Social Worker, Palliative Care Services/Roger Neilson Children's Hospice – Permanent Full-Time (1.0)

CHEO; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 64,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEO in Ottawa seeks a Social Worker to join an interprofessional palliative care team. The role includes counseling children and families, coordinating care, and advocating for community services and financial supports.

The position requires an MSW and membership in the provincial social work college; pediatric hospital experience is preferred, with flexibility in hours. CHEO emphasizes diversity and an inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• MSW degree from an accredited university.
• Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Experience with pediatric hospital settings is preferred.
• Bilingual English/French is preferred; strong communication skills in both languages.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psycho-social and family assessments.
• Provide individual, family and group counseling and crisis intervention.
• Advocate for families regarding services and supports.
• Coordinate care between CHEO and adult programs; liaison with community agencies.
• Participate in clinical research related to palliative care.
• Facilitate support groups for children and families.
• Maintain documentation and health records per standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Counseling

Interprofessional teamwork

Palliative care knowledge

Assessment & planning

Crisis intervention

Group therapy

Communication skills

Independent working

Education

MSW degree

Membership in Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers

Tools

Electronic health records / patient care information system

Job description

Job Description

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.

Compensation Pay Range

$46.69-$57.74

Position Summary

Consistent with the inter professional setting and the mission, vision and strategic directions of CHEO and Roger Neilson House the Social Worker will be a member of an inter professional team providing palliative care services at CHEO, at Roger Neilson House and on an outreach basis in the community. The Social Worker will offer counseling to children/youth and their families who are living with a progressive life limiting illness. The Social Worker will offer support throughout the illness trajectory including end of life and will provide liaison and co- coordination of community services/resources as required. Bereavement support will be provided on an individual, family and group basis. The Social Worker provides psychosocial assessments and intervention to patients and families to help address social and emotional stressors resulting from the interaction of physical, social, cultural, and psychological outcomes associated with health issues and treatment. The Social Worker will provide counseling related to diagnosis and adjustment to illness, crisis intervention, liaison within CHEO and with community‑based agencies/services. The Social Worker will advocate on behalf of patients and families with regards to community services/resources and financial assistance. The Social Worker will be a member of the CHEO Discipline of Social Work.

Main Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive psycho-social and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the patient and family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and family and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies.
• The social worker will provide counseling and support to patients and their families by offering ongoing individual, family and group counseling, crisis intervention and conflict resolution related to treatment decisions, child welfare, mental health, trauma, illness, treatment refusal, end of life decisions and loss.
• Advocates on behalf of families with respect to services and supports.
• Work closely with the interdisciplinary team to provide continuity of care for patients between visits. Coordinates social work care between CHEO and the adult programs.
• Participation in clinical research activities related to Palliative Care.
• Facilitates support groups for children/youth and families
• Maintains current knowledge on social work evidence based practice by such methods as reviewing literature, consulting with clinical and community experts in the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices.
• Performs administrative tasks by maintaining clinical documentation, progress notes, workload statistics and updating health records in accordance with established standards.
• Carries other responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• M.S.W. graduate from an accredited university program in social work (Essential)
• Member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and broad knowledge of Social Work theory, practice and regulations established by the College (Essential)
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge about the impact of illness on children, youth and families (Essential)
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge in the area of progressive life-limiting illness and the acute terminal phase of palliative care. (Essential)
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience within a pediatric hospital setting (Preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently (Essential)
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and document a comprehensive psychosocial assessment (Essential)
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work (Essential)
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in an inter professional environment with co-workers, physicians, clients and their families and external agencies (Essential)
• Well-developed group therapy skills (Essential)
• Knowledge of community resources (Preferred)
• Ability to operate a computerized patient care information system (Preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to integrate the following approaches into practice: Strength-Based Perspective, Family System’s Theory, Crisis Intervention, Brief Solution‑Focused Therapy & Grief & Bereavement (Preferred)
• Comfort level and skill in preparing and delivering presentations (Preferred)
• Experience working with children and families new to Canada using culturally safe practices (Preferred)
• Flexibility in working hours (Essential)
• Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3) (Essential)
• Bilingualism (English and French) (Preferred)
• 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.

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.