Social Worker 1(A)-(B)-2 (Foster Care or Adoption)

The Government of Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia; On-site; CAD 62,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Reimbursement for NSCSW registration

Travel and car allowance

Overtime and shift premiums for after‑

Three weeks vacation to start

EFAP (employee and family assistance)

Health, Dental, Life Insurance

Defined Pension Benefit Plan

Job summary

The Government of Nova Scotia is hiring social workers across Nova Scotia in Adoption, Foster Care, Disclosure Program, Screening and Regional Resource programs. You will assess families for placement, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and actively provide services to parents and children under CFSA and FNIM acts.

Notice to pending graduates is included; success depends on qualifications and ability to work with diverse communities under variable hours and travel requirements.

Qualifications

• Completed Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work and a valid driver's license.
• Eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW).
• Strong teamwork, empowerment, compassion, reliability, and resourcefulness.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with individuals, families and communities.
• Plan, develop, and monitor case plans with birth families, kinship caregivers, foster/adoptive parents.
• Work with the community and advocate connections to resources.
• Participate in risk assessments, court testimonies, and evaluations.
• Recruit and support foster and adoptive parents.

Skills

Team player

Empowered to impact change

Compassionate

Reliable

Education

Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work

Job description

Competition # : 50262

Department: Opportunities and Social Development

Location: DIGBY

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 01-Nov-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

At the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD) , we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services(ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support Program(DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure. We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

About Our Opportunity

Are you seeking a career where you have endless opportunities to positively impact the lives of vulnerable children and families?

We are hiring Social Workers across Nova Scotia in our Adoption, Foster Care, Disclosure Program, Screening and Regional Resource programs. Under the provisions of the Children and Family Services Act (CFSA) and An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth, and Families (FNIM), your role will actively work towards providing ongoing services to parents and children, and collaborate with program areas to assess families for the placement of children. You will join an interdisciplinary team and have an opportunity to positively bring about change.

Notice to Pending Social Work Graduates: If you are a few months away from graduation of your BSW/MSW program, you are encouraged to apply.

Primary Accountabilities

Social Workers ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children in the care of the Minister and those who remain in the care of their parents where concerns exist about their health and safety. Daily, you actively work to engage people and communities to build resilience, address challenges and trauma, and create change. Every day is different, and you will encounter unique challenges with responsibilities ranging from:

• Collaborating with individuals, families and communities
• Planning, developing, and monitoring case plans with birth families kinship caregivers, foster parents, adopting parents, childcare staff
• Working closely with the community and advocating for connections to community resources
• Participating in risk assessments, court testimonies, and evaluations
• Planning with and supervising children in care of the Minister
• Recruiting, preparing, assessing, and supporting foster and adoptive parents

Qualifications and Experience

A completed Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work is required as well as a valid drivers license. You must be eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers ( NSCSW ).

You are also:

• A strong team player
• Empowered to impact change
• Compassionate, reliable, and resourceful.

You are understanding of child development, family dynamics, trauma-informed care, counselling, community resources, and are well versed in effective intervention strategies. Your problem-solving skills and experience, combined with your creative thinking, work to strengthen, and improve support while working with children and families.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Working Conditions

Most of your work involves meeting with clients in their homes or with service providers. This necessitates considerable driving time, sometimes in adverse weather conditions.

On a rotating schedule, you may be required to provide child and family wellbeing services for your designated area, after regular business hours. This will include working on weekends and reporting to the provincial after-hours response team. You may be required to work beyond regular business hours on short notice.

Your resiliency is essential to meet the physical and emotional demands of this position. You will be immersed in high-stress and crises, with plenty of support and resources accessible to you. You must be able to work under pressure and be personally and professionally committed to inclusively working with culturally diverse individuals.

Additional Information

This posting will be used to fill opportunities in either the Foster Care or Adoption Program areas.

What We Offer

We offer many perks and benefits, based on your employment status including:

• Reimbursement for your registration fees to the NS College of Social Workers.
• Out-of-province applicants may be eligible to apply for moving expenses .
• Ability to earn overtime and shift premiums for weekend and after-hours work.
• Travel and car allowance.
• Career possibilities , guidance and coaching, and ongoing training.
• Three (3) weeks vacation to start, and annual pay progression .
• Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP (https://beta.novascotia.ca/programs-and-services/employee-and-family-assistance-program-efap))
• Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability
• Defined Pension Benefit Plan (https://www.nspssp.ca/).

Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.

Pay Grade: PR 09 - PR 15

Salary Range: $2,385.98 - $3,693.39 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, Persons of African Descent, Racialized Persons, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ Persons and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [e-mail].