Role Responsibilities

The Practice Specialist seeks to inspire wholistic practices and influence systemic change at a regional level. 

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals committed to reconciliation and who have a drive and passion for advancing child intervention practice with Indigenous children, families, and communities. This role supports our staff in compliance with all legislated and policy requirements related to Indigenous peoples, while engaging with community partners to develop relationships and nurturing safe environments for the children, youth, and families we support. In this unique role, you will enhance your understanding and practice from an indigenous perspective and support the North region in our growth in this area. The successful candidate will have opportunities to learn, connect and share their knowledge related to Indigenous cultures and communities with CFS staff and families in the North Region. This is a regional position that provides opportunity to work with the diverse people across northern Alberta.  

The Indigenous Practice Specialist focuses on practice implementation and skill enhancement at a regional level delivering and informing provincial direction and knowledge in Child Intervention Casework practice applications. The Indigenous Practice Specialist acts as a regional program consultant to staff incorporating legislation, policy, and provincial practice into casework delivery. This position influences practice and the consistent application of the legislation, policies, and standards regionally. The position consults, leads, guides, and instructs all levels of staff in applying practices that is consistent with federal, provincial and regional strategic direction and may be CS’s representative on a variety of committees and initiatives. The Indigenous Practice Specialist’s extended scope includes implementing training & development, and engaging staff in developing case plan solutions and strategies focused on supporting the successful outcomes for children and families. 

Your strong focus on coaching and mentoring will guide your work with the team of Children and Family Services professionals working in Child Intervention Services. Your guidance will be rooted in the Child Intervention Practice Framework, Casework Practice Model, Signs of Safety Approach, trauma informed practice lens as well as specialized knowledge, experience, and relationships of and with Indigenous peoples to ensure that services delivered are in accordance with accepted practices, standards, and legislative requirements. You will also develop and deliver formal and informal training and teaching sessions to support staff in their work with children and families.  

Daily you will utilize your team building, critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, time management and organizational skills. These skills will assist you to prioritize multiple projects and assignments that support better decisions for children, youth, and families. Your well-developed interpersonal relationship and communication skills will enable you to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders through virtual and in-person contacts.

This position will require a delegation under CYFEA and ongoing participation in the Regional on-call rotation and may be required to support Child Intervention delivery at a front-line level. 

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

In addition to the APS Competencies the follow practice competencies are essential for success in this role:

• CI Practitioner Competencies: Performing the Child Intervention Practitioner competencies with consistency at an advanced level of proficiency, according to the Child Intervention Practice Framework Principles, in order to provide practice supervision to CI staff.  
• Mindfulness and Self-reflection: Being intentionally aware, focused and present in the moment; continuously assessing, without reaction and judgment, one’s emotions and actions to guide one’s thinking and behavior.  
• Outcome Oriented: Maintaining a working knowledge of the CIPF Principles, CI outcomes and priorities. Demonstrates the ability to lead with a focus on CI outcomes and ensure the work of one’s team is in alignment with these outcomes. Demonstrates commitment to the CI outcomes and priorities by role modeling responsibility for decisions and accountability for results.
• Engaging Others: Building a foundation of trust and respect to engage staff and inspire, empower, support, coach and mentor. Building relationships individually and as a team to create a positive working environment and to achieve the best possible CI outcome.   
• Leading Continuous Improvement: Demonstrate ability to seek out opportunities for innovation and creatively problem solve. Support staff through implementing organizational initiatives. Operate with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to implement learnings and achieving outcomes for children and families.
• Enabling others Growth and Development: Guiding others to strengthen their professional ability and CI practice, and fostering a climate of learning and self-reflection.
• Communication: Engaging in and fostering active listening, creating an atmosphere of respect and positive problem solving. Ensuring one’s verbal and non-verbal communication is congruent.  Demonstrating an awareness of the impact of one’s communication in both oral and written form.

Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor of Social Work or Social Work Diploma and 2 years of related experience; or
• A related degree and 4 years of related experience or a related diploma and 5 years of related experience.
• Related education can include: Bachelor of Child Studies/Child & Youth Care, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Human Services, BA/BSc Psychology, BA Sociology, Bachelor of Community Rehab, BSc Family Studies/Human Ecology, BA Early Child Development, Law Degree, Addictions/Counseling Diploma, Child and Youth Care Diploma, and Criminal Justice Diploma.

The following equivalencies may be considered:

• Master of Social Work and 1-year related experience; or
• Social Work Certificate or related certificate and 6 years related experience.

Note:
Equivalency for professional roles related to Child Intervention: Directly related degree or diploma, successful completion of in-service or comparable training and 2 years of directly related experience.

Required Experience:

• 2 years of related experience in child intervention front line case management or equivalence.
• Knowledge and experience using Signs of Safety philosophy and practice.
• Knowledge of community and indigenous resources is essential.  
• Advance computer experience working with Microsoft office is required.  
• Demonstrated knowledge of all legislated and policy requirements related to Indigenous peoples.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act; Signs of Safety
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong critical thinking skills including 2-eyed seeing approach.
• Knowledge and experience working with Indigenous communities.  
• Understanding of child intervention issues and trends for the purpose of analysis. 

Assets:

• Project management experience.
• Facilitation and negotiation experience.
• Experience with Intake Workflow is an asset. 
• Experience with Safety Assessment Workflow is an asset.
• Current or previous supervisory experience – cover off experience accepted.  
• Training, coaching and mentoring adults.
• Speaks an Indigenous language.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This competition will be used to fill additional positions within the Indigenous Practice Supports team in the North Region.

Hours of Work: 
Monday to Friday, 36.25 hours per week (full-time). 
(There will be a requirement to work beyond the scheduled workday along with weekend and on-call responsibilities). 

Location: 
Successful candidate may reside and work out of the following locations in the North Region: Athabasca, Barrhead, Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Edson, Fairview, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, High Prairie, High Level, Hinton, Lac La Biche, Peace River, Slave Lake, St. Paul, Valleyview, Vegreville, Westlock, and Whitecourt.

Application Requirements:

• A cover letter outlining how your education and experience relates directly to this role is required. 
• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 – June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hour shifts/week). 
• Complete all pre-screening questions. 

Please be advised your current supervisor and manager will be contacted as references. 

Successful Candidate for this position will undergo an academic check, intervention record check and provide suitable security screening. 

Role Requirements: 

• You carry a valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle. 
• As per the health Professions Act, successful applicants must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) to be eligible for this position, if: 
  • They have a degree in social work from any university in North America that is accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or they have graduated from an approved social work diploma program in Alberta; 
  • They have, within the last five years, been a registered, certified, or licensed social worker in another province or with a member of the Association of Social Work Boards. 
  • Please be prepared to provide your registration details at the time of interview. For more information, please visit http://www.acsw.ab.ca/

Travel:

• Occasional travel will be required in the role in Alberta and out of province if the need arises. Final candidates for this position will be asked to provide a current 5-year commercial driver’s abstract if it is not already on file. 
• Employee may also be required to use their own vehicles when government fleet vehicles are not available. Appropriate insurance is required. 

Other Information: 

• Relocation expenses may be provided.
• Not providing or completing any of the above requirements will result in the delay of your application.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 
 

Notes Continued

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees:

Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
Professional learning and development - support-directive">https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
Leadership and mentorship programs