Social Worker, Neurology/neurosurgery, Ambulatory

Compensation Pay Range:
$42.65-$51.84

**Job Description**:
Consistent with the interprofessional setting and the mission, vision and strategic directions of CHEO, the Social Worker will be a member of an interdisciplinary team. The Social Worker will offer counseling related to diagnosis; crisis intervention services; group therapy for children, youth and their families; liaison with community based agencies and services. The Social Worker will advocate on behalf of families with regards to community resources/services and assist families in seeking financial assistance when needed. The Social Worker will work with children and youth up to 18 years old and their families, providing evidence based individual, family and group therapy and interventions. The Social Worker will have an active role in program development, service evaluation, parent and staff education and skills-based training as required. The Social Worker will participate in providing mentoring and training opportunities to Social Work students studying at the BSW/MSW level.

The Social Worker will be a member of the CHEO Discipline of Social Work and will participate in the Social Work Coverage Model.

The Neurology and Neurosurgery clinic is located at CHEO’s main site where the social worker takes part in clinic related activities with families, with a strong emphasis on teaching and education of families related to adaptation to the child’s medical condition. The social workers collaborate with psychology in providing mental health supports and workshops for patients and families. This role will help to foster collaborative relationships and partnerships that support seamless transitions between health care providers.

**MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Conducts comprehensive psycho-social and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the patient and family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and family and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies.
- The social worker will provide counseling and support to patients and their families by offering ongoing individual and family counseling, crisis intervention and conflict resolution related to treatment decisions, child welfare, mental health, trauma, illness, treatment refusal, end of life decisions and loss
- Facilitate support groups for children/youth and their families. Assist patients with and their families with advocacy and co-ordination of community resources
- Participate in interdisciplinary team/committee meetings
- Participate in parent educations sessions.
- Liaise with appropriate local and regional services
- Consultation for community resources
- Provide opportunities for mentorship to other social workers and education at CHEO and community
- Maintains current knowledge on evidence-based practice by such methods as reviewing literature, consulting with clinical and community experts in the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices.
- Performs administrative tasks by maintaining clinical documentation, progress notes, workload statistics and updating health records in accordance with established standards.
- Flexible working hours and availability to carry out other responsibilities as assigned.
- Participate in community outreach

QUALIFICATIONS
- Vulnerable Sector Check (Essential)
- M.S.W. graduate from an accredited university program in social work (preferred)
- B.S.W. graduate will be considered if other qualifications are met (Essential)
- Member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and broad knowledge (Essential)
- of Social Work theory, practice and regulations established by the College (Essential)
- Demonstrated expertise and knowledge about the impact of illness on children, youth and families (Essential)
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience within a pediatric ambulatory setting (preferred)
- Demonstrated ability to work independently (Essential)
- Demonstrated ability to conduct and document a comprehensive psychosocial assessment (Essential)
- Fluency in both English and French (preferred)
- Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work (Essential)
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in an inter professional environment with co-workers, physicians, clients and their families and external agencies (Essential)
- Knowledge of community resources (preferred)
- Ability to operate a computerized patient care information system (preferred)
- Demonstrated ability to provide trauma informed care (preferred)
- Demonstrated ability to integrate the following approaches into practice: Strength-Based Perspective, Family System’s Theory, Crisis Intervention, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy & Grief & Bereavement (preferred)
- Comfort level and skill in preparing and delivering pre