Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Family Liaison Officer Terms of Reference

Transcription

1 1.0 Family Liaison/Family Support Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Family Liaison Officer Terms of Reference 1.1 Physically located within the Canadian Forces (CF) Integrated Personnel Support Centre (IPSC), a family liaison/family support function has been established to support the IPSC team in delivering standardized yet tailored, consistent care, service and support to families of CF personnel coping with illness, an injury, and/or special need, or who have died while serving. 1.2 The Family Liaison Officer will be centrally funded through Director Military Family Services (DMFS) and under the management and supervision of the local MFRC. 2.0 Essential Duties 2.1 The Family Liaison Officer will: Tailor the entire suite of Military Family Services Program (MFSP) services to respond to the needs of families of CF personnel who are coping with an illness, injury and/or special need, or who have died while serving; Be a member of the Assisting Officer (AO) Disengagement Team; Advocate on behalf of families of CF personnel who are coping with an illness, injury and/or special need, or who have died while serving; Provide or support the development of educational and awareness sessions, briefings, and resources pertaining to: bereavement, transition; change management; crisis management; family violence; impact of injury; etc.; Support/counsel family members in crisis or imminent crisis; Maintain and develop strong community partnerships with both civilian and military organizations; Conduct group and individual counselling sessions to support families of CF personnel who are coping with an illness, injury and/or special need, or who have died while serving; Assist families of CF personnel who are coping with an illness, injury and/or special need, or who have died while serving, in their navigation of, and access to, relevant programs and services; Collaborate on the coordination and provision of general information briefs for chain of command, CF personnel, and CF communities; and Provide interim support and make appropriate referrals to relevant service providers. 3.0 Knowledge, Education and Skill Requirements 3.1 To fulfill the Family Liaison Officer duties as outlined above, it is anticipated that MFRCs will require a committed, specialized resource(s). A-1/4

2 3.2 The specialist(s) will be employed by the local MFRC, with the Board of Directors responsible for determining the specific job description and salary scale. To appropriately fulfill the Family Liaison Officer duties, however, the following education and skill requirements are recommended: Minimum Bachelor of Social Work and eligible for registration within their professional designation; Exceptional understanding of the unique military life-style issues facing CF families; Full understanding of MFRC programs and services to appropriately provide referrals to services and supports (e.g. Emergency/Respite/Casualty Support/Casual Child Care, Employment Assistance, etc); Thorough understanding of CF communities, systems, policies and practices in order to effectively assist families in accessing appropriate services and supports; Knowledge of civilian/provincial agencies and organizations with applicable support services and programs; Understanding of, and ability to use, strength based philosophy and approach; Exceptional organizational and inter-personal skills; and Bilingual capacity, an asset. 4.0 s, Objectives and 4.1 The MFRC Family Liaison Officer function will provide services and programs to accomplish the following MFSP outcomes in relation to supporting families of CF personnel coping with illness, an injury, and/or special need, or who have died while serving: Education and Prevention Provide education and awareness about general and unique health and lifestyle stressors associated with grief, occupational injuries, illness, special needs and casualty support. - Individuals and families are educated about general and unique health and lifestyle stress; - Individuals and families are educated about unique challenges of the military lifestyle; - Individuals and families have and use strategies to prevent crisis; - Individuals and families have and use strategies to manage general and unique health and lifestyle stressors; and - Individuals and families have access to information and resources related to the prevention of family violence, change management, transition, grief and injury management. A-2/4

3 - Offer workshops about general and unique health and lifestyle stress. - Organize information sessions and briefings. - Collect and make available web-based and print resources relating to bereavement, stress management, lifestyle transition and injury management. - Collaborate with other CF and community services Self Help Groups Connect individuals and families to others for mutual support and help. - Family members have opportunities to share common experiences and to develop peer support networks; - Participants are involved in the planning, design, facilitation and evaluation of groups; and - Individuals feel connected and supported - Establish ongoing links with community-based self-help groups. - Facilitate self-help groups to help individuals cope with grief, separation and divorce; single parenting; critical incidents; casualty support; injury management; lifestyle transitions; etc related to impact of occupational injury, illness, special needs and/or casualty management Assessment and Referral Families are aware of and have access to information on relevant programs and services to help them cope with bereavement, or the injury, illness and/or special need of their family member. - Family members develop a better understanding of their assets and needs through the assessment process; - Family members are referred to appropriate community services and resources; - Family members are supported throughout the referral process; - Family members deal effectively with their concerns; and - Community resources are responsive and appropriate. - Provide intake/assessment services. - Provide pertinent referral information to CF families. - Establish and maintain a database of community services that provide counselling, support and assistance to families. - Establish ongoing working relationships with other local/regional MFRC/IPSC/agencies/organizations to facilitate referrals and the exchange of information. A-3/4

4 4.1.4 Short-Term Intervention/Crisis Support Support individuals and families in times of crisis or imminent crisis. - Family members have access to immediate and appropriate support and intervention in times of crisis or imminent crisis; - Follow-up and ongoing support is available to families in times of crisis or imminent crisis; and - Family members feel supported during crisis or imminent crisis. - Offer or arrange prompt intervention assistance to individuals and families in crisis or imminent crisis. - Facilitate referral to appropriate agencies/organizations. - Provide follow-up and ongoing support as required Casualty Support Child Care Provide child care to support the recuperation and capacity of families in the event CF personnel become ill, injured or die while serving. - Families of CF personnel who are ill, injured or who have died while serving have access to child care support; - Child care services are available to support the rehabilitation of CF personnel; and - Child care services are available to relieve the burden of a grieving family. - Coordinate the provision of child care services. 5.0 Related Policies/Resources CANFORGEN 104/08 Stand up of Units for the Care of Injured and Ill CF Personnel CFAO Canadian Forces Social Work CFAO CF Military Family Support Program DAOD Issue and Crisis Management DAOD Mental Health DAOD Injured Members and Military Casualties DAOD Families DAOD Family Violence MFSP Parameters for Practice A-4/4

5 Joint Personnel Support Unit/Integrated Personnel Support Centre A-5/4