Senior Indigenous Advisor VAIW

Job Information

Overall Purpose

Reporting to the Superintendent, the Senior Advisor - Violence Against Indigenous Women (VAIW) is responsible for supporting the OPS to serve the Indigenous community in addressing specific incidents of violence against Indigenous women and supporting OPS and the Indigenous community. 

Through community partnerships, pro-actively works to address root causes of violence against Indigenous women through an Indigenous and trauma-informed approach to help improve and enhance Ottawa Police Service’s prevention, response and victim / survivor supports to Indigenous women including:

• Fostering and advocating for enhanced collaboration and communication between police and Indigenous community partners addressing issues related to violence against Indigenous women.
• Serving as an Indigenous VAW resource (advisor) to OPS staff and leadership, primarily through linking OPS to expertise and partners in the Indigenous community in Ottawa.
• Supporting the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition including sitting on the Indigenous Women’s Safety Table (IWST) representing OPS in the implementation of the Indigenous Women’s Safety Table workplan and other OPS initiatives related to Indigenous women’s safety.
• Supporting the OPS VAW Advisory Committee to establish a relationship with the Indigenous VAW sector through processes led by the Indigenous community, including the IWST.
• Promoting a data / intelligence-led approach to better identify gaps and engage in problem solving with the Indigenous community and OPS to ensure a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder response to VAIW matters.
   

Major Responsibilities

Foster and advocate for enhanced collaboration and communication between police and Indigenous community partners addressing issues related to violence against Indigenous women.

• Bridge OPS efforts with the work of Indigenous organizations.
• Serve as an Indigenous advisor to OPS leadership and OPS staff and on various committees as requested.
• Establish positive working relationships with Indigenous organizations that support victims / survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and anti-human trafficking.
• Develop and maintain open lines of communication between police and Indigenous organizations serving victims / survivors.
• Establish on-going relationships and collaboration with social services, victim services, Family Information Units Ontario, Indigenous media outlets, the City of Ottawa and Indigenous community organizations. 
• Attend and represent OPS/VAIW at Indigenous community events/meetings with partners and stakeholders.
• Serve and be recognized by the Indigenous community as the Indigenous lead and point of contact for the VAW Sector.

Serve as an Indigenous VAW resource (advisor) to OPS staff and leadership, primarily through linking OPS to expertise and partners in the Indigenous community in Ottawa.

• Work with various OPS sections, in consultation with the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, to conduct reviews of relevant policies, Standard Operating Procedures, practices, training, and systemic barriers to recommend improvements and enhancement from a trauma-informed, victim/survivor-centric perspective.
• Collaborate with all OPS community liaison positions in areas of mutual interest, including the senior advisor VAW, the Human Trafficking Liaison Officer and the Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
• Support the creation of a database of relevant organizations and agencies with details of services provided and contact information. 
• Serve as an Indigenous advisor on VAIW for police leadership at all levels, and areas such as recruitment, training, community relations and development, policies and procedures, data, reporting and accountability as well as front line.  
• Review and contribute to provide culturally relevant communications on internal and external media releases related to VAIW.
• And any other additional tasks as identified and required by your Officer in Charge/Supervisor
   

Support the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition work including sitting on the Indigenous Women’s Safety Table representing OPS in the implementation of the Indigenous Women’s Safety Table workplan and other OPS initiatives related to Indigenous women’s safety.

• Support the OPS VAW Advisory Committee to establish a relationship with the Indigenous VAW sector through processes led by the Indigenous community, including the IWST.
• Promote and implement the workplan associated with the OAC Indigenous Women’s Safety Table
• Assist with the implementation and progress reporting to the OAC / and OPS priorities as it relates to Indigenous people.
• Coordinate OPS updates and follow up on tasks to report back to the OAC and OPS leadership.
• Assist with the coordination of resources, problem solving and mitigating risks associated with the OAC Indigenous Women’s Safety Table workplan and its objectives.
   

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Co-lead the coordination of the Violence Against Women Advocate Case Reviews and Documentation with the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.
Co-lead the coordination and report on the VAW Advocate case reviews (domestic violence and sexual violence) processes.

• Provide leadership and support training for participating Indigenous organizations and reviewers.
• Develop proper tools and resources to support the review of Indigenous files.
• Co-lead the coordination and distribution of case review assessments and prepare reports on trends, patterns, and issues.
• Follow up with OPS on the implementation of recommendations and communicate changes to the Indigenous organizations involved in the review.

Promote a data / intelligence-led approach to better identify gaps and engage in problem solving with the Indigenous community and OPS to ensure a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder response to VAIW.

• Collaborate with OPS Business Performance to develop and implement a data/communications framework for data related to VAIW to allow for the regular monitoring and sharing of information with the Indigenous community. 
• Ensure accountability, transparency, and responsiveness to victims / survivors of violence and to the community through the development of regular reporting with the possible requirement for an annual report to the Indigenous community and other appropriate performance measurement indicators. 
• Analyze the data on a cyclical basis and flag issues, concerns, and opportunities.
• Assess and ensure the quality of relevant data, indicators, and statistics, and propose new indicators relevant to VAIW.
• Prepare reports, analysis of information and other communications, identifying positive and/or adverse trends, and recommending actions to address these trends.
   

Major Responsibilities (continued)

Statement of Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

Successful completion of master’s degree in social work, counselling psychology, health or social sciences or an equivalent combination of education and significant related experience.
Experience and formal training combined may substitute for stipulated education requirements. 
Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in and knowledge of victim / survivor issues surrounding violence against indigenous women, gender-based violence, sexual violence, and crisis management working in the VAW/GBV sector and/or gender equality including:

• Developing partnerships and working collaboratively with partners.
• Proven experience and knowledge of indigenous victim / survivor experience with police and with advocacy with police.
• Experience and familiarity with the Criminal Justice System and the Canadian Victim Bill of Rights.
• Project coordination / management experience.
• Experience analyzing data and statistics and preparing professional reports for presentation to Senior Management / Board or Directors or an overseeing civilian body.
• Building consensus and navigating between competing mandates and find common ground.
• Establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with other community-based organizations.
• Demonstrated flexibility and effectiveness with a rapidly changing environment, short deadlines, and multiple programs’ needs.
• Experience that demonstrates a commitment to a gender equality and anti-oppression framework.

Language:

Fluency in oral, reading and writing in English and French.

Certifications and Licences

N/A

In service Training

The following mandatory training and education is provided to all civilian Supervisors of the OPS:

• Occupational Health & Safety.
• Respectful Workplace. 
• Violence in the Workplace.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
• Ethics, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• Active Bystander Law Enforcement (ABLE).

The incumbent will be expected to continue professional development through attendance at meetings, professional seminars, and conferences.
All employees of the OPS are expected to complete all additional and new mandatory training as prescribed by the Office of the Chief.
 

Job Knowledge

Knowledge of Provincial policy on Violence Against Women and the Criminal Justice System. 
Knowledge of dynamics of violence in domestic abuse, intimate relationships, criminal harassment, including any unique challenges to the Indigenous Community.   
Knowledge of the “Loi sur les services en français » and of francophone services available in the community 
Working knowledge of: 

• OPS mission, vision, and values.
• OPS Standard Software; MS Office Software including Excel and PowerPoint.
• The Canadian Victim Bill of Rights and the Child and Youth Services Act.

Advanced level of knowledge of community resources available to victims/survivors of violence.
 

OPS Competencies

Hours of Work

Effort and Working Conditions

• Work is normally performed in a standard office environment with minimal adverse working conditions.
• The incumbent must be able to work shifts as designated in the “Hours of Work” section of the job description.
• The nature of the job may occasionally lead to situations involving strong conflicting opinions and intense emotions.
• Frequent travel within the National Capital Regional to achieve stated objectives and support community partners and stakeholders is required. 
   

Desired Qualifications

Oral, reading and writing fluency in other languages.
Previous experience working for a Police or comparable organization.