Alternative Care Worker - Licensed Homes (Rama)
Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services
Position: Alternative Care Worker - Licensed Homes
Vacancy: 1 Full-Time Contract Until May 2027
Location: Rama First Nation, ON
Closing Date: April 8, 2026
MANDATORY:
A completed Application Form must be included with your resume for your application to be considered. The Application Form can be found by:
- Visiting our careers page (www.binnoojiiyag.ca/careers), OR
- Copying the following URL into your browser: https://www.binnoojiiyag.ca/download/7757/?tmstv=1718208217
POSITION SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Alternative Care Supervisor, the Alternative Care Worker, Licensed Homes is responsible for the assessment, development, and ongoing support of Alternative Care, Customary Care, and licensed homes for children who cannot remain with their parents or caregivers. The position ensures that homes are thoroughly screened, evaluated, and supported through the Heart & Spirit or IFDA process, and that caregivers receive ongoing guidance, training, and consultation aligned with agency standards, Indigenous practices, and Ministry licensing requirements. This role also provides clinical support to caregivers, facilitates communication between families and agency staff, contributes to recruitment and training initiatives, and upholds all legislative, policy, and service expectations to ensure safe, culturally grounded, and quality care for children and youth.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical:
- Respond to telephone enquiries providing information about Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services, the Alternative Care Program, Home Study Assessment process, and the challenges of Alternative Care, Customary Care and Adoption.
- Complete and assess Heart & Spirit, Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) or Indigenous Family Development Assessment (IFDA) on prospective applicants, including each member of their family, extended family, and/or boarders if applicable.
- Respect the First Nation’s internal process for Customary Care and ensure ongoing consultation with First Nations Designated Persons.
- Manage an assigned caseload according to Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family services standards with specific attention to post placement interview feedback to respond to separation issues as well as providing and receiving constructive feedback.
- Assist the Alternative Care, Customary Care family in adapting to the changing treatment needs of the child to maximize the Alternative Care, Customary and Adoptive family’s skills, and competencies to ensure a high quality of care.
- Liaise between the Alternative Care, Customary Care family and Agency staff to facilitate communication and problem solve accordingly. You’ll represent the views of Alternative Care, Customary Care and Adoptive parents when required.
- Respond to requests from Alternative Care, Customary Care parents for support within a 24-hour period, assist Alternative Care, Customary Care parents in identifying issues, engage them in constructive problem solving and provide emotional support.
- Advocate on behalf of Alternative Care, Customary Care parents for additional resources when required.
- Complete annual evaluations in collaboration with Alternative Care and Customary Care parents including an assessment of their competencies, skill development, strengths and weaknesses, goals, specific training needs and home safety.
- Manage performance concerns and recommend closure of Alternative Care and Customary Care homes when required.
- Recommend the reclassification of Alternative Care and Customary Care homes when appropriate.
- Support Alternative Care, Customary Care families during investigations and complaints and implement disciplinary contracts /letters of understanding with respect to changes required in the Alternative Care, Customary Care home when necessary.
- Provide support to Alternative Care, Customary Care parents during responsible occurrence investigations as per Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services’ policies and procedures manual.
- Participate in the resolution of service complaints/issues, incidents and serious occurrences and provide support to the Alternative Care and Customary Care parents in cases throughout the formal complaint and implements disciplinary letters of understanding with respect to changes required by Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services personnel in the Alternative Care and Customary Care home, where necessary.
- Provide regular consultation about the availability of Alternative Care and Customary Care homes and their capacity to care for children and youth and their preferences.
- Participate as an active member of the Alternative Care, Customary Care team, attend, and provide input at team meetings, admission and planning conferences and plans of care.
- Assist Alternative Care and Customary Care homes in working through the Adoption process with children when required. This includes supporting the natural child/ren and assisting the family through the Ad
