SOCIAL WORKER - Group & Level SW-SCW-01

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Job Profile

Social workers are integral members of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Health Services team. They play a crucial role in addressing the immediate and long-term physical and mental health needs of offenders who are being reintegrated into the community.  As a member of a multidisciplinary team, social workers provide expertise, professional advice and recommendations to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive clinical release plan. They facilitate the offenders’ reintegration into the community through the arrangement of community services for offenders with mental and physical health needs, including infectious diseases. Through their advocacy and coordination role, they ensure continuity of health care for offenders. Our social workers believe that all individuals have the capacity for self-improvement and that this can be facilitated within the correctional environment.

In the past decade, the number of federal offenders exhibiting signs of mental health and behavioural issues has increased significantly. CSC is working to address this issue, and is increasingly seeking the skills that social workers bring to the field of corrections, particularly the “person-in-environment” perspective.

As a CSC social worker, you will consult with other health care and non-health care professionals regarding offenders’ criminal risk and health status. You will be involved wide range of tasks, including, but not limited to:

• Comprehensive assessments;
• Individual and group counselling;
• Program delivery;
• Education and awareness;
• Discharge planning; and
• Community capacity building.

Social workers provide comprehensive assessments to identify mental, physical, spiritual and psycho-social needs of offenders, therapeutic counselling, in addition to community reintegration planning at community correctional centres and district parole offices.

CSC social workers act independently and make decisions based on their experience, judgement, and clinical assessment skills. At the same time, they work effectively in a team setting providing effective interventions and treatments that will contribute to offenders’ rehabilitation and safe return to the community.

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. The National Headquarters in Ottawa provides 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.

Diversity

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

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 institutional and community settings, as well as at regional or national headquarters.

About the selection process

CSC job opportunities are periodically posted on www.jobs.gc.ca. In addition, you can send your resume to a regional recruitment representative in your area. Applicants are screened according to essential education and experience listed on the advertisement.

Applicants’ abilities, skills and personal suitability may be assessed with an interview.

Training

CSC provides a new employee orientation program for all Social workers. CSC also supports regular opportunities for professional development to assist you in the development and maintenance of your skills.

Ready to Apply?

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