The Department of Health and Social Services works under the direction of the Minister and Deputy Minister, in partnership with the Health and Social Services Authorities, to support the health and wellbeing of people across the NWT through planning, development, evaluation and reporting on program and service delivery.  

HSS is committed to the development and provision of quality services in such a way as to make the best use of public resources, ensure the sustainability of the system, focus on client safety and best practices and promote positive health and social outcomes. HSS strives to continually improve the health and social service system to ensure best health, best care, and a better future for the people of the NWT.

The Quality Specialist for CFS and Adoptions Services will lead the development of key standards, protocols, and policies that drive child and family services and adoptions services best practices across the NWT. The position is required to research national and international best practices in service delivery to ensure NWT standards, protocols and policies, and tools are rooted in quality practices. The incumbent will facilitate the implementation of policies, standards, protocols, and tools, by providing education and support to staff, and will perform quality improvement and quality assurance activities to ensure safe care to children, youth, and families, including but not limited to the auditing of all CFS and Adoptions Services work sites across the NWT.  The incumbent will work closely with the leadership of all three HSSAs delivering CFS and Adoptions Services in the NWT to ensure system quality within our northern context. 

The Quality Specialist for CFS and Adoptions Services plays a critical role in supporting the successful adoption of children in the NWT, especially that of children and youth in the permanent care of the Statutory Director. The incumbent also supports the facilitation of international adoptions, private adoptions, inter-provincial adoptions, step-parent adoptions, post adoption (referring to supports and services to adoptive families, children and youth after adoptions take place) and offers support to Custom Adoption Commissioners who process custom adoptions in the NWT.  The incumbent is an expert in adoptions, post adoption policy, and service delivery and will advise the Statutory Director and Registrar of the Adoptions Registry (CFS/Adoptions) regarding the development and sustainability of a healthy and well-functioning adoption and post adoption system in the NWT.

The Quality Specialist for CFS and Adoptions Services will further provide decision making support to complex individual cases, with the special perspective that includes thorough knowledge and understanding of CFS and Adoptions Services legislation, standards, procedures, policies, risk management, quality management and related legal and ethical considerations. This portfolio involves supporting children and youth with extremely challenging behaviors, who have experienced significant emotional trauma related to abuse and/or neglect and may have a variety of complex medical conditions. As part of their duties, the incumbent will also be required to manage conflicts on a variety of different levels and coordinate placement services for multiple complex cases. 

This position is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.  The incumbent would be required to live and work in Yellowknife, NT. A hybrid/remote work plan is not a possibility. 

Key Responsibilities

• Leads the design and development of CFS and Adoptions Services System Standards, Procedures, Policies, and Directives on behalf of the Director.
• Researches best practices in CFS and Adoptions Services across Canada and internationally, including practices in northern jurisdictions and jurisdictions serving Indigenous populations.
• Monitors and evaluates the quality of care provided by the CFS and Adoptions Services systems and leads or supports strategic approaches in quality improvement and quality assurance.
• Conducts formal, validated NWT CFS and Adoptions Services system audits, to assess CFS and Adoptions Services effectiveness; and compliance with CFS and Adoptions Services standards, procedures, policies, directives.
• Provides direction, and/or support and advice to HSSAs, including senior and middle management, and frontline staff, to effectively address complex CFS quality and risk issues.
• May be responsible for performing the duties of Deputy Registrar under the Adoptions Act and the regulations.
• Oversees the monitoring, coordination, training and Appointment of Custom Adoption Commissioners under the NWT Aboriginal Custom Adoption and Reconciliation Act. 

Qualifications Required

• A Bachelor of Social Work Degree and three (3) years of direct experience in Child and Family Services and/or Adoptions Services.
• Equivalencies may include:
• A Master's of Social Work and two (2) years of direct experience in Child and Family Services and/or Adoptions Services.
• A Diploma in Social Work and five (5) years of direct experience in Child and Family Services and/or Adoptions Services.
• A Social Science Degree and five (5) years of direct experience in Child and Family Services and/or Adoptions Services.
• A related degree in Quality Assurance and/or Evaluation, with two (2) years of experience in a social services environment and three (3) years of experience in Quality Assurance, Performance Measurement and/or Evaluation.

Inquiries Only:

Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR  
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel (867) 767-9154 Extension 14106
Fax (867) 873-0445
jobsyk@gov.nt.ca

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.