Position:               Practice Manager

Status:                  Permanent full-time; Excluded

Department:         Resources

Location:              3284 East Broadway, Vancouver BC 

Salary:                  $108,346.40 to $112,958.56 annually

Hours:                   8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday

Posted:                 August 14, 2023

Closing:                Open until filled

At VACFSS, we ensure that the rights, safety, well-being and spirit of Indigenous children and families are upheld, honored, and protected. We strive to eliminate oppression, discrimination, and marginalization within our community. We acknowledge and honor the inherent wisdom, capacity, and resourcefulness of our community in designing programs and services to care for our own children and families. Accordingly, we are dedicated to planning, developing, and implementing creative and innovative Indigenous programs and services in collaboration with members of our community and other agencies.

Join an Agency that strives to provide services to strengthen Indigenous families culturally and spiritually!

Learn, develop, and practice Restorative Indigenous Child Welfare Practices and Inclusive Foster Care!

Step into a leadership role that supports a program of dedicated helpers!

The mandate of the Resources Program is to provide safe alternate care that promotes the well-being and cultural identity of Indigenous children. Children’s best interests are at the center of the work. The Resources Program recruits, assesses, trains, and supports caregivers to join the child’s circle and provide care that meets the child’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. The Resources Program provides support and respite caregiving services that enable children to remain living at home with their families, and full-time caregiving services to children who cannot live at home. The mandate of the VACFSS Resource Program is guided by the philosophy that children remain connected with their parents, extended family, and community while in foster care. The Resource Program staff strive to ensure continuity of significant relationships for children are maintained when they are placed in foster care, consistent with VACFSS Inclusive Foster Care Policy.

Reporting to the Resources Program Manager, the Practice Manager is responsible for the direct supervision, case consultation and coaching to two Resources team leaders and plays a key role in guiding and leadership to program staff and others. Provides vison, direction, guidance and leadership to his/her direct reports and others in clinical supervision. The scope of responsibility of the Practice Manager includes two Resource teams. This position plays a key role in providing expertise to the Resources program Manager and across agency programs to ensure the effective and efficient use of contracted services. The Practice Manager represents the program in the Integrating our Practice forms, contract proposals, assisting or coordinating program collaboration with children and youth who are experiencing placement needs or disruptions. This position has a clinical focus relating to placement under the care of the agency and overseeing Resource clinical practice. The Resources Practice Manager is responsible for:

• Providing clinical supervision/support to team leaders with an emphasis on enhancing assessments for children under the care of VACFSS.
• Actively participates in committee work such as: Integrating our practice (IOP), Provincial practice related committee or training and the Child Specific Placement committee.
• Identifies ongoing training needs with individual staff to ensure Resources team members acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to achieve the best practice outcomes.
• Works with the Director of Integrated Practice & Operations to oversee Quality of Care concerns within the VACFSS foster placements and kith and care homes.

The Practice Manager will communicate a focus on restorative practice for families with an emphasis on child developmental considerations, cultural plans for children in care, trauma informed practice and Inclusive Foster Care. This position works alongside the Program Resources Program Manager assisting with ongoing program evaluation, policy development, implementation, and training of staff to ensure congruency with a trauma informed approach to services for children, youth, and families within the VACFSS child and family service system.

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned from time to time, consistent with the qualifications and experience for a management position.  Some evening and weekend work may be required.  

A comprehensive position profile will be available to candidates shortlisted for the position.

INDIGENOUS CORE CULTURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Relational Engagement
• Leadership
• Collaborative Planning and Decision Making
• Emotional Competency
• Resilience
• Cultural, Spiritual Expression

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BSW, or BA in a related field; or
• MSW or MA in a related field (preferred); with
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience as a Supervisor or Manager; and
• 5 years of experience in Indigenous Child Welfare in Resources.
• C3 Delegation is required.
• C6 Delegation Training will be provided.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid BC Driver’s License and access to a safe, reliable vehicle
• Training in leadership and management preferred
• Successful completion of a Criminal Records Check required

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Experience working in an Indigenous agency with strong knowledge of Canada’s Indigenous people
• Advanced knowledge of Child, Family and Community Services Act and related legislation, policies, provincial and government systems
• Demonstrated ability and practical working knowledge of Contract and Budget Management
• Experience working in not-for-profit organizations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to have flexible working hours during time-sensitive periods is essential
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a diverse group of people
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

BENEFITS:

• Extended health and dental
• Group life and AD&D
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• 100% employer-paid premiums
• 4 weeks of vacation (starting)
• Public Service Pension Plan
• Access to VACFSS’ Staff Cultural Clinical Counselor, Elder
• Access to Indigenous Cultural Teachings as coordinated by the Agency