Supportive Care Program Social Worker

**Job Posting: Community Social Worker (12-month maternity leave)**

(Anticipated start date: June 9th 2025)

**Program: Well Within Community and Supportive Care Services**

**Job Type**: Contract - 37.5 hours/week

**PURPOSE OF ROLE AND STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT**

The Supportive Care Program’s Community Social Worker is the primary role responsible for providing individual grief and bereavement counselling for adult (18+) residents of Chatham-Kent.

As our Hospice continues to strategically expand our community-based programs and services, this role is vital to offering a 12-session grief and bereavement counselling program. The program applies best practices from various modalities to best meet client needs in a caring, therapeutic environment. In addition to individual, couple and family counselling, creative group programs are a cornerstone of our community-based programs. Group sessions give clients opportunities to share experiences, receive support and learn together. Our Supportive Care programs are grounded in building capacity through education about grief, bereavement, and positive coping and stress management strategies, open communication, as well as enhancing awareness of community resources.

**ABOUT OUR HOSPICE**

We share a passion for providing the best possible end-of-life care and grief support for hospice residents and families, as well as community dwelling clients and caregivers.

We are looking for caring, collaborative social workers to join our newly created Supportive Care Team. Please get in touch if you are seeking a career opportunity where you will:

- Make a difference to people experiencing a life-limiting illness and their caregivers throughout their palliative journey.
- Focus on holistic grief and bereavement programs and services.
- Provide specialized one-on-one counselling.
- Design and deliver creative group programs.
- Receive a competitive salary and benefits package as a valuable member of a team that includes: Supportive Care Program Manager, Intake and Group Program Coordinator, Social Workers, Spiritual Care Providers, Music Therapist and Volunteers.

**ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY**

Located in southwestern Ontario, Chatham-Kent is a safe, affordable and beautiful place to live. The region offers a variety of competitively priced lifestyle options, from downtown living to lakeside escapes. With access to both rural lifestyle and urban amenities, it is a great place to call home. For outdoor enthusiasts, parks, beaches and lakes are close by. There’s a thriving arts, culture and entertainment scene. Easy commutes paired with health care, educational and retail services make our community ideal for people at all career stages.

**MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES**

**ASSESSMENTS AND CARE PLANNING**
- Creates a therapeutic alliance and establishes appropriate boundaries with each client.
- Uses validated tools to conduct sound supportive care psycho/social/spiritual assessments.
- Assesses individuals to determine their readiness and appropriateness for Hospice Supportive Care services, and makes internal and external referrals as needed.
- Uses assessments as the framework to develop and deliver integrated care plans; and for interdisciplinary team communications.

**COUNSELLING**
- Supports a full-caseload and provides individual, couple and family grief and bereavement counselling across the palliative care journey including: unexpected and expected death; community members with a life-limiting diagnosis; caregivers; and bereaved persons.
- Provides client-focused psychoeducation with a focus on grief, bereavement, positive coping strategies and open communication methods.
- Participates in case conferences/community meetings to support and advocate for client mental health and well-being needs from a grief and bereavement perspective.
- Maintains accurate, timely and confidential records, in accordance with the standards of a Professional College, Chatham-Kent Hospice policies and procedures, and accreditation standards.

**GROUP PROGRAM FACILITATION, DELIVERY AND EVALUATION**
- Collaborates with Supportive Care Program team members, volunteers and service providers to plan creative grief and bereavement support groups.
- Facilitates (in collaboration with Supportive Care Program team members) group programs in community settings throughout Chatham-Kent.
- Assists Supportive Care Program Team members to conduct community/client needs assessments, develop a program calendar, coordinate programs with volunteers and services providers, and evaluate programs.

**ORGANIZATIONAL, TEAM AND PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS**
- Builds strong relationships with Hospice managers, staff, volunteers and community partners consistent with the mission, vision and values of Chatham-Kent Hospice.
- Provides coverage for residential Hospice Supportive Care Program services, as needed, including (but not limited to): attending interdisciplinary team rounds; providing social work support for residents and fa