Job Description

Competition # : 38130

Department: Community Services

Location: TRURO

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 3/2/2023 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

At the , we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child Youth and Family Support (CYFS), Employment Support (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support (DSP).

As a Social Worker with DCS, you will have endless opportunity to positively impact the lives of vulnerable children and families. You will build everlasting relationships within your community, and work in an environment where you are supported to be creative and challenged. At the Department of Community Services (DCS) we are a large and diverse department where you have access to continued professional and personal growth and learning.

What We Offer

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• Reimbursement for registration fees to the NS College of Social Workers.
• Flexible working arrangements including modified work weeks and an ability to partially work from home.
• Career possibilities and progression, career guidance and coaching, and ongoing training for every stage of your journey.
• Rewarding and versatile work where you will see the impacts you make, in and around your communities.

Based on the employment status, we also offer a wide range of benefits such as:

• Employee and Family Assistance Programs.
• Travel and car allowance.
• Three (3) weeks of vacation to start, and annual pay progression.
• Health, Dental, and Life Insurance.
• Pension.
• General Illness (Short and Long Term).

Click to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

About Our Opportunity

Wood Street Campus (WSC) provides specialized treatment services for children in the care of the Minister of Community Services. We are passionate about supporting children and enhancing their development into successful young people in the community. The experience of fostering positive outcomes for children is very rewarding and requires a highly motivated and energetic individual! As a WSC Social Worker, you will have an exciting opportunity to be part of a team dedicated to implementing a trauma-informed care model. Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) is a flexible, components-based intervention developed for children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma and caregiving systems. Your role will be important in implementing this model and continuously working to improve services provided to children and youth.

In this role, you are responsible for providing services and consultation to children in care. The average age of children who access our programs is between 10 and 18. Daily, we count on your expertise to enhance the successful completion of assessment and treatment services for children admitted to the centre. You will utilize a child-centered, trauma-informed approach to delivering services through a continuum of care consisting of assessment, case management, program delivery, and community re-integration. Your primary focus will involve assisting children in acquiring and maintaining skills, knowledge, and behaviours that will enable them to reach their goals upon their return to their community.

Primary Accountabilities

The Social Worker at Wood Street Centre (WSC) Campus is a member of the Interdisciplinary Team. In this role, you will coordinate admission, treatment, and discharge planning for children and youth admitted to the program. You help with case management and participate in the development of individualized treatment plans. You are responsible for coordinating transitional and discharge planning and facilitating aftercare services for children and youth who present with complex emotional and behavioral challenges.

You will also participate in the referral process to WSC Secure Treatment and represent the Minister of Community Services in court applications for Secure Treatment orders, renewals, and reviews. You demonstrate a commitment to quality service delivery and ensure adherence to WSC Campus policies and procedures and the Provincial Standards for Child-Caring Facilities.

Qualifications and Experience

A completed Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work is required as well as a valid drivers license. You must be eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW).

You are also:

• A strong team player;
• Empowered to impact change; and
• Compassionate, reliant, and resourceful.

You demonstrate an understanding of child development, family dynamics, trauma-informed care, mental health, substance use, harm reduction, community resources, and are well versed in effective intervention modalities. Your problem-solving skills and experience, combined with your creative thinking, work to strengthen and improve the support provided to children and families.

In accordance with the , full vaccination is a condition of employment for this opportunity.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Working Conditions

You will work in two treatment facilities. Therefore, you will facilitate and maintain dynamic and static security to provide safety and security for youth, visitors, staff, and the public. While we take precautions, children and youth may demonstrate harmful or aggressive behaviours. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) may be utilized to manage these behaviours.

You are often required to work beyond regular business hours on short notice. Personal resiliency is essential to meet this position\'s physical and emotional demands. You will be subjected to a high degree of stress and must be able to work under pressure and in crisis situations.

Pay Grade: PR 09 - PR 15

Salary Range: $2,099.96 - $3,250.64 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.

Government of Nova Scotia