Social Worker, Psychiatry Clinic - Neurodevelopmental Health, Temporary Full-Time (1.0)

Compensation Pay Range

$46.69-$57.74

If you are a current CHEO employee with access to Workday, please apply to this posting via the Workday application as an internal applicant using the Jobs Hub.

To successfully apply for this position, please submit your application by 11:59 pm the day before the advertised closing date in the posting to ensure your application is received .

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system. Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Social Worker addresses the patient and family’s psychosocial factors that are relevant to diagnosis, illness or hospitalization through assessment and counseling, building community relationships, coordinating social services, education, research, and teaching.

This contract will support the Neurodevelopmental Health (NDH) Psychiatry Clinic, which operates as an interdisciplinary team providing comprehensive assessment and care to children, youth, and their families. The Social Worker will collaborate closely with psychiatrists and other interdisciplinary team members to deliver coordinated, family-centred care that addresses the psychosocial needs of patients and supports treatment planning and service navigation.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assess family dynamics, functioning, strengths and weaknesses.

• Provide emotional support/counseling (e.g., trauma, crisis intervention, adjustment, behavior modification grief/bereavement, etc.)

• Participate in interdisciplinary team rounds providing knowledge and expertise in the treatment planning of the psychological, social and emotional needs of children and youth.

• Provide psychotherapy to individuals, groups and families.

• Provide ongoing assessments of psychosocial factors that could impact on the child’s well-being

• Provide after hours response for trauma, acute sexual assault, new diagnoses, complex situations, and death.

• Develop and implement services and programs to respond to the psychosocial needs of the child, parent, and/or family.

• Maintain psychosocial documentation current with accurate and pertinent information of the patient and family situation.

• Participate in Quality Management, Policy and Planning and Accreditation Activities as required

• Complete daily statistical documentation (e.g., GRASP).

• Participate in various discipline and interdisciplinary committees throughout the hospital (e.g., Social Work, Family Forum, PLEO, Community Advisory Committee, etc).

• Consult and collaborate with a variety of community agencies (e.g., ministries, school boards, child welfare authorities, police, etc.) primarily in Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut.

• Serve as an advocate to federal, provincial, and municipal organizations to promote systematic changes to legislation governing the physical health and mental well being of children and youth.

• Promote social awareness in the community by participating as a board member, educator, conference speaker, consultant and expert witness (i.e., court appearance) as required.

• Identify, advocate for, negotiate and obtain community resources pertinent to the needs of the child and his/her family.

• Provide discharge planning and coordinate services both within the hospital and in the community (e.g., home/school visits, funeral arrangements).

• Provide leadership in the education of allied health professionals, volunteers and students in the community with respect to the social needs and issues of the pediatric population.

• Present workshops both within the hospital and the community.

• Promote greater understanding of such topics as chronic illness, mental health, and child protection through lectures to both high school and post secondary students.

• Participate in panel discussions and educational rounds.

• Supervise and train social work students at the BSW and MSW levels and provide practicum opportunities.

• Participate in disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and write projects (e.g., respite care, child abuse, and neglect).

• Support psychiatry assessments by providing psychosocial expertise and clinical information related to patient and family functioning.

• Provide short-term follow-up sessions as clinically appropriate during the psychiatry episode of care.

• Provide system navigation support to patients and families by connecting them with relevant community resources and services.

• Provide evidence-informed therapeutic interventions when clinically indicated during the NDH Psychiatry episode of care. Interventions may include:

• Modified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), including sensory-focused approaches when appropriate.

• Trauma-focused therapy adapted for neurodevelopmental populations.

• Behaviour therapy interventions.

• Modified Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches for anxiety and depression.

• Collaborate with the Psychiatry team and interdisciplinary providers to support assessment, treatment planning, and continuity of care for patients and families.

• Perform work in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and all CHEO corporate/program policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.

• Perform other related duties as assigned by manager/director.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s of Social Work degree (Essential)

• Membership in the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) (Essential)

• Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability diagnoses (Essential)

• Comprehensively use computer technology (Essential)

• Take steps to ensure timely completion of tasks by adjusting priorities as required (Essential)

• Adapt to changes to meet patient needs (Essential)

• Communicate effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing (Essential)

• Deal effectively and sensitively with patients and/or relatives to obtain cooperation and approval of actions (Essential)

• Deal effectively in crisis or traumatic situations involving extreme emotional situations (Essential)

• Deal effectively with external customers of considerable importance (Essential)

• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation; general knowledge of corporate/program policies and procedures related to health and safety (Essential)

• Function well in an interdisciplinary team (Essential)

• Apply knowledge of child protection issues (Essential)

• Access to Vehicle and Valid Driver’s License (Essential)

• Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3) (Essential)

• Bilingualism (French/ English) ( Essential)

• T imeline may be extended or shortened based on operational needs

* *Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Please note that this position will be based out of Ottawa . Please note that location may be subject to change at any time at the discretion of the employer. All OPSEU members shall be granted an interview upon passing the pre-screening. Pre-screening might include testing .

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested. Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire. Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ca.workus.org . All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ca.workus.org. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.