Advocacy Officer - One-year term

SP5 Social Services Worker 5

Term positions greater than 6 months/full-time

One-year term

Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth

Advocacy Services

Winnipeg MB

Advertisement Number: 36797

Salary(s):   SP5 $64,721.00 - $87,851.00 per year

Closing Date:   November 8, 2020

The Manitoba government recognizes the importance of building an exemplary public service reflective of the citizens it serves, where diverse abilities, backgrounds, cultures, identities, languages and perspectives drives a high standard of service and innovation. The Manitoba government supports equitable employment practices and promotes representation of designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities).

Employment Equity is a factor in selection for this competition. Consideration will be given to Indigenous people, visible minorities and persons with disabilities.

An eligibility list may be created for similar positions and will remain in effect for 6 months.

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly and is independent of government. The Manitoba Advocate’s statutory mandate includes representing the rights, interests, and viewpoints of children, youth, and young adults receiving any designated or reviewable services as described under The Advocate for Children and Youth Act. The Manitoba Advocate also reviews and reports upon the standards and quality of those reviewable and designated services provided to children, youth, and young adults who have died, to educate the public and to enhance the safety and well-being of Manitoba children, youth, and young adults.

 

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada

• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check, Prior Contact Check, Child Abuse Registry Check and Adult Abuse Registry Check
• Valid Manitoba Driver’s License, access to a vehicle, ability and willingness to travel throughout Manitoba

 

Qualifications:
Essential Criteria:

• Post-secondary degree or graduate degree (preferred) in social work or other relevant field appropriate to the position with several years’ experience in a service field that provided direct service to children,  youth, or young adults, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Registered as a Social Worker with the Manitoba College of Social Workers or eligible to be registered as a Social Worker; equivalent education, experience and eligibility for registration with a regulatory body may be considered.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of provincial child and youth serving public systems, including services/systems such as child and family, youth justice, addictions, disabilities, mental health, education, and victim support, including associated regulations and standards.
• Superior knowledge and understanding of other programs, policies and legislation (federal and provincial) serving Manitoba’s children, youth, and young adults, particularly government programs and structures as defined in Part 3 of The Advocate for Children and Youth Act.
• Experience acting in an advocacy capacity for children, youth and young adults with a knowledge of children's rights. 
• Exceptional negotiating, problem solving, dispute resolution and mediation skills; experience in resolving issues at many different levels (interpersonally and systemically).
• Superior verbal communication skills with the ability to deliver presentations to large groups and to communicate effectively with individual children, youth and their families.
• Strong written communication skills including experience writing comprehensive reports.
• Working knowledge and understanding of the lives of Indigenous peoples and the aims and objectives of Indigenous communities, as well as other diverse cultures with respect to the provision of culturally appropriate services. 
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage high volume work load with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement with significant independence within the parameters of the ACYO mandate, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain strict confidentiality and use of diplomacy and discretion when dealing with children, youth, their families, and the general public.

 

Desired Criteria:

• Ability to communicate in one of Manitoba's Indigenous languages.
• Ability to use and knowledge of automated management information and case tracking systems and word processing software.

 
The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth is looking for candidates who are willing to work on a flexible schedule to cover office demands and when travelling for work related purposes. 

 

Duties:
Reporting to the Program Manager, Advocacy Services, or designate, the incumbent acts as an Advocacy Officer in providing advocacy services to, or on behalf of children youth, and young adults throughout the province of Manitoba who are receiving, or entitled to receive designated services as described in The Advocate for Children and Youth Act. The Advocacy Officer shall receive, assess, and prioritize all requests for advocacy services (case and systemic) concerning children, youth, and young adults and/or a group of children, youth and young adults receiving designated services.  The Advocacy Officer, through the use of alternative dispute resolution strategies shall provide advocacy services assisting the child, youth, young adult, family and other natural advocates inclusive of community organizations, to develop their own advocacy strategies. The Advocacy Officer shall also provide alternative dispute resolution services involving contentious service delivery problems that require program and service delivery expertise; assisting communities (members and organizations) to develop their own advocacy strategies and/or systems. Conducting inquiries, making recommendations to the Advocate for Children and Youth on objectives, policies, and procedures, particularly as they relate to the resolution of issues raised by or on behalf of children, youth, or young adults.  The Advocacy Officer will complete public education and community development activities as assigned by the Advocate for Children and Youth.

 

Apply to:

Applicants may request reasonable accommodation related to the materials or activities used throughout the selection process. When applying to this position, please indicate the advertisement number and position title in the subject line and/or body of your email. Your cover letter, resumé and/or application must clearly indicate how you meet the qualifications.

Please be advised that job competitions for represented positions may be grieved by internal represented applicants. Should a selection grievance be filed, information from the competition file will be provided to the grievor's representative. Personal information irrelevant to the grievance and other information protected under legislation will be redacted.

We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

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