Summary
Description
THE CHILDREN’S COTTAGE SOCIETY: CRISIS NURSERY
INTAKE FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER
Competition #CN-IFSW
The Children’s Cottage Society is a charitable agency established in Calgary in 1986. The Society’s mission is “Building strong children and safe nurturing families through prevention programs and support services” and our vision is “Resilient children blossom in healthy families.”
The Crisis Nursery provides 24-hour care for three-day periods for up to 20 children under the age of nine when their families are in crisis and have no other alternatives for childcare help.
The Intake Family Support Worker will ensure that parents receive respite and crisis support services necessary to meet their needs.
This position consists of a 4 day on/4 day off rotation which includes weekdays, weekends, and statutory holidays (with the exception of Christmas).
Hours: 12:00pm-10:00pm.
Location: 1804 Home Road Calgary, Alberta T3B 1H1
Compensation: $52,000 per year
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum diploma in a Human Service Field preferably Social Work Degree
- Experience dealing with crisis situations. Solution Focused training an asset.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Screening:
- Take respite requests and crisis calls from parents, offering supportive and non-judgmental assistance to all families.
- Over the phone, interview parents in an empathic and supportive manner to assess:
- Need for service and current crisis information
- Family strength
- Community and family support systems
- Risk factors
- Child’s health, socialization development, cognitive and physical abilities
- Parent’s ability to cope with crisis
- Parent’s desire or ability to resume care of children
Utilizes assessment information to determine:
-
- Length of required childcare respite
- Type of required childcare respite
- Match with appropriate and available respite option
- Assess for risk of suicide and put in place intervention strategies.
- Referrals to specific respite program at Children’s Cottage Society (VDC/DR/ON) as well as appropriate referrals to other community resources (food bank, interfaith clothing, etc.)
Coordinates with CIIRT (Child Intake Intervention Response Team) and PUC (Placement Unit Coordinators) to:
- Admit child/ren to Crisis Nursery under “Delegation of Power” form.
- Request beds for child/ren) that are classified as in care due to either apprehension or a custody agreement.
Interacts with children and parents during admission, discharge and follow-up:
- Conduct direct supportive, educational intervention to promote family growth and change including solution focused strategies, crisis intervention and skill modeling.
- Develop a short-term goal plan while the child(ren) stay at the Crisis Nursery and connect to ongoing support.
- Liaison and advocacy on behalf of families to informal and formal community support systems.
- Identify the physical, behavioral and emotional indicators of both inter familial and extra familial abuse; assess the risk to a child remaining in the home.
- Consult with Child and Family Services and other professionals during investigations when deemed necessary.
- Develop collaborative relationships with families and other professionals. When applicable, conduct joint planning and delivery of service for families.
Documentation:
- In collaboration with families identify goals which will be documented.
- Document all interactions with Parents and Professionals.
- Complete admission and discharge packages with families.
- Input data into NewOrg database and other tracking systems
Communications:
- Understand all programs at the Children’s Cottage Society.
- To be aware of staffing and volunteers present.
- Communicate admission and discharge times to CSWs.
- Communicate necessary information to CSW’s before admissions i.e., illnesses and other conditions such as lice, school transport, temporary discharge, etc.
- Maintain an overall awareness of what is happening at the Crisis Nursery.
- Share relevant information and work in co-operation with Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Supervisor, CCW’s/CSW’s
- Maintain a working knowledge of Calgary and Area Resources.
- Participate in other program-related areas as assigned by the Supervisor, Manager, Executive Director, or the Board of Directors.
What We Offer:
In addition to having the opportunity to work for an energetic, progressive, and community focused organization and with a workforce of diverse, committed individuals, we offer the following benefits:
- Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision benefits.
- An annual Health Spending Account
- RRSP Contribution Plan
- Prioritizing wellness in the workplace and a psychologically safe work environment
Pre-Employment Requirements:
- A Police Information Check is required upon commencement of employment (Note: it is recommended to apply for your Police Check early as to avoid delays in Employment. Please refer to: Police Information Checks).
- A Child Intervention Record Check is required upon commencement of employment (Note: it is recommended to apply early to avoid delays in Employment. Please refer to Child Intervention Checks Alberta)
- Applicants must provide proof of qualifications prior to Job Offer. Education obtained from out of country must have documentation of equivalency.
- Must be eligible to work in Canada.
Application Deadline: July 21, 2025
We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, we will only contact those
applicants selected for an interview. No phone calls please.
Please submit your cover letter and resume by email to: careers@childrenscottage.ab.ca
Please quote Competition #CN-IFSW when submitting your resume and cover letter.
For more information about the Children’s Cottage Society, please visit our website: www.childrenscotttage.ab.ca
