Correctional Officer

Competition # : 40949

Department: Justice

Location: DARTMOUTH, PICTOU, YARMOUTH, AND SYDNEY

Type of Employment: Relief

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 07-Nov-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

This opportunity is designated to applicants that identify as Indigenous Persons or African Nova Scotians.

The Correctional Services division of the Department of Justice is responsible for the administration and operation of community and custody-based programs and services for adults and young persons. Within the Correctional Services core business area there are two programs: community corrections & correctional facilities. Each of these program areas is broken down into closely related activities that have a specific impact on the program's target group.

Four (4) adult correctional facilities and one (1) youth centre provide the safety and security of persons in custody while providing programs that address dynamic criminogenic factors to assist with their successful reintegration back into the community.

Nova Scotia Correctional Services utilizes an evidence-based approach in both Community Corrections and custodial facilities. Core Correctional Practices (CCP) is the foundational practice that drives reintegration and rehabilitation practices deployed within Correctional Services. Utilizing CCP, Correctional Services staff can effectively interact, manage behavior, and help facilitate change, within target populations.

For more information on the Department of Justice Correctional Services please visit our website:

As a Correctional Officer, you are responsible for the safe secure custody, control and supervision of sentence and remand persons in custody in an adult correctional facility on a rotating shift basis. Our Correctional Officer undertakes duties associated with your shift assignment in various areas of the facility. These areas include persons in custody Living Units, Admission and Discharge, Reception/Visitation, Recreation, Laundry, and Canteen Services. In this role, you will have regular and ongoing interaction with persons in custody, while encouraging pro-social behaviour. You are also responsible for administrative functions related to the case management database (JEIN) and the Offender Behavioural Management System.

Correctional Officers work with a diverse persons in custody population and are accountable for promoting and adhering to policy and procedures, standard operating procedures, post orders and directives. As part of this role, you will be involved with conducting persons in custody counts and searches, writing reports, ensuring persons in custody security and safety.

Responsibilities include:

• Facility Security
  • Provides dynamic supervision of persons in custody and safe secure custody, control, and supervision of the persons in custody
• Persons in Custody Supervision
  • Includes, but not limited to participate in the case management of persons in custody; approve and arrange professional and personal visits and professional phone calls, and escort persons in custody within the facility; respond to persons in custody complaints and requests; assist persons in custody in the completion of forms (e.g. requests, complaints); supervise persons in custody work activity inside and outside the facility
• Physical Plant Maintenance
  • Supervise facility cleaning by persons in custody, supervise persons in custody trustees on outside work detail, submit maintenance work orders when required
• Programs
  • Advise persons in custody of available programs and referring and adhering to the posted program schedule and support persons in custody program work in the living units
• Administration & Communication
  • Record and communicate information through reports, forms, logbooks, email and JEIN documentation and participate in committees or meetings as requested by the Superintendent or designate
  • Communicate in a timely, transparent, and effective manner and participate in workplace wellness initiatives by promoting teamwork, leadership, diversity, and a healthy workplace

You possess a High School diploma and 2 years of related experience. An equivalent combination of training and experience will be considered. Typical equivalencies include: a certificate/diploma from an accredited Correctional Officer program or a University degree in a related field of study.

Your experience and knowledge in the following areas are considered assets in this role:

• Experience in law enforcement, security, or the military
• Previous employment as a Correctional Officer
• Knowledge or experience in a computerized/automated environment
• Leadership experience (i.e. leading youth programs, groups, or committees)

Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• A related 2 year post secondary diploma
• A related 1 year post secondary diploma and 1 year of related experience
• 5 years of continuous employment in an unrelated field

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their cover letter.

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria.

Relief employees fill gaps in the schedule and replace full time employees when operational requirements demand as determined by the Employer. As a relief employee there is no guarantee of hours.

Candidates that are selected for an interview will be provided a medical form to be completed by a doctor.

The facility is a 24-hour operation and is a tobacco-free environment.

This position requires a valid Driver's License, a Driver's Abstract, Emergency First Aid/CPR Certificate, and proof of all stated education and training, which shall be provided at time of interview.

Candidates must identify in their cover letter the geographic location(s) where they prefer to work when applying. The vacancies are Dartmouth, Pictou, Yarmouth and Sydney.

Assessment Process

Qualified applicants will be invited to competency-based job interview. During the interview, applicants must demonstrate well developed communication, interpersonal and interviewing/counseling and conflict resolution skills to deal effectively with persons in custody and function well as a member of the team. Correctional Officers serve as role models to persons in custody and therefore must possess sound observation, decision making and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to respond effectively in crisis situations.

If you are called for the next phase, the pre-employment interview, you will be asked to submit the completed questionnaire prior to your appointment. The questionnaire focuses on honesty and integrity and candidates must answer all questions accurately and truthfully. Dishonesty or non-disclosure will result in elimination of the candidate's application.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the confirmation of credentials and the completion of all applicable background, criminal record, child abuse registry and reference checks, driver's license, driver's abstract, pre-employment interview, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer.

Professional references for employment must be from past Supervisors.

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.

Pay Grade: ACC 04 - Hourly

Salary Range: $ $33.21 Hourly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

A relief employee is an employee who is not regularly scheduled by the Employer, but who works relief assignments on an as-needed basis as operational requirements demand. As such, a relief employee does not have guaranteed hours of work. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Please note: when competing for vacancies, a successful Temporary, Term or Permanent Relief Employee who is currently employed with the Province will maintain their bargaining unit status, seniority and benefit level at the new workplace.

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to