Family Supports Manager in Saanich, British Columbia at Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Working as part of the VNFC Management Team and reporting directly to the Director of Family Development and Food Security, the Family Supports Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to the family supports teams and overall supports for Indigenous families. This position provides supervision, leadership and support to staff within the Family Support Teams and will ensure that the work of the team is well integrated and managed to the benefit of the clients/community served.

Leadership duties

• Expand the programs and resources for the Family Support Teams

• Case Management: Problem solving, assigning of caseloads, case planning, direction, de-brief and analysis of situations.

• Ensure that accurate case files and case management plans are maintained for the families served, including file recording and monthly reporting systems

• Responsible for timely and accurate reporting for all relevant contracts per the requirements of the funding agency

• Participate in collaboration and coordination among internal and external service providers to promote improved partnerships to the benefit of the community

Financial Management

• Be familiar with and administer the VNFC Financial Policy Manual with the team, and support members in becoming familiar with all financial policies as necessary

o Review of Family Supports Teams expenditures

Personnel and HR duties

• Ensure adequate staffing to meet the needs of the families and clients served and provide supervision to all Family Support Teams staff including orientation and ongoing performance management

• Support the integration of the Team members both within the program area and with other VNFC program areas

• Be familiar with and administer all relevant VNFC Wellness (HR) policies with team as necessary; support Family Support Teams members in becoming familiar with all Wellness Policies

Organizational Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality

• Document and report activity in alignment with VNFC practices and supports internal and external reporting as required

• Attend relevant professional training and meetings when directed

• Participate in staff development, staff meetings and department meetings as required

• Participate in data collection and evaluation tasks as requested

Familiarity and experience in Indigenous Communities

• Some knowledge of Indigenous cultures and practices including from the territory in which the work of VNFC takes place. Ability to speak about one’s own Indigenous culture, if applicable, and any communities the (prospective) employee has previously lived in or held jobs within.

• In depth knowledge of the experience of Indigenous peoples in Canada including the ongoing processes of colonization, discrimination, and structural violence, and the effects on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities; understanding of the wellness and healing capacities of Indigenous cultural resiliency and resurgence.

• Knowledge and practice of providing community-based services to indigenous peoples using philosophies of cultural humility and cultural safety.

Communication Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to successfully develop and maintain relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders including the ability to manage conflict and diverse viewpoints

• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to independently write case notes, reports, presentations, electronic correspondence, proposals, and other forms of professional communication

• Ability to effectively conduct file management and integrated case work

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients and the general public

• Ability to read, process and integrate findings into practice from a range of resources including peer-reviewed literature and governmental reports

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 including Word, Excel, and Outlook

Leadership Skills and Abilities

· Ability to work independently and be part of an integrated leadership team and in partnership with a variety of community organizations

· Ability to provide collaborative leadership in a complex, not-for-profit organization with a range of funding contracts and serving people from diverse demographics

· Ability to think critically, multi-task, and balance multiple competing priorities involving diverse perspectives and client groups

· Project management skills in the development, implementation, and evaluation of services for families

· Demonstrated ability to integrate Indigenous cultural practices and/or perspectives into leadership practices and program design or delivery

Program Knowledge and Abilities

· Ability to practice using philosophies of cultural safety and humility, harm reduction, trauma informed care and decolonial strengths-based approaches

· Knowledge and ability to work ethically and maintain professional boundaries when working with vulnerable clients

· Sound knowledge of Child, Family and Community Services Act and other relevant acts and statutes

· Sound knowledge of Jordan’s Principle

· Knowledge of integrated case management and wraparound client service

Education

• Bachelor Degree in Social Work (BSW) or related field and/or equivalent experience and education

• Recognized course(s) in cultural safety and humility or equivalent life and/or professional experience

Work Experience

• A minimum two years’ experience working in a child and family services or social services organization with direct responsibility for providing leadership and supervision, and/or equivalent experience

• Preference for past experience working in an indigenous serving organization or community setting.

Licenses and/or Certificates

• Valid BC Driver’s license

• Clean Driver’s record

• Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check

• First Aid certification