REPORTS TO: Den Program Manager

HOURS: Permanent Full Time

Job Purpose:

“Despite great challenges we believe unhealthy cycles can be broken, new opportunities created and, through healing, health restored.”

Cultural Caseworkers operate within an Interdisciplinary Den (Inter D) Team and den space, focusing on daily care of community members with an emphasis on cultural support. They ensure that clients in the interdisciplinary den have regular access to cultural supports, medicines and ceremonies, while also building capacity for long-term connections to cultural supports. Additionally, Cultural Caseworkers assist Adult Support Workers and Substance Use Workers with case management within the team.

The legacy and discourse of Residential Schools remains alive to this day. The candidate for this role should be able to acknowledge and develop effective, purposeful stratagems that address the intergenerational loss and mourning experienced by many Indigenous communities across the nation. Emphasis for these programs should be implemented in a manner that is sensitive and directed to the needs of the Edmonton inner-city and homeless populations.

Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our clients.

“We stand with our clients, side by side, patiently and for as long as they want – a constant and consistent caring force”

Position Responsibilities:

Program Supports

• Deliver and maintain cultural programming within the Inter D under BSCS core values.
• Apply a harm reduction lens to cultural support and bridge the gap for participants who need extra support in connecting and engaging with culture and Indigenous teachings.
• Build rapport with participants of the Inter D to assist Case Managers and Substance Use Workers to build strength based, person-centred case plans.
• Connect participants of Inter D to aftercare cultural supports including, but not limited to, sweats, feasts, healing circles, pipe ceremonies, medicine picking, etc.
• Provide emotional and material support for issues stemming from the legacy of the residential school system, day school system, including the intergenerational effects and impacts related to ambiguous loss, in a manner that is sensitive to the unique needs of vulnerable Indigenous populations.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of programs offered within the den and throughout the organization to be able to refer community members.
• With the participant, assess barriers and needs to identify supports and resources needed for the success of the participant, especially in relation to cultural connection and engagement.
• Coordinate referrals to community and cultural supports in tandem with Caseworkers.
• Collaborate with the other Inter D Cultural Caseworkers and Program Coordinators to develop programming schedule that builds daily living skills and connection to culture and practice.
• Facilitate and/or bring in facilitators for culturally appropriate programming (at the approval of the Program Manager).
• Ensure external facilitators are adhering to expectations set out by BSCS code of ethics and core values.
• Promote all programming scheduled to participants through conversations, posters, and other means.
• Attend programming of the other Inter D Cultural Caseworkers and Program Coordinators as support and/or co-facilitator.
• Contribute towards case conferences and keep up to date on discussions and meeting notes.

Administration

• Maintain detailed case notes that are entered by noon the next day (1.5 days) of interactions.
• Ensure all relevant documents are up to date and uploaded.
• Ensure all financial documents (accounts payable) are filled completely and accurately on time and to be approved by leadership.
• Track and enter data from cultural programming.

Other

• Work closely with the team supporting sîtôskam iyiniwatisiwin – Supporting an Indigenous Way of Being – and the Elder’s Counsel to ensure the Inter D team and participants have access to medicine, cultural events, medicine picking, and ceremonies.
• Provide de-escalation tactics, crisis intervention, and overdose response as required.
• All other duties as outlined by program manager.
• BSCS is more than a workplace. It is a community where everyone helps and contributes to the whole, and there is an expectation that all employees will take part in events (during the work week and occasionally during weekends and evenings). This includes fundraising campaigns, running community meals, medicine picking etc.

Qualifications

• Post Secondary Education in a relevant field of study (Social Sciences, Social Work) is an asset
• Applicants with years of experience working in the inner city, with relevant knowledge of Indigenous history, culture and practice within a harm reduction strategy will be considered
• Minimum 6 months’ experience working with vulnerable populations
• Knowledge and respect for the diversity of Indigenous populations and communities
• Knowledge of Indigenous history (Indian Residential School System), worldview, perspectives, beliefs/values, culture and traditions and spirituality is required
• Knowledge and ability to teach and provide use of traditional Indigenous protocol and medicines
• Able to set personal and professional boundaries, including self-case and work-life balance
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of poverty related issues, trends and services particularly for Indigenous peoples
• Demonstrate good written skills and experience using Microsoft office applications
• Valid First Aid certificate or enrolled in a future course
• Police Check with the Vulnerable Sector completed within the past six months and kept up to date (every 3 years)
• Child and Youth Intervention Check completed within the past six months and kept up to date (every 3 years)
• Experience with and knowledge of Indigenous culture and ceremonies is considered an asset.

Why Work for Boyle?

• All work done positively impacts the community and its members!
• Access to Lumino Health, including Stress & Wellness support
• Employee activities and events throughout the year
• Various training initiatives, and development opportunities

Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our community members.

Clients, staff, and partners are vital members of the Boyle Street team, so we place emphasis on making sure that we address each other correctly by using preferred pronouns. We invite you to let us know how to properly refer to you and your pronouns as you explore finding a professional home with us.

Boyle Street Community Services aims to foster a work environment that is rich with Indigenous culture, teachings, ceremonies, and activities- as a reflection of the communities we serve and the land we reside upon.

Boyle Street Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. Boyle Street Community Services welcomes applications from First Nation, Inuit, Métis, New Canadian, differently abled, and LGBTQ2S communities.