Resource Worker

Resource Worker

Family & Children’s Services of Renfrew County is a multi-service agency committed to providing preventative, protective, and socially inclusive services and programming that empower and strengthen everyone. We are focused on cultivating a team-oriented work environment where everyone thrives. Our goal is to develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships to increase the availability, accessibility, and quality of care in our communities.

We are currently recruiting for a Resource Worker. This is a full-time position for a six-month contract.

Family and Children’s Services approves foster, foster-to-adopt, and kin care applicants to provide family-based care to children found in need of protection. The Resource Worker plays a key role in the recruitment, assessment, training, support, and retention of these care providers.

Responsibilities include engaging with prospective applicants, facilitating training (including PRIDE or Heart and Spirit), conducting SAFE or Indigenous Family Development Assessments (IFDA), providing ongoing support to approved homes, coordinating placement matching, and participating in permanency planning and adoption processes.

General Responsibilities:

• Conduct inquiry contacts with prospective foster, foster-to-adopt, and kin care applicants.
• Recruit, assess, and license new resource homes, with a focus on supporting family-based options for youth currently placed in Outside Paid Resources (OPRs) and facilitating the development of customary care for Indigenous youth.
• Complete SAFE assessments and annual assessments in accordance with ministry standards and agency timelines.
• Use the Indigenous Family Development Assessment (IFDA) as part of the Heart and Spirit model when working with Indigenous caregivers.
• Deliver PRIDE or Heart and Spirit training and provide ongoing learning opportunities to both new and approved resource families
• Manage internal and external placement requests, including matching children with appropriate Resource homes
• Participate in permanency planning meetings, case conferences, and adoption conferences
• Provide guidance and support to caregivers to ensure understanding and compliance with agency policies, ministry licensing standards, and best practices in caregiving
• Foster positive working relationships between resource families and agency staff
• Conduct quarterly support visits to resource homes and maintain regular documentation
• Attend and contribute to team meetings and staff meetings
• Participate in agency and community committees
• Assist with special projects and other duties

Complete Job Description

• Four-year university degree in social sciences or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience
• A minimum of one year of relevant experience in child welfare or social services
• PRIDE Team Training and SAFE Assessment Tool certification, or training in Heart and Spirit and IFDA are assets
• Bilingualism (English and French) is an asset
• Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking skills
• The ability to apply evidence-informed practice
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse service and staff population
• A proven commitment to anti-oppression, equity, and inclusivity in practice
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong assessment, mediation, and conflict resolution skills
• Knowledge of ministry licensing standards, PRIDE or Heart and Spirit competencies, SAFE or IFDA assessment principles, and agency policies
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and case management systems
• The ability to learn new systems quickly
• Strong organizational skills and time management abilities
• Demonstrated initiative, leadership, and ability to work independently and collaboratively

Apply Online

Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County is committed to building a diverse workforce representative of the communities we serve. We encourage and are pleased to consider applications from all qualified candidates, without regard to race, colour, citizenship, religion, sex, marital and family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal status, age, or disability.

Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County is committed to providing a barrier-free workplace.  Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted.