Community Support jobs in Kelowna, BC

About us:
Metis Community Services Society of BC (MCSBC) has a mandate from Metis citizens to provide integrated, holistic, family-centered, wrap-around services to all those who need assistance, with special emphasis on Indigenous populations, specifically Metis populations.

About the role:
The Court Liaison and Preservation Worker provides culturally responsive support to Métis and other Indigenous families where a child may be at imminent risk of placement outside the family home. The position works alongside families to strengthen safety, stability, communication, parenting capacity, and connection to culture and community.

Services are comprehensive, flexible, and primarily delivered in the family home. The Worker combines therapeutic and solution-focused approaches with practical support, skill development, mediation, advocacy, and connection to community resources. The paramount consideration in all service delivery is the safety and well-being of children.

The position works collaboratively with families, MCFD social workers, the MCSBC Family Support Worker, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community partners. The Worker maintains a caseload of up to 15 active families and participates in case planning and case conferences as required.

This position reports to the Family Wellness Manager and receives clinical supervision for approximately two hours every two weeks.

Responsibilities:

Family Preservation and Intensive Support

• Provide culturally appropriate, intensive family preservation services that support, maintain, strengthen, and reunite Métis and other Indigenous families.
• Work directly with families to address the risk factors and protection concerns that place a child at risk of removal from the family home.
• Deliver services primarily in family homes and other community-based settings, adapting the frequency and intensity of support to each family's circumstances.
• Use strengths-based, solution-focused, trauma-informed, and holistic approaches that respect each family's capacities, culture, identity, and goals.
• Support families to stabilize during periods of crisis and develop practical, sustainablestrategies that promote child safety and family well-being.

Assessment, Planning, and Counselling

• Complete ongoing assessments of family strengths, needs, risks, protective factors, and progress in collaboration with the family and referring professionals.
• Develop and implement individualized service plans with clear goals related to child safety, family functioning, and the concerns identified through the referral.
• Provide individual and family counselling, parent-child or parent-youth support, conflict resolution, and mediation within the scope of the position.
• Help parents and caregivers strengthen parenting, coping, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and crisis-management skills.
• Support parents and caregivers to identify, prioritize, and resolve concerns and to recognize and prevent circumstances that could place a child in need of protection.

Practical and Community-Based Support

• Provide practical assistance and coaching related to life skills, household routines, personal care planning, budgeting, accessing basic needs, and creating safe home environments.
• Connect families with culturally relevant community services, material supports, health and wellness resources, education, housing, food security, and other formal or informal supports.
• Help families build and use effective natural support networks to strengthen self-sufficiency and reduce long-term reliance on formal services.
• Advocate with and for families while supporting their voice, choice, dignity, and meaningful participation in decisions that affect them.

Child Safety and Collaborative Practice

• Keep the safety and well-being of children as the paramount consideration in all assessment, planning, intervention, and documentation.
• Work collaboratively with MCFD social workers, the Okanagan Métis Family Support Worker, and other involved professionals to coordinate services and monitor progress.
• Participate in case conferences, integrated case planning, transition planning, and collaborative meetings as requested or required.
• Support reunification or reintegration planning when children and families are reconnecting or transitioning back to family, community, and culture.
• Identify and respond appropriately to emerging safety concerns in accordance with legislation, professional obligations, MCSBC policy, and established reporting procedures.

Cultural Safety and Connection

• Provide services that recognize the distinct culture, history, experiences, strengths, and priorities of Métis families.
• Support families to strengthen connections to Métis culture, identity, community, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, ceremony, and land-based opportunities when desired by the family.
• Promote culturally safe, respectful, anti-racist, and non-judgmental practice in all interactions with children, youth, families, colleagues, and partners.

Documentation, Reporting, and Program Accountability

• Maintain timely, accurate, objective, and confidential case notes, service plans, assessments, contact records, consent forms, and other required documentation.
• Track service hours, caseload activity, referrals, outcomes, and other information required for monthly and funder reporting.
• Prepare progress updates, closing summaries, and other reports in accordance with MCSBC and MCFD requirements.
• Protect personal and confidential information and follow all applicable privacy, information-management, records-retention, and security requirements.
• Contribute to program evaluation, service improvement, and the achievement of outcomes identified in the MCFD service agreement.

Professional Practice and Team Participation

• Participate in approximately two hours of clinical supervision every two weeks and apply supervisory guidance to practice.
• Participate in team meetings, training, professional development, reflective practice, and organizational initiatives.
• Maintain clear professional boundaries, sound judgment, and ethical practice while working independently in family homes and community settings.
• Work collaboratively with MCSBC programs to provide coordinated, wrap-around support to children and families.

Other Duties

• Perform other related duties consistent with the purpose and scope of the position, as assigned by the Family Wellness Manager or Executive Director.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent degree in a relevant human services field.
• Relevant experience providing intensive family preservation, family support, counselling, child welfare, or community-based services to children and families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Child, Family and Community Service Act and an understanding of child protection, family preservation, and reunification practice in British Columbia.
• Knowledge of Métis culture and history and an understanding of the impacts of colonization and the child welfare system on Indigenous children, families, and communities.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strengths-based, solution-focused, trauma-informed, culturally safe, and family-centred services.
• Experience completing assessments, developing service plans, maintaining case documentation, and collaborating with MCFD and community partners.
• Strong counselling, mediation, crisis-response, advocacy, communication, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload, work independently in family homes and community settings, and participate effectively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Sound judgment, strong professional boundaries, and the ability to maintain confidentiality while working with sensitive personal information.
• Proficiency with standard computer applications and electronic case-management or record-keeping systems.
• A valid BC driver's licence and access to a reliable vehicle for work-related travel.
• Satisfactory criminal record check, including a vulnerable sector check, and any other screening required by MCSBC or the funder.

Note: MCSBC is exempt and may give preference to hiring Métis applicants under Section 16 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Benefits:

• Free parking
• 13 Stat holidays
• 2 weeks Christmas paid time off
• 2-weeks’ vacation time
• 15 Paid Health and Wellness days
• Company cell phone
• Health Benefits paid 100% by employer

Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $38.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Company events
• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Vision care
• Wellness program

Education:

• Master's Degree (preferred)

Location:

• Kelowna, BC (required)

Work Location: In person