Grief & Bereavement Social Worker/Palliative Care Clinical Coach (existing position)

Blanche River Health; Kirkland Lake; On-site; CAD 57,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness centre

EAP program

Education bursary program

Wellness initiatives

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Blanche River Health seeks a Grief & Bereavement Social Worker / Palliative Care Clinical Coach. You will implement grief support, collaborate with community partners, and drive practice change to improve access and care quality.

You will provide psychosocial assessment, counseling, and group facilitation within a team focused on equity and patient-centered outcomes. This is a full-time, on-site role with OPSEU alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from an accredited university or current enrollment
• Current registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as an RSW
• Ongoing commitment to professional development
• Specialized grief/bereavement counseling training is an asset

Responsibilities

• Provide grief and bereavement support to individuals, families, and caregivers, including counseling and education
• Collaborate with Palliative Care Coordinator and external programs to ensure access to services
• Facilitate therapeutic groups and educational workshops
• Develop materials for public access and community education
• Contribute to program development, evaluation, and outcome reporting

Skills

Grief and bereavement experience

psychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Group facilitation

Ethical decision‑making

Program development

Data reporting

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Time management

Education

BSW (Bachelor of Social Work)

OCSWSSW registration (RSW)

Professional development commitment

Bereavement counseling certification (asset)

Tools

EHR systems

Microsoft Office

videoconferencing tools

Job description

Grief & Bereavement Social Worker/Palliative Care Clinical Coach (existing position)

• On-site staff fitness centre, EAP program, ‘perks’ program.
• A commitment to professional and personal development including an Education Bursary program.
• A commitment to employee Wellness including work-life balance
• A commitment to a diverse, supportive and equitable workplace
• A commitment to a culture of safety and of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment

Compensation & Benefits Information

• Eligibility to enroll in the HEALTHCARE OF ONTARIO PENSION PLAN (HOOPP). Click on the link provided for more information - https://hoopp.com/
• Percent in lieu of benefits and vacation percentage paid out bi-weekly, up to 20% as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement

Job Summary

The Grief and Bereavement Program Social Worker/ Palliative Care Clinical Coach is responsible for:

Grief & Bereavement Program Social Worker

The program implementation of grief and bereavement support includes collaboration with the Palliative Care Coordinator, Timiskaming Hospice Palliative Care Program, and the Timiskaming Ontario Health Team. The incumbent ensures that access to grief and bereavement support is available to individuals and families coping with loss, including death, significant life changes, and other forms of grief. Access may include individual and group counseling support, education facilitation, development of materials for public access, creating support network, and collaborating with provincial leads for best practices in grief and bereavement support.

Palliative Care Clinical Coach

Working with participating community organizations in alignment with provincial direction established by Ontario Health and guidance developed by the Ontario Palliative Care Network. The incumbent will drive practice change, with a focus on improving access to and quality of clinical care, aligned to the Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework in the Community ("The Delivery Framework") and the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework.

Qualifications

Education:

Certifications and Registrations

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from an accredited university (or proof of current enrollment)
• Current registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as a Registered Social Worker (RSW).
• Ongoing commitment to advancing continual professional development
• Specialized training or certification in grief and bereavement counseling will be considered an asset

Skill, Ability & Experience

• Minimum three (3) years of social work experience in palliative care, hospice, oncology, community health, hospital, or a related healthcare setting.
• Demonstrated experience providing psychosocial assessment, counselling, crisis intervention, and supportive therapy to individuals, families, and caregivers.
• Demonstrated experience providing grief and bereavement counselling across the lifespan using evidence-informed approaches.
• Advanced knowledge of grief theories, bereavement models, trauma-informed practice, family systems theory, and strengths-based approaches.
• Strong understanding of palliative care philosophy, symptom impact, advance care planning, goals of care conversations, caregiver support, and end-of-life care.
• Experience facilitating therapeutic groups, support groups, educational workshops, and community education initiatives.
• Ability to respond effectively to complex psychosocial situations requiring sound clinical judgment and ethical decision‑making.
• Experience supporting healthcare providers managing complex palliative care and psychosocial situations.
• Ability to build clinical capacity through mentorship, reflective practice, and evidence-informed education.
• Demonstrated experience with program development, implementation, evaluation, and outcome measurement.
• Ability to analyze program data and prepare reports for organizational leadership, funders, and community partners.
• Knowledge of research principles, critical appraisal of evidence, and translation of research into practice is considered an asset.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and active listening skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and project coordination abilities.
• Strong written communication skills, including experience preparing reports, presentations, educational materials, and clinical documentation.
• Working knowledge of the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework and the Community Health Services Delivery Framework.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, professional standards, privacy legislation, and ethical practice relevant to social work and healthcare.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and culturally safe practice.
• Commitment to engage with First Nations, Indigenous, Métis and urban Indigenous people as they self-determine their own approach to palliative care.
• Proficiency with electronic health record systems and clinical documentation.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams.
• Experience using virtual education and videoconferencing platforms to facilitate meetings, coaching, and education sessions.
• Access to reliable and efficient mode(s) of transportation to enable travel between community organizations.

Blanche River Health is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Program/Department

Palliative Care

Status

Temporary / Full-time(0.8FTE)

Union

OPSEU

Salary Plan / Job Grade

$41.24 to $53.47, as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement