Social Worker- Temporary Position

Part Time or Full Time
- School Social Worker

Temporary Position

Salary range
- $74,631 - $96,779

About the Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 84 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.

Staff Wellness

At HWDSB, staff wellness is a priority. We are committed to co-creating and fostering an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and supported. We are continuously striving to support the needs of our diverse community and actively work to foster and maintain a culture of human rights.

Our holistic Staff Wellness program has been designed to support employee’s well-being in all dimensions of health. As one part of this comprehensive program, all staff as well as their dependents have access to free and confidential supports through our Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP), in addition to many other program components.

Reporting to the Manager of Social Work Services/Mental Health Lead and Manager of Social Work/School Based Support, the School Social Worker will provide therapeutic interventions, guided by evidence-informed practices, to enhance the social-emotional well-being and mental health of HWDSB students. The Social Worker meets these expectations by intervening within a continuum of service, and is responsible to provide the following:
Providing consultation, brief service, treatment intervention and crisis support to children and youth between 4-18 years old presenting with:
Mental health concerns, such as anxiety or low mood

School avoidance and non-attendance

Personal and behavioural challenges such as peer relationship stress, substance use, adverse childhood experiences.

Family stressors that impact on the student's functioning at school.

Experiencing systemic oppression and discrimination (racism, poverty, colonialization, homophobia/biphobia/transphobia, poverty etc.)

Urgent mental health crisis that places the child/youth at risk or poses a risk to others.

**Brief Service includes**:
Focusing on client strengths, are culturally inclusive and safe, and promote shared decision-making with the client.

Provision of “quick access” therapeutic encounters to address the immediate or presenting needs of a child or youth.

Provision of a timely response to requests for service, maximizing the child or youth and family’s readiness for change and diverting children, youth and families from waitlists whenever possible.

Facilitating referrals to appropriate alternate or additional services, both within the Board as well as the larger community.

**Treatment Intervention includes**:
A series of planned, interrelated interventions based on an assessment of the child, youth and family’s multiple risks, needs and strengths. A range of modalities such as individual, group and family

Using an evidence-informed approach that is strength-based, and culturally responsive to diverse populations, centered on the individual, considering the individual child/youth within their whole context, respecting their needs and preferences.

The intervention/treatment process involves clients and uses shared decision-making so that all parties understand the goals and desired outcomes.

The intervention/treatment plan is reviewed and recorded on a regular basis, and results are used to modify the intervention/treatment plan, if necessary.

**Crisis Support Services include**:
Implementing a triage protocol inclusive of prioritization criteria, type of contact and corresponding response time targets.

Referral to appropriate community agencies and services to support the student in developing and implementing a safety plan.

Supporting system wide initiatives that enhance or establish universal conditions for student wellbeing and inclusion

A Masters in Social Work and registration in good standing with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Strong commitment to social work values, anti-oppressive/anti-racist practice, culturally safe and inclusive approaches to service delivery.

Knowledge and awareness of the issues that impact upon children and youth and their school experience.

Thorough knowledge of child development, social, environmental and structural influences, cultural diversity, family systems and age-appropriate change strategies.

Demonstrated ability in working both within a multi-disciplinary tea