Location: St. Catharines,
Ontario
Open Date: March 25, 2025
The
position of Social Worker is established to enhance child and family
participation and quality of life by providing support to children with
identified needs and their families through assessment, support and
counselling, case management, education, and advocacy.
A Social
Worker may be assigned to one or more services.
These include interdisciplinary preschool or school aged services and/or
other specialized services such as Physiatry Clinic and Home and Vehicle
Modification Clinic.
As an employee of the Centre,
you will be part of a community dedicated to creating a welcoming and
supportive environment for the children and youth we serve. We are a place where families are at the
heart of all we do. Join a team that makes a real difference in the lives of
children and youth every day.
Key responsibilities include:
- Assessment: The Social Worker assesses the needs of
children, and their families. Through meeting with the family the Social Worker
obtains back-ground information concerning the child and family to determine
their strengths, needs and concerns.
Assessment may include the use of formal testing tools. The Social Worker may also participate in
interdisciplinary screening with the child/family and as part of the assessment
process.
- Treatment Planning: On the basis of the
assessment, the Social Worker collaborates with the child/family, teacher,
school, other therapists, and others who may be involved, to identify goals and
to establish an appropriate treatment plan to achieve the goals.
- Intervention: Support and Counselling: The
Social Worker provides follow-up for the child and family after the initial
assessment to assist in the development of service plans; empower clients in
effective coping, decision making, problem solving, and communication around
the needs of the child and family; offer appropriate groups, grief support, and
crisis intervention; and may attend various clinics with the child and family.
- Intervention: Case Management/Service Coordination : The Social Worker assists the child and
family to obtain all required services and funding in a coordinated
manner. This will involve liaison with
the family, the centre services involved, and external service providers. This may also involve advocating on behalf of
the child and family to be eligible for and obtain required services. In order to ensure effective communication
among the various participants, the Social Worker may be required to schedule
and facilitate meetings among appropriate participants from time to time. Intervention may be provided in various
environments; through a variety of service delivery options (e.g., individual,
group, parent education, home programming) on a direct or indirect or
consultative basis and either in a single service or as part of an
interdisciplinary team process.
- Supervision: SWs may be requested
to supervise SSW’s as part of their regular workload and in doing so, must
adhere to the policies established in the OCSWSSW position statement for
Supportive Personnel, October 2007. SWs may also be requested to supervise
students or volunteers.
- Education: The
Social Worker provides education for children and families related to their
specific needs. This may include topics such as social skill development,
self-esteem, parenting and behaviour strategies, and negotiating the system of
services available. Education may be provided on an individual or group
basis. Through conferences,
lectures and other training the Social Worker will keep current in new
approaches and research.
- Documentation: the Social Worker is
responsible for report writing in accordance with the College of Social Workers
and Social Service Workers of Ontario guidelines (such as assessments, progress
reports, transition reports, and discharge summaries). In addition there may be documentation
requirements such as internal and external referrals; funding application forms
on behalf of families to and various funding sources; or parent correspondence.
The Social Worker is also responsible for the daily and accurate recording in
the Centre’s data collection system of daily activities and clients seen and to
comply with all established clinical standards for documentation.
Health and Safety
The Social Worker will
comply with the duties assigned to Workers as per Section 28 of the Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Key
Relationships:
The Social
Worker is concerned with the effectiveness of all relationships that affect the
Centre. The following are particularly
significant to the position:
External
- Children,
and their families and other caregivers
- Regulated
professionals involved in the care of the child/family such as physicians,
public health personnel, nurse practitioners
- Teachers
and Educational Assistants in all school and child care systems
- Staff
of Community partner agencies and programs
- Vendors
and suppliers of equipment and services being considered for use by
clients
- Staff
at relevant government offices/branches that are responsible for approval
and/or provision of client specific funding, services or equipment
- Case
managers at HNHB LHIN
Internal
- Staff
at all levels in the organization
Qualifications and Skills:
The minimum specifications for an incumbent
will include:
- Registration
as a Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social
Service Workers
Knowledge/Skills:
- A sound understanding and skill in the
practice of social work
- Demonstrated
ability to consistently maintain professional and respectful communication and
collaboration with clients and families, colleagues, managers, and community partners
- Knowledge
and demonstrated ability to uphold principles of family-centred care, provide
exceptional customer service, and utilize a strength-based, anti-racist, anti-ableism,
and anti-oppressive approach to service delivery and interactions with stakeholders
- Ability to identify goals and
establish appropriate treatment plans to achieve said goals with children,
youth, families and other care providers both in-person and virtual
- Demonstrated
initiative and self-management
- Computer literacy utilizing MS Office software applications
- Ability to effectively support families in complex situations
- Ability to work with families from a variety of cultures that is inclusive and culturally
appropriate
- Bilingual at a superior
or advanced level of French
is an asset
Other:
- Access
to a vehicle and possession of a driver’s license valid for the province
of Ontario is required
- A
current criminal reference check for vulnerable populations
- CPR
certification
- Evidence of non-violent crisis
intervention training
Why Join Us?
- We provide a total rewards package that supports your well-being,
and have a culture that supports and encourages continuous professional
development and growth.
- Provide a competitive hiring range of $80,640 – $94,965
commensurate with experience.
- Participation in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP) from day
one of employment with us, offer healthcare and dental benefits, and access to
the Employee and Family Assistance program.
- Work life balance
with flexible schedules, summer hours, Centre closure days, personal days, paid
vacation, paid sick days, etc. Social events
throughout the year, it’s not just work!
- Employee wellbeing initiatives and programs
- Inclusive environment that
allows everyone to feel welcomed and part of a dedicated team
- Work life balance with flexible
schedules, summer hours, centre closure days, personal days, paid vacation,
paid sick days, etc.
To
pursue this career opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to HR@niagarachildrenscentre.com
We
will be reviewing candidate submissions as they are received and move forward
with interviews. Early submission is encouraged.
The
Niagara Children’s Centre is committed to fair and accessible employment
practices. Upon request, suitable accommodation is available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability
Act (AODA) to applicants invited to an interview.
The
Niagara Children’s Centre’s is a unionized environment.
We
thank all those who apply but only those selected for further consideration
will be contacted. The selected candidate will be required to participate in a
Criminal Background Check.