Manager, Social Work Services

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Apply By: Wednesday, December 17, :59 pm EST

Manager, Social Work Services

Job ID:

236275

Posting status:

Open

Organization:

Ministry of the Solicitor General

Division:

Correctional Services / Institutions

City:

Etobicoke

Position(s) language:

English

Job term:

1 Temporary contract/assignment – up to 12 months with possibility of extension

Job code:

M0812A - Social Services05

Salary:

$82, $118,507.00 Per year

Do you have a passion for Social Work and making an impact on the lives of others? Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase and further develop your leadership skills? If so, consider this unique opportunity as Manager, Social Work Services at the Toronto South Detention Centre, where you will develop, plan, implement, administer and evaluate a diversified social work, rehabilitation and classification program.

As the Manager, Social Work Services, you will plan, organize, and evaluate resources, services and programs pertaining to social services, within the context of a person-centered model of care. You will also be an expert resource to the inter-disciplinary team regarding social work issues. You will work closely with staff and partners to facilitate classification of inmates, temporary absence plans, and discharges, meeting provincial requirements and best practice standards.

Leadership in the Ontario Public Service

A leadership career in the Ontario Public Service offers meaningful opportunities to lead impactful projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and shape policies, programs and services that positively influence the lives of millions of Ontarians, all within a supportive and inclusive work environment. Our leaders enjoy comprehensive benefit plans, a robust pension program, and challenging and rewarding work that will keep you motivated and fulfilled.

Please note: It is essential for the Manager of Social Work Services to be physically present in the office five days a week.

For more information, visit us at:Correctional Facilities

About the job

Create the Work Environment

In the Ontario Public Service, we hold our leaders to the highest standards, expecting them to embody authenticity, accountability, and courage in every action and decision. It will be your responsibility to create a work environment and team culture that ignites innovation, nurtures collaboration and champions inclusivity by creating a diverse, anti-racist and accessible workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. By aligning your choices with these values, you will create a vibrant work environment where every individual can thrive.

Deliver on Business Goals and Priorities

Your leadership will be crucial in guiding the team towards the achievement of its business goals. It will be your responsibility to inspire and motivate your team to deliver their best performance and align the team's daily actions with the strategic vision of the ministry.

You will contribute to the achievement of team goals by:

• Ensuring proper assessment, evaluation, classification, and documentation of those admitted and discharged
• Providing professional direction, coaching and mentoring to staff
• Liaising between the institution and various community agencies such as police departments, Ontario Parole Boards and other branches of the Criminal Justice System, treatment/ psychiatric facilities, and community groups
• Identifying individual needs, matching identified needs to specific programs/services or making appropriate referrals to community agencies as part of the discharge planning process
• Working with Senior Management to review, develop and formulate institutional policies, goals and objectives as they relate to social work and rehabilitative programs/services
• Managing human resources, including recruitment, performance management, training and development, and manage issues

What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements

• You are currently a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers of Ontario
• Completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited college or university

Leadership and Management Skills

• Supervise, plan, and coordinate daily operations, ensuring the effective delivery of social work, rehabilitation, and classification programs within the facility.
• Provide technical, administrative, and operational direction to staff, fostering an inclusive and values-based team environment. This includes assigning work, evaluating performance, and identifying training needs.
• Control and monitor the allocated operational budget, ensuring financial activities are regularly reported and aligned with program goals.
• Maintain liaison services with community agencies, health services, and other stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to support client rehabilitation and program success.
• Assist in the review, development, and formulation of facility policies related to social work and rehabilitative programs, ensuring compliance with professional and ministry standards.

Specialized Knowledge and Experience

• Expertise in current social work and rehabilitative theories and techniques, particularly as they apply to crisis intervention, classification, programming, and counseling/treatment within a correctional environment.
• Proficiency in treatment plans and assessment methods to determine client behavior, needs, and mental health concerns, enabling accurate progress assessments and recommendations for changes.
• Knowledge of gender-responsive and anti-oppressive practices and approaches to effectively meet the diverse needs of the client demographic.
• Strong understanding of project management principles and methodologies to manage the delivery of program plans, initiatives, and goals effectively.
• Ability to interpret OPS and Ministry legislation, regulations, and policies related to social work/programming, ensuring compliance and identifying changes and developments in the field.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations, including trans clients and individuals with complex needs, using anti-oppressive and equity-focused approaches.

Communication and Relationship Management Skills

• Engage with facility management, professional, and medical staff to discuss security, program planning, and exchange information on clients and service delivery standards.
• Maintain effective communication with criminal justice partners, community agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring alignment with ministry policies and professional social work standards.
• Coordinate and carry out public relations functions, such as presentations to schools and advising families, judges, lawyers, and police about available programs within the Ministry, facility, and community.
• Participate in meetings with provincial, regional, or local program heads and stakeholders to discuss objectives, requirements, and standards for social work and rehabilitative programming.
• Identify individual and familial needs, provide consultation on challenging clients, and ensure proper communication and referrals to community agencies as part of the discharge planning process.
• Ability to build trust and maintain effective communication with clients from marginalized communities, ensuring culturally competent and inclusive service delivery.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• Interpret OPS and Ministry legislation, regulations, and policies as they relate to social work and programming, identifying changes and developments in the field to ensure compliance and effective service delivery.
• Match identified client needs to specific programs or services or make appropriate referrals to community agencies as part of the discharge planning process, ensuring tailored and effective client support.
• Assess and determine treatment plans using current, professionally acceptable counseling techniques, ensuring that client progress is accurately monitored, and necessary adjustments are made.
• Evaluate existing programs and determine the need for new or revised programs, resolving conflicts or disagreements between correctional and professional staff to enhance program effectiveness.
• Coordinate and plan the delivery of programs, operations, services, or projects, considering the strategy and mandate of the branch and ministry, and identifying areas for improvement based on changes and developments in the field.

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate

Think this role could be right for you?

We're here to support you every step of the way. These short videos can help you feel confident and prepared:

• Navigating Our Hiring Process (2 min) – Get a clear overview of each stage in our structured hiring process so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
• Application Preparation Tips (4 min) – Learn how to showcase your leadership experience in ways that align with how we evaluate applications during the screening stage.

Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

The OPS is an innovative, responsive and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable. Diversifying leadership is a top priority for the OPS. Our goal is to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most under-represented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) on our leadership teams.

The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply. As an organization that promotes equity and diversity, the OPS encourages applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized individuals, and persons with disabilities.

The OPS is an accessible employer, and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

Additional information:

Apply by:

Wednesday, December 17, :59 pm EST

Position details:

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 160 Horner Ave, Etobicoke, Toronto Region, Vulnerable Sector Check, Credit History Check, Local Police Databases Search, PIP/NICHE/RMS

Compensation group:

Management Compensation Plan

Work hours:

Schedule 6

Category:

Management and General

Posted on:

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Note:

• About security checks:
  
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• T-CL-212984/24

How to apply:

• You must apply online.

• Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.

• Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.

• Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.

• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

• If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment:

All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:

Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.

Strengthening Ontario, together

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