Social Worker BSW, Garron Centre
Company : IWK Health
Req ID: 204926
Department/Program: Garron Social Work, Mental Health And Addictions
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT long-assignment (100% FTE) for 1 year x 1 position(s)
Start Date: July 2025
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $36.5798 - $49.0035 /hour
Closing Date: June 26, 2025 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Clinical Manager of the Garron Centre for Child & Adolescent Mental Health, the Social Worker plays a key role in discharge support and continuity of care. As a member of the interprofessional care team, the primary responsibility of this role is to support clients and their families through the implementation of a comprehensive, individualized discharge plan developed by the inpatient interprofessional team, and to support connecting with services and resources in community.
The Social Worker (BSW) monitors and implements transition care plans, identifying risks of illness recurrence and addressing safety concerns. Collaborating with the interprofessional team, they evaluate interventions, recommend adjustments, and act within their scope of practice. The role requires expertise in youth and adolescent mental health, family dynamics, addictions, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and interprofessional collaboration. The Social Worker liaises with community, health, and government services to build partnerships, secure resources, and advocate for client needs. Responsibilities may also include supervising BSW student placements, teaching, program development and evaluation, and participating in research. They serve as a resource to team members and demonstrate professional integrity and respect in line with client- and family-centered care, IWK Health Centre standards, and professional practice guidelines
Hours of Work
Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 pm (7.5 hour shifts) with the possibility of some evening/weekend work. Flexibility in hours of work and ability to travel required.
Your Qualifications
- Bachelor of Social Work Degree required
- Current license or eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) required
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in mental health or related experience with children and adolescents as applicable to the care area required
- Minimum three (3) years’ experience in child and adolescent mental health and addictions preferred.
- Successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support (BLS) Program within the last 12 months or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate required
- NCI certification required
- Demonstrated knowledge of suicide risk assessment and the ability to facilitate safety plans.
- Demonstrated knowledge of child and adolescent development.
- Demonstrated knowledge of community-based resources across HRM specifically as well as other areas across Nova Scotia.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of mental health and addiction disorders, family systems approach and evidenced treatment modalities preferred.
- 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. Understanding of, and
- commitment to, evidence informed practice/best practices required.
- Demonstrated excellence in communication and interpersonal skills required.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interprofessional care team, while effectively carrying out administrative and clinical responsibilities required.
- Demonstrated excellent time management, workload prioritization, and organizational skills required.
- Demonstrated conflict resolution skills required.
- Demonstrated knowledge and competency in meeting IWK clinical documentation standards preferred.
- 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 knowledge of emergency response for at risk youth in community.
- Working knowledge of disruptive behavior disorders preferred.
- Holds a valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
- Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act an asset.
- Competency in other languages an asset.
- Willingness to provide preceptorship opportunities to social work practicum students.
Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
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Social Worker, Counseling, Public Health, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Service, Healthcare