Guardianship Team Leader at Scw’exmx… · Merritt

CLOSING DATE: June 10, 2026 at noon

This position is scheduled on an alternating, compressed 4-day work week. The successful candidate must be able to work a rotating schedule in alignment with operational requirements.

POSITION SUMMARY

Scw’exmx Child and Family Services Society (SCFSS) is seeking a knowledgeable, culturally grounded, and people‑centred leader to serve as the Guardianship Team Leader.

Reporting to the Resource & Guardianship Manager, this role provides day‑to‑day leadership, supervision, and practice guidance to the Guardianship team delivering services to children and youth in care under delegated authority. The Guardianship Team Leader plays a critical role in ensuring guardianship practice is legally sound, timely, culturally grounded, and aligned with the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA), MCFD policy, and SCFSS practice frameworks.

This position supports Guardianship and High‑Risk Youth Social Workers in carrying out the legal, relational, and cultural responsibilities of guardianship, including care planning, permanency planning, placement stability, and transitions for children and youth in care. The Guardian­ship Team Leader contributes to SCFSS’s strategic shift from Protection to Prevention, while fostering staff well‑being, consistent documentation, and culturally safe practice environments grounded in nłeʔkepmx and syilx values.

OVERVIEW OF DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide day‑to‑day supervision, coaching, mentorship, and practice guidance to Guardianship Social Workers, the High‑Risk Youth Social Worker, and the Case Aide.
• Ensure guardianship practice aligns with CFCSA, delegated authority requirements, MCFD policy, and SCFSS operational and strategic priorities.
• Support staff in the completion, analysis, and documentation of Plans of Care, permanency plans, placement oversight, and court‑related guardianship responsibilities.
• Escalate complex, high‑risk, or legally sensitive matters to the Resource & Guardianship Manager as required.
• Monitor caseload distribution, workload pressures, court timelines, and service demands to support safe, timely, and sustainable practice.
• Provide daily case consultation and problem‑solving support to promote consistent, trauma‑informed, and culturally grounded guardianship practice.
• Support coordination and transitions between Guardianship, Resource (Caregiver), Intake, and Family Services to promote continuity of care and placement stability.
• Collaborate with Prevention Team Leaders to support coordinated service planning and family‑centred supports aligned with SCFSS’s shift from protection to prevention.
• Support the implementation of practice improvements and quality recommendations identified through supervision, file review, or Quality Assurance processes.
• Promote adherence to SCFSS policies, procedures, Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S), and emergency management protocols.
• Foster respectful, collaborative working relationships with caregivers, community partners, and internal teams to support culturally safe, child‑centred service delivery.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Strong knowledge of guardianship, children‑in‑care practice, and delegated authority decision‑making.
• Sensitivity to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, including residential schools and child welfare systems, and the ability to apply this understanding in practice leadership.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills with the ability to support staff through complex, high‑risk, and emotionally demanding work.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor staff using trauma‑informed, strengths‑based, and culturally safe supervision practices.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, including familiarity with court‑related and permanency timelines.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and support decision‑making under pressure.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a clear Criminal Record Check and Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) Prior Contact Check.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and provide a current driver’s abstract.
• Availability to participate in after‑hours consultation or on‑call responsibilities as required by operational needs.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) is required.
• Registration, or eligibility for registration, with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW) is preferred.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in guardianship, children‑in‑care, or delegated child protection services, including direct experience working with children and youth in care.
• Current C6 Delegation, or demonstrated ability to obtain C6 Delegation within a specified timeframe, as required.
• Demonstrated experience with care planning, permanency planning, placement oversight, and court‑related guardianship responsibilities.
• Experience working with older children and youth, including youth with complex needs or high‑risk behaviours, is strongly preferred.
• Previous experience in a senior practitioner, acting team leader, mentor, or supervisory support role is considered an asset.
• Strong working knowledge of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) and MCFD guardianship and children‑in‑care policy.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous children, youth, and families using culturally informed, strengths‑based, and relational approaches.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, community partners, and service providers to support coordinated family services is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge and professional or personal practice of nłeʔkepmx and syilx traditional values, cultural practices, and protocols is an asset

MINIMUM REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Indigenous Knowledge: applied knowledge of nłeʔkepmx and syilx traditional values, protocols, culture and language; sensitivity to the historical and systemic impacts on Indigenous families and communities from intergenerational trauma
• Critical Thinking: analytical, methodical, fact-based decision-making, with a capacity for creative problem solving, and considering diverse perspectives
• Business and Strategic Acumen: proficient in business and strategic concepts in application to SCFSS
• Communication: facilitation and presentation skills, professional business writing, and ability to communicate clearly and confidently with diverse audiences
• Motivation: self-motivated, capable of effectively motivating others and, high productivity
• Time Management: highly organized, ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, delegate responsibilities and coordinate multiple tasks to achieve goals
• Conflict Resolution: anticipates, diffuses, and resolves conflicts while fostering a positive work environment