First Nations Community Claims Helper
Settlement Communications
About the role:
This role is dedicated to providing claim form assistance to individuals residing in First Nations communities. Applicants should be from or have a deep understanding of First Nations communities within British Columbia, Yukon, N.W.T., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick. Regular travel to First Nations communities is required.
About Castlemain
Castlemain, as a division of Believeco:Partners, works for and with Indigenous organizations and communities. We strive to build meaningful and productive relationships that serve the needs of our clients, and we are proud that many of our new clients choose to work with us on a repeat basis. Based on our expertise, our services are also sought after by all levels of government. With offices on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam in Vancouver, our team consists of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals who bring together diverse backgrounds in communications and engagement, policy development, natural resource management, and sustainable economic development. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in the work we undertake.
An equitable employer:
Castlemain is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms, a commitment that enriches our company culture, the ideas that we generate, and the quality of service that we provide our clients. We encourage applications from Indigenous communities, racialized communities, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ people, and people from other historically marginalized communities.
Castlemain is committed to providing employment accommodation under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility Disabilities Act provincially by providing employment accommodations. If you are a job applicant with a disability, Castlemain will make every effort to accommodate you throughout the recruitment process. Please inform us if you require any accommodation, and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Due to the nature of the work and the people we will be helping to serve as well as the colleagues that you will be working with, we will require people who can operate in both English and French if hired Quebec.
General Responsibilities:
- Support Class Members through a trauma informed and culturally safe approach while accessing Claim Form support.
- Collaborate and work closely with other Claims Helpers in your specific region to ensure supports are being received in the most appropriate way.
- Collaborate with other Claims Helpers in your region to fill any potential gaps in support being offered.
- Develop relationships with local and surrounding First Nations, Band Councils, friendship centres and organizations, and community members.
- Provide Claimants with assistance in checking the status of their Claims and appealing Adjudicator decisions.
- Assist Claimants in completing claim forms, connecting them with existing mental health, legal, and cultural support services.
- Ensure Class Members understand the Claims Process and milestones of the settlement.
- Participate in multiple training sessions, including e-courses, de-briefings, and self-directed learning classes to ensure that individuals are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to provide effective claims support for the FNCFSJP Settlement Claims Process.
- Able to adapt to new changes and pivot when needed.
We're looking for someone with:
- 3+ years of experience working with communities.
- Strong knowledge and awareness of Indigenous culture, history, and the impacts of (intergenerational) trauma.
- An in-depth understanding of colonial policies, discriminatory laws and the impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples and communities.
- The ability to build relationships and trust with class members and communities to ensure clear communication is delivered.
- An understanding the governance structure of Indigenous communities.
- An intermediate understanding of technology and various online platforms.
- Ability to travel across Canada.
- Self-identifying as Indigenous and/or having first-hand knowledge or experience living in and/or working with an Indigenous community will be considered an asset.
Company Benefits:
Company benefits provided for full-time roles after the 90-day probationary period include health, dental, life, and disability, an Employee Assistance Program, a Flex Health Spending Account under MyHSA, and a cell phone benefit. Please note that the health, dental, EAP and flex benefits are 100% employer paid. All full-time roles will begin with 3 weeks of vacation, to be accrued.
Compensation Range:
About the project: First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement
On October 24, 2023, the Federal Court approved the Settlement Agreement for the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle (FNCFSJP) Class Action (the Settlement). The Settlement Agreement includes $23.34 billion in compensation for impacted First Nations individuals and some of their family members.
This agreement intends to compensate those harmed by discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services program and those impacted by the federal government’s narrow interpretation of Jordan’s Principle.
The Caregiving Parents or the Caregiving Grandparents of children who were removed from their homes or denied access to an essential service may also be able to receive compensation.
Castlemain’s role in implementing the FNCFSJP Settlement – Claims Helper Program is to assist the Claims Administrator in providing claim form assistance to Class Members in the Claims Process as outlined in the Settlement Agreement Schedule I, Framework for Supports for Claimants in Compensation Process in a culturally safe and trauma informed way. Our guiding purpose is to provide compassionate and skillful Claim Form assistance to Class Members. We offer practical support by helping with the completion of Claim Forms, providing information to help Claimants understand the details of the Settlement and Claims Process, and fostering supportive interactions with Claimants throughout. Furthermore, we are dedicated to ensuring that Claimants are well-informed about the wellness support and resources available to them.
At Castlemain, we recognize that the best candidate may not meet all the criteria listed above. We encourage all those interested and with relevant experience to apply even if you don’t match the job posting perfectly. We welcome creative, out-of-the-box thinking, and lived-experience and we strive to provide an environment for best-in-class innovation that quickly and fulsomely meets our clients’ needs.
Castlemain is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its forms, a commitment that enriches our company culture, the ideas that we generate, and the quality of service that we provide our clients.