Indigenous Social Worker - Regular - Learning Support Services

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB); Ottawa; On-site; CAD 84,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board invites applications for an Indigenous Social Worker in a 100% Regular 10-month position. The role focuses on supporting Indigenous students to achieve equal opportunity in education.

The successful candidate will hold an MSW or Master’s degree and be registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Strong counseling, interviewing and crisis intervention skills are essential.

Qualifications

• MSW or Master’s degree in a related field.
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
• Strong counseling and crisis intervention skills required.
• Experience with school-based practice and collaborating across teams is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling and support to Indigenous students and families.
• Conduct interviews, assessments and case management within school settings.
• Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to promote student wellbeing.

Skills

Counseling skills

Interviewing skills

Crisis intervention

Case management

Anti-oppressive practice

Cultural responsiveness

Education

MSW or related Master’s

OCSWSSW registration

Job description

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is the largest school board in Eastern Ontario and offers students and parents a world of choice for learning. Our nearly 150 schools offer a wide range of programs to promote learning excellence and meet the individual needs of students, parents, and the community at large. Our schools are teaching communities where principals, vice-principals, teachers and support staff nurture student well-being and challenge students to achieve their best.

We are seeking creative, dynamic, committed educational leaders

To Join The Following Initiative

Indigenous Social Worker

100% Regular (10 month work year)

$84,077 to $102,306

The OCDSB is committed to supporting the success and belonging of Indigenous students and recognizes the historic and ongoing discrimination experienced by this community. Under the Section 14, Special Programs provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the OCDSB seeks to hire a social worker who is Indigenous, who will be dedicated to serving Indigenous students. The candidate’s shared lived experiences will uniquely qualify the person to support Indigenous students to achieve equal opportunity in education and success within the school environment.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will possess a M.S.W., or Master’s degree in a related field, as well as registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

School social workers require specialized knowledge of a variety of theoretical perspectives and evidence based practices. Specifically, knowledge in this area involves an understanding of child and adolescent development and family dynamics; theories of human growth, including learning theory, systems theory, communications theory, social learning theory and behavioural theory; knowledge of social work intervention, including counseling, crisis intervention, casework, group work, community organization, consultation, case management, family therapy, and anti-oppressive, anti-racism and culturally relevant practices.

The successful candidate will also possess two years of related experience, including interviewing and counseling skills; understanding of pertinent legislation, District policies, programs and procedures; the curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning used within the schools; roles and areas of competence of various professionals in the District, and the process of professional teamwork. We recognize and value the importance of lived experience and experientially gained knowledge.

Additional Skills

The position requires gathering and evaluating information from a range of sources such as:

• Individual and family interviews, home visits, school setting observations, collateral contacts with agencies and professionals, documents, professional journals, etc.,
• Analyzing and developing solutions to problems such as: risk of suicide, suicide, child abuse, high risk behaviour, substance abuse, depression, etc.;
• Adaptation and application of learning theory, systems theory, behavioural theory for family/individual/group counseling;
• Developing curriculum re anti-bullying, social skills, suicide prevention, effective education strategies and the ability to build and broker relationships across cultures;
• The position requires oral and written communication skills to prepare presentations and deliver them, write reports and explain their contents to others;
• Interpersonal skills to advise on school policies, counsel, consult, provide system support, intervene in complex social, emotional and behavioural situations such as those outlined above to persuade, motivate students, families, mediation, conflict resolution with families, school personnel;
• Time management and prioritization to deal with multiple sites and programs;
• Knowledge of the Ontario curriculum and Human Rights legislation: cultural, racial, religious, gender identity and gender expression, and ethnic diversity; the needs of at-risk and exceptional students; biological factors that affect students’ ability to function effectively in school;
• Effective education strategies;
• Knowledge of and experience with community agency-based practice that includes family, child and adolescent assessment and counseling and mental health services; computer literacy; and
• Use of personal vehicle and valid Ontario Class G license, or access to public transportation.

Equitable Recruitment, Hiring and Promotion.

OCDSB employees serve students, colleagues, families and community partners. We invite people of all abilities, orientations, faiths, ethnicities, races, genders and ages to join us as we create learning and working spaces that honour the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Algonquin people, and respect, value and increasingly reflect the diversity of Ottawa. Your lived experience is an essential contribution to deliver the education every student deserves with dignity.

If you require accommodations at any point in the selection process, please send an email to [e-mail] .

EDUCATING FOR SUCCESS - BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES TOGETHER