Social Worker

Join our Employment & Income Support team in one of these two full-time positions – one permanent, one temporary (approximately 12 to 15 months) – within our Social Services Department.

As a Social Worker (Employment & Income Support), you will apply your social work knowledge, skills, values and principles to a wide range of personal, interpersonal and social problems, to restore, enhance or modify the psychosocial functioning of social assistance recipients residing in the Region of Waterloo. You may be required to drive to clients’ homes in a variety of living conditions within the Region, including in inclement weather and road conditions, in order to interview them. You must be prepared to deal with clients who may be upset, adversarial or resistant.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED

To assume the role of Social Worker (Employment & Income Support), you will have the following profile:

• Thorough knowledge in the specialized area of social work, including extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of psychosocial assessment, family systems, counselling, crisis intervention, treatment of trauma, group treatment, consultation and child development, normally acquired through the attainment of a master’s degree in Social Work, plus 2 years of directly related post- graduate clinical experience.
• Eligibility for membership with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
• Wide range of knowledge of legislation and policies relating to social work practice in a social assistance agency.
• Specialized competence in counselling individuals, families and groups, crisis intervention skills, and competence in treatment of trauma, research, program development, social planning, and adult education.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills for direct client services and consultation with Employment & Income Support staff, and the ability to participate as an effective team member.
• Human relations, facilitation, presentation and public relations skills in order to develop programming initiatives and inter-agency collaboration.
• Skill in the use of a personal computer and knowledge of software packages such as Microsoft Word, Lotus Notes, PowerPoint and the Internet.
• Working knowledge of information system databases in order to populate electronic record systems, and data analysis skills in order to extract data for program planning and evaluation.
• Working knowledge of client record-keeping systems for compliance with OCSWSSW standards.
• Ability to support and project values compatible with the organization.
• Ability to communicate with clients in a manner that enables them to comprehend and utilize the information provided.
• Ability to write assessments, correspondence and reports for lawyers and other agencies, with clarity and professionalism.
• Ability to read social work literature to remain abreast of developments in the field and to research issues specific to particular client problems.
• Ability to provide an acceptable Police Records Check in order to ensure suitability for working with vulnerable populations.

Making a Difference – Every Day.

The Region of Waterloo serves a vibrant, diverse community of more than 560,000 people across three cities and four townships in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area of Southern Ontario. Committed to service, integrity, respect, collaboration and innovation, our focus is on inspiring community trust by delivering quality services to our residents while creating a positive, inclusive work environment that leverages the full potential of a talented, skilled and diverse workforce.

In addition to offering a competitive compensation package, we have a strong focus on health and wellness, including fitness facilities and family-focused benefits.

Please visit our website, at www.regionofwaterloo.ca, for a detailed position description and to apply online before 11:59 p.m., October 30, 2014. If you prefer, send your resume, quoting competition number 2014-1616, to: The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Human Resources, 150 Frederick Street, 3rd Floor, Kitchener, ON  N2G 4J3.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, and thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with those selected for an interview. We will accommodate the needs of qualified applicants under the Human Rights Code in all parts of the hiring process.