CBVRCE 2025 NSTU-025 - School Social Worker (10-Month - Term), Base: Memorial High

Government of Nova Scotia; Sydney; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional educational authority is seeking a School Social Worker for a 10-month term. The role focuses on providing counseling services to students facing personal and social challenges. Candidates must hold a Master's degree in social work and be registered with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. Experience in clinical settings is essential. This position offers a collaborative environment aimed at supporting educational success.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work is required.
• Registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.
• Three to five years’ experience in a clinical mental health setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling services to students and families regarding mental health issues.
• Assess students' situations to determine necessary services.
• Maintain case records and prepare reports for student success planning.

Skills

Counseling techniques

Crisis intervention

Team collaboration

Problem-solving

Knowledge of child development

Education

Master's degree in social work

Nova Scotia College of Social Workers Registration

Job description

Overview

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education is responsible for the administration of the public school system within the boundaries of Cape Breton and Victoria Counties, supporting approximately 12,000 students in 38 schools.

We foster a caring, dynamic and creative environment that provides educational opportunities, promotes a love of learning, respect for others and challenges all persons to develop their full potential to become confident, versatile, lifelong learners and thinkers. We are committed to ensuring the success and achievement of all students within a culturally responsive, safe and inclusive school environment.

The CBVRCE invites applications for the above noted position as we work together to create success for all students in our region. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the students we serve. The Centre for Education welcomes applications from Indigenous People, African Canadian and Other Racially Visible Persons, Members of the 2SLGBTQI++ community, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, we encourage you to apply and self-identify on your application.

School Social Worker - 10 Month Term (Base: Memorial High)

November 20, 2025 - June 30, 2026

September 2, 2026 - January 10, 2027

Application Deadline: Thursday September 11, 2025 by Midnight

Applicants must provide the following:

• upload a completed resume with their application
• include 3 references, one of which is the applicant's immediate supervisor
• update Worksite with the name of the school for each entry in Employment at NSSB in Employee File
• update the Assignment (course and/or grades taught) for each entry in Employment at NSSB in Employee File

Qualifications

Qualifications and Competencies

• Master's degree in social work is required.
• Registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.
• The successful candidate must meet all requirements to obtain a Nova Scotia Teaching Certificate or Special Certificate from the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Office of Teacher Certification.
• Three (3) to five (5) years’ experience working in a clinical mental health setting.
• Experience facilitating and coordinating all phases of service delivery for children, youth and families deemed at risk including, but not limited to, identification, intervention, monitoring, and consultation services in support of educational success.
• Experience with a variety of agencies providing services to children and youth, including the public school system.
• Experience with a variety of systems, such as Child and Family Well Being, Family Court, Mental Health and Addictions, Physical Wellness, Justice, Income Assistance, Homelessness and Supportive Housing, Disability Support Program, Non-Profit and other community organizations, along with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with professionals in the above named systems.
• The ability to analyze, assess and intervene in a variety of complex problem-solving situations that adversely impact students in the education system by drawing upon various models of counselling such as motivational/solution focused, person-centered, cognitive behavioural/learning models of practice.
• A strong knowledge base around child development, typical and atypical, family dynamics, trauma-informed care and community resources for purposes of appropriate assessment and planning for students.
• Knowledge of family violence and mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, addictions and other risk-based behaviours such as self-harm, impulse control, oppositional defiant disorders, etc.
• Ability to work independently and to work collaboratively with various professionals.

PLEASE PROVIDE A COVER LETTER WHICH DESCRIBES HOW YOU MEET THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Reporting to the Coordinator of Program Partnerships, the CBVRCE Social Worker will provide supports to students, families and school staff by identifying and addressing at-risk situations, participating in school teams and offering counselling and referral services. The social worker will help to facilitate positive educational outcomes for students who are experiencing personal, family or social challenges which interfere with the students’ success in an educational context. This will be achieved through a variety of interventions and collaborations. Consistent with policies of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education, the School Social Worker will work within the Inclusive Education Policy framework for the delivery of specialized services to students.

This position is a 10-month Nova Scotia Teachers Union position and will be subject to the Teacher Provincial Agreement as well as the MOU for 10-month NSTU specialists.

Responsibilities

• Provide many types of short- and long-term counselling services to students, groups, and families, regarding issues including, but not limited to, mental health, substance abuse, family violence and social adjustment.
• Using a strengths-based approach, assess students’ situations and problems, to determine what services are required to meet their needs. This may include, but is not limited to, a person’s overall wellness and ability to function, suicide and crisis intervention, conflict resolution, mediation, and stress management.
• Maintain case history records, prepare reports and work with school planning teams for student success planning.
• Liaise with other agencies to support student needs.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the Coordinator of Program Partnerships and/or the Director of Programs and Student Services.

Salary is as per NSTU Provincial Collective Agreement