Competition # : 34772
Department: Community Services
Location: DARTMOUTH
Type of Employment: Term
Union Status: NSGEU – NSPG
Closing Date: 3/24/2022 (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.
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 are persons, other than Aboriginal people or African Nova Scotians, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you must self-identify during the application process.
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/
We’re hiring a Social Worker to support our Foster Care program; providing safe, loving and nurturing foster homes for children and youth. When you join our team, you will be joining a team that understands the value of community and focuses on strengthening children, youth, and families to live healthy and thriving lives.
In this role, you will use your invaluable community relationships and passion for helping our most vulnerable citizens, to help recruit African Nova Scotian foster families. Using your creativity and networking abilities, your recruitment of foster families will make profound and positive impacts in the lives of children and youth. You will also provide pre-service training with an Afro-centric lens; ensuring foster families have appropriate supports and training, and completion of required documentation.
You will be employed in a dynamic, creative, and collaborative work environment which celebrates diversity, promotes continued professional growth, and provides you with the opportunity to utilize your full range of social work skills, knowledge and experience.
As a Social Worker, you are responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of children in the care of the Minister. Essential to your success in this role is your strong community connection and relationship building abilities. You will participate in community groups, meetings, and create awareness of foster family opportunities.
You work will directly support a wide variety of professional child welfare services including protection services for children; development, coordination, and implementation of foster care and adoption services; and planning and supervision of children in care and custody. You will intervene under the Children and Family Services Act, and in accordance with the legislation and policies of the program, to protect children and make a lasting difference in their lives. You exercise judgment and make decisions regarding case planning with children, youth, and families in consultation with your supervisor and colleagues.
You have completed your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW); or are a Registered Social Worker (RSW). You must be eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW). Please include with your application, proof of registration (or eligibility to register) with the NSCSW. Notice to Pending Social Work Graduates: If you are a few months away from graduation of your BSW/ MSW program, you are encouraged to apply.
Your understanding of child development, family functioning, child abuse and neglect have prepared you to speak up for your clients and empower change. You are compassionate, reliant, and resourceful. You are well versed in effective intervention strategies when supporting individuals and families. You are a problem solver who applies their studies and experience in creative ways to best support your clients. Knowledge of the Children and Family Service Act is a definite asset.
You demonstrate key qualities such as problem solving, decision making, and are a strong team player who is keen to practice social work within a government system.
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.
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 offering and eligibility criteria.
Most of your work involves meeting with clients in their homes or with providers. This necessitates considerable driving time, sometimes in adverse weather conditions. While present in the office, your time is spent a comfortable office environment with flexible working options available.
On a rotating schedule, you will be required to provide child protection services for your designated area, after regular business hours. This will include working on weekends and reporting to the provincial after-hours response team. You may be required to work beyond regular business hours on short notice.
Your personal resiliency is essential to meet the physical and emotional demands of this position. You will be immersed in high stress and crisis situations. You must be able to work under pressure and be personally and professionally committed to working with culturally diverse individuals in a respectful, inclusive, and racist-free manner.
We invest in your career development and progression. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your registration fees to the NS College of Social Workers.
You must have a valid drivers license and the ability to travel to various work site locations. Travel expenses will be covered in accordance with the collective agreement, policies, and procedures.
This is a Term opportunity with an anticipated end date of March 31, 2023. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.
On October 6, 2021 the Government of Nova Scotia announced full vaccination will be a condition of employment for new staff being hired. View the news release here.
Pay Grade: PR 09 – PR 15
Salary Range: $2,028.21 – $3,155.27 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.