Child Protection Worker (After-Hours Service Program) - Permanent - Jobs in Cornwall, Ontario, K6H 6J5

Job Description

Job Summary:This position will cover duties related to all Child Protection departments while office is closed over the weekends between the hours of 2:00PM on Friday’s and 10:00AM on Monday’s. Employees can work from home but must have a reliable internet connection. May be required to attend to matters in the community or may be required to attend the office at any time during their set shifts.The hours of work set out as per the agreement are an essential duty of the position. It is understood and agreed that it is a mandatory requirement for the worker in this position to be available to work these hours of work, and that the ability to work After Hours (i.e. days, nights, weekend work, rotational shift schedule and up to thirteen hours per shift) constitutes an essential duty of this position.This position will be a Monday to Friday (8:30AM to 4:30PM) role from the time of hire to February 2026, at which time the role will move to the designated weekend shifts. This will allow for the successful applicant to familiarize themselves with the role and the organization. Key Tasks and Responsibilities:Telephone Intake:

• Respond to all calls received by the answering service and determine eligibility for service.
• Complete all required documentation for any new or subsequent referrals and/or matters related to open files.
• Complete disclosures for those requesting access to their records.
• Complete Community Links as required.

Assessment:

• Complete Investigative Plan and Safety Assessment for any referrals with a response time of less than seven (7) days.
• Initiate a joint police investigation when required.
• Develop safety plans with families to mitigate child protection concerns.

Ongoing Services:

• Provide regular check-ins with safety plans on high-risk matters.
• Follow up on any urgent matters that occur over the weekend and complete the required documentation for assigned workers.

Connections:

• Provide support to children and youth placed in care or with kinship and their caregivers as required.
• Provide regular check-ins with safety plans on high-risk matters.
• For any new kinship placements, assess family plans and complete the initial 5-point safety assessment.

Legal:

• Attend to all necessary legal procedures and documentation, including all court documentation and client contracts.
• Prepare cases for the court and present evidence where necessary.

Functional Duties:

• Have a clear understanding of the Children’s Aid Society’s Child Welfare Mandate, the CYFSA legislation and regulations, the agencies strategic framework, the Eligibility Spectrum (2021), and Child Protection Standards (2016).
• Assist families to build and connect with their network support and collaterals to obtain their first-hand impressions about overall family functioning, and utilize their support to best aid the family in their own planning
• Handle emergency admissions/taking children to a place of safety to gather relevant information about children and their families and their psychological and social functioning and to make recommendations based on psychological assessments
• Intervene with families to prevent situations of child neglect and abuse
• Arrange and carry out foster placements, including emergency admissions
• Maintain documentation in accordance with Ministry standards and Agency policies and procedures
• Be aware of roles and responsibilities under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations, and agency health and safety policies and perform duties in a manner that always ensures safety.
• Such other duties as may be deemed appropriate.

Team Building/Interpersonal Duties:

• Develop skills and knowledge by attending training, workshops, and individual and group supervisions.
• Work autonomously or in a multi-disciplinary team to provide ongoing risk assessment, analysis, judgement and support to children/youth and families.
• Refer, collaborate, and attend case conferences with other child/youth protection agencies and community partners/professionals as required.
• Attend regular supervision.

Core Competencies:Experience:

• Must be an authorized Child Protection Worker.
• Completion of OACAS Forensic Interview Training.

Personal:

• Possession of a valid driver’s license and insured vehicle to use for work purposes.
• As a requirement of employment, all applicants must have a Canadian Social Insurance Number.
• Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Records Check.

Other:

• Preference will be given to those who identify as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis; African Canadian/Black heritage; or other racially marginalized persons who meet the educational requirements, skills and competencies, or who have equivalent education and experience.
• The ability to communicate in both official languages is desired.

Skills:

• Demonstrated high level skills in assessment and case planning and ability to provide ongoing intervention.
• Ability to work effectively with children, individuals, families, groups and community partners.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other service personnel.
• Ability to assess the appropriateness of community resources and interpret the Agency role and responsibility in conjunction with other members of the investigative team.
• Demonstrated skill in handling child abuse investigations and treatment.
• Skill in handling child placement including separation from family.
• Ability to prepare cases and children for court and to give evidence as required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and to write clear, concise reports and to be able to meet deadlines and other administrative requirements.
• Computer aptitude and proficiency.
• Effective written and oral communication skills and engagement skills.

Attributes:

• Understanding their privilege, recognizes their bias, and integrates the Agency’s mission, commitments and declarations into their work.
• Commitment to improving, developing, and implementing Truth and Reconciliation, anti-oppression, and anti-racism practices in our organization.
• Demonstrates cultural competency and sensitivity while working cross-culturally.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, recognizes their strengths and weaknesses, and understands how their beliefs impact their work.
• Demonstrates the ability to support the distinct identities and cultures of Indigenous children and families we are involved with.
• Understands the use of authority and uses it in an ethical and responsible manner.
• Comfort in use of authority and ability to be decisive under crisis and other pressures.
• Understands the Agency’s service delivery model and can implement this within their work.
• Demonstrates transparency, respect, fairness, empathy and compassion.
• Welcomes the ideas, values, experiences and expertise of others and is committed and contributes positively to the team and the organization.
• Advocates for family members, youth and children in community and clinical meetings.
• Understands the importance of, and can cultivate effective, trust-based relationships with community partners.

Efforts and Working Conditions:

• Long periods of sitting and computer/phone use.
• Multi-tasks within a fast-paced, high-volume and demanding environment.
• Required to listen to and reconcile multiple points of view being discussed/presented.
• Frequent interruptions often dealing with critical issues.
• Travel within the CASSDG region.
• May be exposed to potentially hazardous environments including driving conditions, volatile situations and risks associated with a standard office.
• Can work non-routine/flexible hours, and/or evenings; may be called into work in case of emergencies.
• Occasional lifting of children or heavy objects may be required.
• Regularly works in emotionally charged situations requiring resolution.