Health Care Social Worker B

**Req ID: 151517**
**Company: Nova Scotia Health**
**Location: Western Zone,** **Kingston and Kentville**
**Department: PHC WZ AK FP Kentville Coldbrook**
**Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)**
**Status: CUPE** **Healthcare Position**
**Posting Closing Date: 17-Mar-23**

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators and creative thinkers today.

**About the Opportunity**:
The Social Worker (BSW) is a member of a collaborative interprofessional team or teams and plays an important role in the delivery of Primary Health Care. The Social Worker takes a participatory approach, designed to optimize health gains, to screening, assessment, counselling, group facilitation, navigation, care planning and advocacy. Motivational interviewing and brief solution focused questions are standard approaches. Scope of role includes knowledge of community-based services and referral to appropriate programs/services in the community including, but not limited to Community Services and community based mental health services. The Social Worker liaises with other programs and services and develops extensive relationship building and bridging with both internal and external to NSHA programs and services.

The collaborative family practice team works together to develop and deliver services to the entire population in the community cluster, including outreach to remote areas and services to meet the needs of priority populations. This position requires work at multiple sites and travel between various community locations throughout the area. As well, the social worker will link with, and in some cases collaborate with, integrated wellness and chronic disease programs and services offered by primary health care and others in the community health network.

The Social Worker exhibits sound professional judgment and initiative while working within the Mission, Vision and Strategic Directions of NSHA.

**About You**:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited and approved School of Social Work/University Program
- Current registration (or eligibility for registration) and a member in good standing with the Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers
- Minimum two years of experience, preferably within a community based health-care setting
- Recent, relevant experience working with community agencies/resources, volunteers and support groups
- Demonstrated ability to complete initial and ongoing client assessments (clinical and diagnostic reasoning), interviewing and client-centered problem solving, care planning, case management, evaluation of client competence in self-care and other relation outcomes in a Primary Health Care environment
- Understanding of or willingness to learn health coaching techniques and interventions, including brief and short term solution focused therapy and motivational interviewing, within the timeframe prescribed on commencement of position
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, public, community partners, primary care team members and other professionals and agencies using verbal, written and computer communication means
- Exhibits characteristics of warmth, empathy, humour, and a non-judgmental philosophy of care
- Demonstrated critical thinking skills within scope of practice including clinical judgment and problem solving skills and the ability to integrate and evaluate pertinent data (from multiple sources) to problem-solve effectively
- Demonstrated strong ethical standards and a commitment to professional development and life-long learning
- Ability to promote client-focused care that demonstrates care for and with clients and significant others, sensitive to diverse cultures and preferences, client advocacy and social justice concerns Strong understanding of health promotion, population health, and the determinants of health theory and practice

**About You Continued**:

- Ability to transmit information grounded in behaviour change and principals of self-management intended to instruct clients and others about topics essential to health care and well-being
- Experience facilitating education programs and group meetings
- Manages time and resources, implementing activities to promote cooperation among relevant others, collaboration across disciplines and related activities
- Knowledge and experien