Social Worker (MSW), Maritime Medical Genetics

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager of Maritime Medical Genetics Service, with accountability to the Professional Practice Leader of Social Work for issues pertaining to professional practice and ethics, the Social Worker is a member of the interprofessional team providing family-centered care to patients of all ages and their families in the Maritime Medical Genetics Service. The majority of our social work care will be for individuals and families affected by metabolic disorders, who we follow over their lifetime.  We provide genetics and metabolics service to all three Maritime provinces, primarily on an outpatient basis.

Social Workers strive to optimize health and well-being with a focus on relationships.  Social Workers apply a social justice lens as they seek to appreciate and intervene with the social and structural determinants of health.  In this role, you will collaborate with, engage, and support the strengths of patients and families as they navigate life with a health condition or disability.  You will help families negotiate complex medical and social systems, build solid support networks, and reinforce their ability to advocate for themselves.  By understanding and using various theoretical frameworks and treatment modalities, you will assist families in finding creative and constructive ways to solve the issues that are identified by them as concerns.   

The Social Worker will have knowledge and skills in the areas of family dynamics, mental health and addictions, psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, trauma support, skills supporting grief and loss, and interprofessional collaboration. The successful applicant will have experience in trauma-responsive, culturally safe care and grief/loss work. The Social Worker will be responsible for liaising with a range of health and government services with an emphasis on building collaborative partnerships, facilitating resource acquisition, and advocating for appropriate resources to meet the family’s needs. The Social Worker participates in collaborative center-based and community-based committees and initiatives.  A social worker with this team will have responsibilities for supervising clinical MSW student placements, teaching, program development, program evaluation, and research as needed. The Social Worker serves as a resource to other interprofessional team members on a direct and/or consultative basis as needed. The Social Worker will also support intake services for program areas that do not have regular social work coverage, on a rotational basis providing center-wide services, and working collaboratively with other social workers within the program for coverage requirements.

Hours of Work

Shifts are Monday to Friday, daytime hours.

Your Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work required.
• Current license, or eligible for licensure, with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience post Masters required.
• Knowledge of child development, life transitions, family dynamics, mental health & addictions.
• Advanced Psychotherapy skills (including brief therapies and grief counseling).  
• Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act is required.
• Working knowledge of the DSM-5 is considered an asset.
• Experience in conducting brief individual and family therapy required, pediatric experience preferred. 
• Experience in clinical case management and advocacy (required / preferred / or an asset).
• Demonstrated understanding of the social, structural, emotional, psychological, and cultural determinants/factors that affect well-being. 
• Demonstrated ability to use an anti-oppressive framework in practice.
• Demonstrated understanding and an embodiment of trauma-informed practice. 
• Demonstrated ability to reach a joint formulation with the client and family.
• Demonstrated excellent triaging, critical thinking, organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills required.
• Demonstrated exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communication (verbal and written) skills required.
• Demonstrated comfort and skill in working collaboratively with internal and external partnerships required.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously as well as part of an interprofessional team required.
• Competencies in other languages are an asset.