Competition # : 35924
Department: Community Services
Location: DIGBY
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU – NSPG
Closing Date: 7/6/2022 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as African Nova Scotian and/or Racially Visible Persons. You must self-identify during the application process.
African Nova Scotian – is any Nova Scotian who chooses to declare African ancestry, regardless of how long they have lived here and regardless of how much African ancestry they can declare.
Racially Visible Persons – persons, other than Indigenous people or African Nova Scotians, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
The Department of Community Services (DCS) is a large and diverse department that provides a broad portfolio of programs and services designed to help the most vulnerable people of Nova Scotia be independent, self-reliant, and secure. This is achieved through working collaboratively internally across all divisions of the department, and externally with a significant network of service providers, other departments, and levels of government, to achieve the desired and shared outcomes for the citizens who seek services and the department as a whole.
The Department is responsible for a broad range of social services including those under Child Youth and Family Support (CYFS), Employment Support (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support Program (DSP).
For more information on our department please visit: https://novascotia.ca/coms/.
The Caseworker assesses the eligibility of individuals who need financial assistance and/or support, to determine initial and ongoing eligibility. In addition, the Caseworker provides employment support services to assist Income Assistance recipients and persons with disabilities to obtain financial independence for themselves and their families.
As the Caseworker, you will deliver the continuum of employment support services and income assistance enhancement activities for clients such as:
In a team environment, you work collaboratively with colleagues, community, and clients to mobilize client’s personal resources toward self-sufficiency, using appropriate supporting interventions. You will also facilitate access to training, along with development of training/workshops with external service providers; all of which enable the movement of clients into employment.
You have completed a related Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.
As our next Caseworker, you have excellent interviewing, communication (written/verbal), planning/organizational, team building, and crisis intervention skills. You understand budgetary and case management concepts, and demonstrate initiative, sound judgement, and sensitivity to the impact of culture, socioeconomic status, gender, age, and sexual orientation on client experience. You must be able to meet deadlines and deal effectively with difficult situations.
Working knowledge and experience in the application of Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) policy/legislation, Occupational Health and Safety responsibilities, as well as related programs of the Department will be considered assets.
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.
An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. Related equivalencies may include, but are not limited to:
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.
Some travel may be necessary.
This role is primarily based in an office environment where you may be working at your computer for extended periods of time. You must be able to work efficiently and effectively in a workplace environment that is constantly dealing with time pressures and caseload demands.
Pay Grade: PR 04 – PR 11
Salary Range: $1,663.25 – $2,688.50 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 online.
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.