Family Support Worker

Job Title: Family Support Worker

Department: Health and Wellbeing

Location: Doig River First Nation

General Job Description

The Family Support Worker (FSW) provides practical, emotional and advocacy support to children, youth, and families facing social, emotional or economic challenges. The role focuses on strengthening family relationships, promoting wellbeing and helping families access appropriate services to improve outcomes for DRFN members while working alongside with the Community Social Worker (CSW). The FSW will practice in accordance with the standards, scope and code of ethics as outlines by the Ministry of Children and Families (MCFD). As part of the Health and Wellbeing Department, the FSW’s activities will be in alignment with the DRFN’s Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP).

These plans will be achieved by participating in the planning, organizing, leading and delivery of activities as funded by the Ministry of Children and Families and band own source revenues. Work activities are divided between the office, meeting with community members, service providers, and government departments.

The FSW must have excellent organizational skills and be able to handle a large and varied workload with competing priorities. Additionally, they must work to increase the potential and credibility of the DRFN health and wellbeing department with governments, local service providers, other First Nations and advocate partnerships for family-wellness initiatives The FSW will strive to form beneficial working relationships within DRFN and with a variety of service providers and care partners. Further, they will assist community members in navigating local, provincial, and federal systems for services for families, youth and children.

The FSW must be prepared to travel occasionally, according to the needs of the community and government service providers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Functions:

• Home visits with families, and liaising with the AHSOR childcare facility in DRFN
• Work directly with families to assess needs, strengths, and risks including crisis intervention
• Provide one-on-one and group-based support and education to parents, caregivers, and children
• Develop and implement family support plans in collaboration with families and partnering
  agencies
• Offer guidance on parenting strategies, routines and behavior management

• Support families to access services such as housing, education, healthcare, and financial
  assistance both internally and externally
• Advocate on behalf of families and attend multi-agency meetings as required
• Maintain accurate, confidential care records and reports
• Monitor progress, review outcomes, and adjust support plans as needed
• Promote safeguarding and follow child protection policies and procedures
• Deliver early intervention support to prevent escalation of family difficulties
• Facilitating groups for all ages, working on developing life skills such as budgeting, basic
  parenting and family relationships
• Participate in the delivery of formal parent education programs and workshops

Program Planning, Delivery, Reporting and Evaluation

• Understands, embraces and implements the health and social development components of the
  CCP, Council Strategic Plan and Health and Social Development Strategy
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in designing community-based initiatives that
  promote healthy families, lifestyles and lifestyle choices (i.e. drug and alcohol cessation, vaping,
  healthy family activities)
• Responsible for planning, developing, coordinating and evaluating the direct services to children
  and their families that may have resulted from MCFD plans alongside the CSW
• Assesses the availability of special services. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of issues and
  professional skills in indigenous social and health to promote understanding and utilization of
  programs and services
• Ensures all program plans and initiatives are developed and delivered are culturally relevant and
  appropriate to DRFN culture
• Understands and communicates the breadth and depth of service delivery landscape as it
  pertains to services available to DRFN children and youth within government systems
• Ensures Beaver language is incorporated into all programs and delivery when feasible

Provides Support Services for DRFN Band Members

• Works alongside the DRFN CSW in the Social Development department and MCFD to support
  families and children at risk
• Implements strategies to assist in the resolution of problems that affect a child’s well-being
  within the family by providing emotional support to reduce the risk to the children
• Coordinates resources that enhance the functioning of the family and the range of supports to
  families intended to promote children’s safety, reduce vulnerability, maximize quality of life and
  assist families in their role as primary care givers
• Ensures the appropriate and effective sharing of information including identifying and
  maintaining contact with DRFN children and families as required for continuity of services and
  care, including the use of multiple communication strategies
• Develops and documents a coordinated wellness/service plan that may include, referral,
  assessment, treatment/admission, counselling, court, justice, transition and ongoing care
  protocols. Communicates the service plan to children and family and appropriate service
  providers
• Day to day advocacy support to DRFN children and their families with service providers

• Provides navigation services with a cultural safety and humility lens, using a trauma-informed
  and culturally competent approach. Understands the importance of working with Dane-zaa
  protocols to make children and families comfortable with their interaction with the social,
  health and education systems
• Facilitates access to care and advocates for children and families when they identify service
  delivery gaps or issues
• Provides referrals to culturally appropriate mental health programs
• Works with the Aboriginal Head Start program to deliver activities that promote healthy parent
  and child relationships and promotion as parents as the first educators of their children
  
  Relationship Building
  

• Builds strong relationships and partnerships with front line social and health care and child-care
  workers, and works with a variety of professionals, including but not limited to social workers,
  teachers, nurses, speech pathologist, dental, occupational therapists. Works with these types of
  individuals to obtain support
• Builds strong relationships and partnerships with local, provincial, and federal government
  services in the social sector, including, but not limited to, MCFD, Ministry of Education, Health,
  Provincial Regional Health Authorities, and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
• Proactively promotes knowledge and information through regular communication with other
  front-line workers
• Proactively builds front-line and community relationships to bring children and families with
  complex care needs to the right organizations and expedite assessments and referrals within all
  areas of the social development and health care system
• Maintains strong relationships with First Nations social, health and education sector service
  providers and organizations, as well as other service providers and other First Nations
  organizations (e.g. Friendship Centre’s, NENAN)
• Works collaboratively and effectively with supporting consultants

Reporting

• Maintains administrative and organizational filing and tracking systems
• Prepares presentations, briefs, updates and final reports on projects individually as well as
  collaboratively with DRFN departments and Health and Social Development Manager
• Provides updated reports regularly to the Community Wellness Team, Band Manager and Chief
  and Council.

Other

• Participates in department and staff meetings
• Familiar with DRFN and associated political processes and demonstrates a non-political
  approach to communicate and foster relationships with politicians, elders and community
  members
• Integrates Beaver culture and language into communications as feasible
• Follows all DRFN policies and procedures as per the DRFN Financial Administration Law (2019)
• Seeks continual improvement and professional development to ensure the duties associated
  with this position are conducted effectively, efficiently, and professionally

Performs other duties and assists with special projects and duties as assigned.

Reporting Structure

The FSW reports to the Health & Wellbeing Manager or designate

Qualifications

Education

• Certificate or Diploma in health or human services programs such as social care, childcare, youth
  work or related fields

Experience

• Minimum 2 years working with children, families, or vulnerable groups with in-depth knowledge
  of First Nations
• Experience with case coordination and/or case management involving indigenous communities
  in a culturally safe manner
• Experience in promoting best practices in Indigenous health and social work
• Experience working in a fast-paced and evolving environment with a concentration in health and
  social work

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the BC social service and health care system, and the current landscape of First
  Nations/indigenous issues, preferable with a focus on children and youth
• Knowledge of case coordination and/or case management methods
• Knowledge of research tools, program design and evaluation techniques
• Knowledge of population health and First Nations perspective on social development, health
  and wellness
• In-depth knowledge of First Nations social, health and wellness system needs
• Trauma informed practice
• Familiarity with traditional Dane-zaa and Doig River First Nature culture, values, interests and
  history including Treaty 8 and associated rights

Skills & Abilities

• Able to prioritize tasks and manage effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing
  priorities
• Caring, compassionate, dependable, ethical and mature
• Excellent time management and scheduling skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to conduct decision-making in a non-political manner
• Ability to work in a team setting. Self-driven with minimal supervision
• Well-developed communication skills including the ability to listen and communicate effectively
  both orally and in writing
• Good computer skills– proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Required Certifications

• BC Class 5 Drivers License
• Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check required

Working Conditions

This position requires the incumbent to work in the office, meet with community members and
occasionally travel both in the field and out of town. A personal vehicle is required and reimbursement
for travel will be provided at $0.70 / kilometer.
To apply, please submit a resume by February 16, 2026, to:
Human Resources
Doig River First Nation
Box 56, Rose Prairie, BC V0C 2H0
Email – employment@doigriverfn.com