First Nation Representative Services

POSITION: First Nation Representative Services

DEPARTMENT: Child Family Services (CFS)

EMPLOYMENT TERM & LENGTH: Full-Time, fixed-term position for one year with the possibility of extension, contingent on funding.

CLASSIFICATION: Safety-Sensitive Position

SUMMARY:

Under the Director of Child and Family Services, the First Nation Representative Services Role supports First Nations to have a voice when children, youth, and families from their community are involved/at risk of involvement with the child and family services system. First Nation Representative Services are critically important to First Nations and to ensuring that the rights of First Nations children and youth are respected within the child and family services system.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILIES:

· The role of First Nation Representative Services will be First Nations-defined and may include engaging with child and family services providers and participating in child and family service matters as set out in provincial, territorial, and federal child and family services laws. First Nation Representative Service’s functions include, but are not limited to:

o Serving as the main contact between a First Nation and child and family services providers; Promote stability for children and youth

o Exercising the rights and responsibilities of the First Nation under provincial, territorial, and federal child and family services laws;

o Ensuring that child and family services providers address the real needs of First Nations children, youth, and families, including needs tied to culture, land and geography, and the effects of historical and contemporary disadvantage;

o Building and maintaining meaningful cultural, family, and community connections for First Nations children, youth, and families involved with the child and family services system;

o Facilitating the repatriation and/or reunification of First Nations children and youth in care with their family and First Nation(s);

o Supporting First Nations children, youth, and families involved/at risk of involvement with the child and family services system outside of their home communities, including working across different regions and jurisdictions;

o Supporting First Nations youth and young adults with post-majority care;

o Participating in child and family services administrative and court proceedings;

o Accessing legal resources to represent the First Nation’s interests in child and family services administrative and court proceedings;

o Receiving and responding to notices under provincial, territorial, and federal child and family services laws;

o Helping families access prevention supports;

o Supporting customary care, kinship care, and alternative care arrangements;

o Providing or arranging for alternative dispute resolution (e.g., circle processes, Indigenous approaches);

o Monitoring agreements with child and family services providers pertaining to individual children, youth, and families;

o Participating in the development and monitoring of service plans with child and family services providers (e.g., child, youth, and/or family care plans; safety planning; permanency planning; after care plans; youth transition/post-majority care plans); and,

o Developing and monitoring protocols or service agreements with child and family services providers.

COMPETENCIES:

· The holistic well-being of First Nations children, youth, and families creates the foundation for healthy First Nations communities, and future generations.

· First Nations should be involved in the planning and provision of services and decisions respecting their children, youth, and families, including by receiving notice in advance of a child and family services provider taking any significant measure (in collaboration with the FNCFS service provider and consistent with the best interests of the child) in relation to a First Nations child or youth.

· First Nation Representatives work to:

o uphold and strengthen the rights of the First Nation in provincial, territorial, and federal child and family services laws;

o help ensure First Nations children, youth, and families can meaningfully exercise their rights under provincial, territorial, and federal child and family services laws;

o prioritize preventive care, including prenatal and postnatal preventive care;

o promote substantive equality for First Nations children and youth;

o promote and support family unity; and,

o connect First Nations children, youth, and families with the lands, languages, cultures, practices, customs, traditions, ceremonies, and knowledge of their community or communities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· A completed Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work (BISW) or Bachelor of Social Work degree preferred.

· Knowledge of Child and Family Services Act and court processes.

· Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.

· Must produce a satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening as a condition of employment.

· Must lead a healthy, drug and alcohol free life-style.

Deadline for Applications: October 16, 2026

Pay: $27.29-$47.33 per hour

Work Location: In person