The Department of Social Development and Seniors is committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility. Our goal is to build a public sector workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and to promote welcoming, diverse, inclusive, respectful workplaces that are accessible to all. We welcome all interested individuals including Indigenous People, persons with disabilities, Black, racialized, ethnic and culturally diverse groups, as well as people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expressions. Those looking for more information are invited to visit our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy.

Children’s Services Social Workers (CSSW) provide services to children who have been found in need of protection, and their caregivers, for their safety and wellbeing, with the objective of permanency. Through a thorough and comprehensive training and on-the-job evaluation, they are delegated by the Director of Child Protection (DCP) to have “the power to provide child protection services and the ability to exercise specified powers and duties of the Director in accordance to the Child Youth and Family Services Act”. They may also be authorized under the Adoption Act, with the authority to do “placement counselling, assessment of placement risk, placement of children for adoption, monitoring placements, prehearing adoption studies, and obtaining of consents”. CSSW must also act within multiple pieces of related provincial and federal legislation and policies related to children, youth, parents, families and Indigeneity.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Make clinical assessments of the needs of children in care utilizing the Child Strengths and Needs Assessment to create appropriate plans of care;
• Complete clinical assessments regarding educational, social, cultural, developmental and emotional needs for children who are, or have been, in need of protection from their parents;
• Use standardized, validated tools to inform assessments of children in care and care providers, interpret and use results to help guide next steps;
• Conduct risk and home assessments of potential foster families, kin placements, and adoptive families for children from other provinces and territories as per Interprovincial Agreement;
• Gather and complete background history of children in care and birth parents for adoption placement and finalization to provide information about a child’s life in the birth family and while in care, to help the adoptive family provide answers and information to the adopted child as they age and seek to understand their history;
• Implement plan of care with children in care, monitors progress, revises plan as situation changes or if it is not producing benefits. Gives due consideration to growth and developmental stage of the child and associated needs (educational, social, cultural, developmental, and emotional), impact of trauma, physical and mental health, other pertinent considerations;
• Develop positive relationship with children in care;
• Complete documentation including evidence of professional observations, family’s or child’s perspective, any competing evidence, support for assessments, and prioritization of needs;
• Ensure necessary written correspondence is provided to families such as changes in service such as a family being “on hold” or service closing;
• Maintain statistical information as required;
• Ensure confidentiality and security of all client-related information;
• Knows and acts within these and other pieces of legislation: Child Youth and Family Services Act; Adoption Act, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families; Child and Youth Advocate Act, Judicature Act (regarding Office of the Children’s Lawyer), Family Law Act;
• Provide on-call evening and weekend coverage in addition to full-time work week. Frequency depends on staffing;
• Engage with members of the public on subjects related to child protection and children's services, such as recruiting foster families and potential adoptive families;
• Other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Master of Social Work degree or a Bachelor of Social Work degree with considerable experience. Experience required in Social Work and prior experience in child protection is preferred;
• Eligible for registration with the PEI Social Work Registration Board and for delegation under the PEI Child, Youth & Family Services Act; Eligible for adoption authorization under the Adoption Act;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• A valid PEI driver’s license with access to a reliable vehicle;
• The employee is required, as a condition of employment, to provide a motor vehicle for the purpose of carrying out employment functions. The requirement is subject to review every 12 months as per UPSE Civil Collective Agreement;
• A good previous work and attendance record and acceptable Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check and Child Protection Record Check;
• Knowledge of child development, family dynamics, impacts of abuse and neglect on children, community resources, systems that children interact with (education, criminal justice, health including mental health and addictions, etc.), trauma and its effect on children’s well-being, mental health and addictions issues and their impacts, loss and grief, adoption related issues and the importance of permanency planning for children;
• Skills in risk assessment, interviewing, communication, case planning, case management, counselling, clinical assessment, critical thinking, anger management, conflict resolution, group work, crisis intervention, collaboration, cultural competence, computer literacy, documentation and time management;
• Ability to understand and interpret the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families, the Adoption Act and other related legislation, policies and procedures;
• Training in use of Structured Decision Making;
• SAFE Assessment training;
• Trauma Informed Care training;

Other Qualifications:

• Knowledge of other risk assessment tools;
• Knowledge of all departmental social programs;
• PRIDE training, Step Wise Joint Interviewing;

Applicants are expected to complete the full length of this assignment, unless applying for a permanent position

This competition may be used to fill future job vacancies.

Please Note: Please ensure the application clearly demonstrates how you meet the noted qualifications as applicants will be screened based on the information provided. We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Where possible, submitting an electronic resume or job application is preferred. Otherwise, please return forms to PEI Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 7N8. Applications may be sent by fax to (902) 368-4383.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION, BY TELEPHONE OR IN PERSON PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE.

Please ensure that the appropriate Posting ID number is stated on all application forms. You can apply online or obtain an application form by visiting our web site at www.jobspei.ca**. Forms may also be obtained by contacting any PEI Government office, ACCESS PEI Centre, Regional Services Centre, or by telephone (902) 368-4080.**

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