capacity within Aboriginal communities.  Currently, we are seeking the services of a Family Social Worker to join our interdisciplinary staff team at our Windsor site. 

Position Summary: This position is suited for a compassionate, creative, problem-solver who works comfortably with both culture-based and western services. As part of the Mental Health Team, the Family Social Worker will be a front-line position with the primary responsibility to support individuals and families requiring assistance with a variety of wellness needs and who are accessing Primary Care services at SOAHAC. The successful candidate will be involved in a wide range of social work services with a focus on supporting individuals and families to improve wellness, achieve stability, and increase resilience. Services will be provided in our Windsor location and will also respond to other internal referrals.

Experience: Direct experience working with Aboriginal families and familiar with cultural-based services, social work, or in crisis intervention, child welfare, justice or other health settings. Experience working with FNIM people in community-based settings is necessary and fluency in a local language is an asset.

Reporting to the Integrated Care Manager – Windsor Site, the Family Social Worker is responsible for:

Responsibilities:

• Primary responsibility: to support individuals and families accessing the Primary Care Team with social work requests which may involve paperwork/ forms completion, screening and assessment of needs, referral, and advocacy, linkages to appropriate services, brief counseling, and crisis support
• Recruit and support new clients through the intake process and case manage clients utilizing the Wholistic Integrated Care Model of Care
• Improve wellness goals and increasing empowerment of FNIM individuals and families at SOAHAC by providing professional social work services that are culturally appropriate

• Reporting to the Site Integrated Care Manager and working closely with the Mental Health Lead, Mental Health Team and other internal programs
• Manage and meet targets for caseload and maintain direct service requirements
• Manage indirect services, administrative duties, client statistical reporting systems as per funding requirements
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings, case review and case conferencing as needed
• Actively participate in the Mental Health Team processes
• Attend SOAHAC staff meetings
• Provide these services at the Windsor site office or at other locations as needed

Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Master’s level education and professional membership an asset (MSW, RSW preferred) or related education at a Master’s level such as counseling or sociology combined with at least 3 years’ direct experience
• Community work experience with families to improve wellness, coping skills, and empowerment in the following areas: poverty issues, housing, legal, social assistance, education, family violence, substance abuse assessment and treatment, crisis intervention, mental health
• Some training or certification in mental health and substance abuse screening, relationship violence screening, crisis intervention/assessment, counseling techniques, trauma/abuse, life skills, supporting people living with disabilities
• Knowledge of FNIM Culture, Values, and History
• Awareness of Health and Wellness issues pertaining to FNIM People

• Willingness to participate in Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, teachings and ceremonies.

• Up-to-date immunization record
• Travel within the Windsor area, as well as SOAHAC sites as required
• Valid Driver’s license and proof of current automobile insurance, as well as access to a reliable vehicle. A clean driver’s abstract may be required.
• Computer proficiency including proven ability to use relevant technology (i.e. computer-based data collection)
• A current police vulnerable sector check is a condition of employment

This job may require additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.

Please Note: This position is approximately an 8-month full-time contract (with possibility of extension) @ 35 hours (5 days) per week.  Salary is competitive and subject to experience. Optional pension package included.

SOAHAC values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer; however hiring preference will be given to qualified Aboriginal applicants. SOAHAC is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please advise Human Resources.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward us your cover letter and resume.

Please visit Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre online at:  www.soahac.on.ca or like us on www.facebook.com/soahac to learn more about us!

We thank all those for applying but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.