CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM OFFICER – Group & Level WP-04

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Job Profile

Correctional Program Officers (CPOs) are essential to assisting offenders with their rehabilitation efforts.

Every day, CPOs teach one or more of CSC’s correctional programs to offenders. In so doing, CPOs motivate and encourage offenders along their path to rehabilitation. They teach the skills and competencies necessary for safe reintegration into the community, while providing advice and assessing offenders’ attitudes and progress. CPOs must document each offender’s performance and identify their risk factors, deficits, and strengths to assess their progress toward change goals. Correctional Program Officers are responsible for class preparation, marking offenders’ work and completing reports on offender progress and performance.

As a CPO, you will assist in the development and implementation of offenders’ correctional plans. The CPO provides expert advice for the development and revision of correctional plans, taking into account the needs of offenders and which programs are required to reduce offender risk.

Work Environment

CSC has a presence from coast to coast -- from large urban centres with diverse populations, to remote communities across the North.

CSC operates under three levels of management: National, Regional and Institutional/Parole Offices. National Headquarters in Ottawa performs overall planning and policy development for the Service, while each of the five regional offices implements CSC activities within the Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic regions.

CSC operations include 57 penitentiaries at minimum, medium, maximum and multi-level security classifications. These institutions include specialized facilities for women offenders, Healing Lodges designed to address the needs of Aboriginal offenders, and Regional Treatment Centres that provide mental health interventions to offenders.

CSC also operates 16 community correctional centres and partners with 175 Community-Based Residential Facilities for offenders on some form of conditional release into the community. As well, CSC operates 84 parole offices and sub-offices in every region of Canada.

CSC provides a comprehensive range of research-based correctional programs for offenders. Along with programs designed specifically for Aboriginal offenders, there are programs designed to target women offenders, violence, family violence, sexual offending, substance abuse and general crime.

CPOs work closely with other CSC professionals, including Parole Officers, Correctional Officers, Primary Workers, Kimisinaws, Correctional Managers, Elders, and Native Liaison Officers to share information about an offender's progress.

CPOs’ work schedules vary. You may be required to work weekends and/or evenings during the week.

Diversity

CSC is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce that is reflective of Canadian society. We encourage all ethnicities, cultures, visible minorities, Aboriginal people, and people with disabilities to seek employment as a Correctional Program Officer.

Career Development

CSC is a large government agency with a wide variety of occupations. Depending on your interest and skill set, career opportunities exist in a variety of positions in the organization, both within an institutional and community setting, as well as at regional and national headquarters.

About the selection process

CSC job opportunities are posted on www.jobs.gc.ca. Applicants are screened according to essential education and experience listed on the advertisement.

Applicants’ knowledge, abilities, skills and personal suitability may be assessed with a written test and an interview.

Training

As a newly-hired Correctional Program Officer you will be trained in a particular correctional program area. This training includes methods and content relevant to the correctional program, correctional program policy, and processes to assess offender progress and to report on offender performance in programs. You will be evaluated after the training to ensure that you understand and are capable of presenting the program content.

Ready to Apply?

Please visit www.jobs.gc.ca to learn about the job opportunities currently available at CSC and how to apply.