Caseworker (Employment & Income Support)

Caseworker (Employment & Income Support)

**Job Number**:1800

**Job Type**: Temporary Full-Time
**Temp Contract Length**: Contract ends on March 7, 2025.
**Location**: 99 Regina St S - Public Health & Community Serv.
**Job Category**: Health Care and Social Assistance
**Number of Positions**:1
**Department**: OWVA Team - Waterloo
**Division**: Community Services
**Hours of Work**: 35
**Union**: CUPE 1883
**Grade**: CUPE 1883 Grade 013
**Salary Range**: $41.19 - $46.67**About Us**

The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. Home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051. Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, “Growing with Care,” we focus on equity, inclusion, and sustainability. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core values emphasize caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

Dish with One Spoon Wampum:
- Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:
- Recognizing our shared humanity and land
- Taking only what we need
- Leaving some for others
- Keeping the dish clean
- This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core values, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.

**The Role**

**Duties/Responsibilities**
- Determines clients’ initial and ongoing financial eligibility/ineligibility based on established legislation/criteria, and notifies clients regarding same. Informs clients regarding documentation requirements, next steps, and answers questions regarding eligibility.
- Schedules clients for appointments or delegates scheduling to support staff.
- Assesses, determines needs, and issues discretionary benefits for disability support (ODSP) clients and non-social assistance recipients with extraordinary needs. Coordinates requests with ODSP office, service providers, and vendors.
- Authorizes benefits and interim assistance based on social benefits tribunal orders.
- Uses the “quality of life framework” to facilitate/support clients to develop individual employment plans and outcome plans to assist in accessing needed resources and meeting Ontario Works (OW) or ODSP participation requirements. Meets with clients ongoing regarding same. Informs/instructs clients in employment planning, and explains career planning, customized training, and job search strategies to clients with varying levels of understanding and barriers to employment. Assesses client needs, skills, and barriers to employment and initiates and supports clients through referrals to internal and local community supports. Contacts third parties to make referrals, advocate, and access services for clients. Shares program information and concerns regarding client needs with community outreach workers.
- Supports clients to follow through on participation and education requirements; verifies information through third parties; and imposes sanctions for non-compliance.
- Works with other community/government agencies to obtain/verify information and determine eligibility for underage clients.
- Reviews priority files prompted by provincial database to ensure clients are in receipt of correct OW assistance.
- Maintains client information in databases. Reviews system-calculated eligibility to ensure accuracy and reviews computer-generated reports. Performs manual calculations as required. Analyzes third party reports against client activity in databases to calculate eligibility.
- Calculates and documents changes on active and closed files; authorizes pay adjustments and updates database to fix overpayments and arrears. Notifies clients regarding outcomes, responds to inquiries, and advises regarding appeal processes. Maintains electronic and hard copy client files.
- Provides and receives information to/from other municipalities regarding fraud referrals, file transfers, and OW overpayments incurred while in Waterloo Region, as requested.
- Participates in the internal review process. Attends court when subpoenaed to present evidence. Problem solves/advocates for exceptional needs and circumstances that do not qualify for OW.
- Calculates, approves, and issues OW assistance, and issues mandatory and discretionary benefits, based on established guidelines.
- Responds to community emergencies, per prescribed role in the departmental emergency response protocol.
- Issues funds for emergency assistance and eviction prevention programs.
- Provides backup coverage and support to peers, as assigned.
- Performs related duties as assigned.

**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities**
- Knowledge of interviewing techniques, assessment approaches, and casework management, acquired through a university degree or 2-year college diploma in a related field, plus 2 years of related experience (p