Social Worker - Temporary Full-Time (6 Month Contract)

Position Summary:

PCH is seeking a Social Worker to provide resident-centred social work services in accordance with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, Ontario Regulation 246/22, the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, applicable professional standards, and PCH policies.

As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the Social Worker assesses and addresses residents’ psychosocial needs, supports residents and lawful decision-makers, and promotes dignity, autonomy, safety, and quality of life.

The Social Worker is accountable for competent, ethical, resident-centred practice; informed consent; confidentiality; accurate records; professional registration; and compliance with applicable law, professional standards, and PCH policies
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Assessment and Intervention

• Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments addressing mental health, emotional well-being, cognition, adjustment, relationships, social supports, cultural needs, risk factors, and resident strengths.
• Provide individual, family, and group counselling within the Social Worker’s scope of practice, including support related to grief, loss, trauma, adjustment, isolation, caregiver stress, and end-of-life concerns.
• Delivery of crisis intervention, safety planning, conflict resolution, and timely referrals for residents experiencing complex psychosocial or mental health concerns.
• Use recognized assessment approaches and evaluate outcomes, revising interventions as residents’ needs change.

Care Planning and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Develop, implement, document, and evaluate individualized social work plans based on assessed needs, risks, strengths, preferences, and consent.
• Provide social work input for admissions, care conferences, transfers, discharge, palliative care, and end-of-life care.
• Coordinate care with residents, families, substitute decision-makers, the interdisciplinary team, and community partners.
• Consult with and educate team members regarding psychosocial needs, therapeutic communication, resident-centered approaches, and available resources.

Admissions, Discharge and Financial Supports

• Coordinate psychosocial admission requirements, orientation, and transition support.
• Coordinate psychosocial discharge requirements, including discharge following death, required documentation and notifications, and support to the resident’s lawful representative or family, as applicable.
• Assist residents or lawful representatives with OHIP renewals and supporting documents.
• In collaboration with the Office Manager, assist eligible residents or lawful representatives with Long-Term Care Rate Reduction Program applications and annual renewals.
• Provide information, referral, and application support for Canada Pension Plan and other government benefits, within scope.
• Liaise with the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, as authorized and required by law, regarding substitute decision-making, financial, legal, or estate matters.

Resident Rights, Advocacy and Family Support

• Promote and protect resident rights, informed choice, privacy, dignity, autonomy, and culturally responsive care.
• Advocate with and on behalf of residents regarding access to services, consent, decision-making, relationships, financial or practical concerns, and quality-of-life goals.
• Support residents and families through admission, changing care needs, serious illness, grief, bereavement, and other significant transitions.
• Identify and report actual or suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or infringement of resident rights in accordance with legislation and home policy.

Community Resources, Documentation and Program Development

• Maintain current knowledge of healthcare, mental health, legal, financial, housing, caregiver, and community supports relevant to older adults.
• Provide information, referrals, system navigation, and follow-up to support continuity of care.
• Maintain timely, accurate, objective, and confidential documentation of assessments, interventions, consent, referrals, consultations, and outcomes.
• Develop or contribute to resident, family, and team education; therapeutic or support groups; policies; quality improvement initiatives; audits; and program evaluation.

Committee Leadership

• Chair the Ethics and Palliative Care Committees; set agendas, facilitate meetings, record decisions and action items, and monitor follow-up.

Professional Practice, Quality and Safety

• Practice within professional scope, competence, ethical standards, and applicable legislation while maintaining registration in good standing.
• Safeguard privacy and confidentiality and obtain informed consent for social work services as required.
• Participate in continuing competence, education, supervision or consultation, incident review, inspections, and organizational quality and safety activities.
• Support a culture of equity, inclusion, resident safety, and zero tolerance for abuse and neglect.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work from an accredited Canadian program, or academic qualifications approved as equivalent by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Minimum three years of social work experience in long-term care, gerontology, healthcare, mental health, palliative care, or community services.
• Current registration in good standing as a Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Demonstrated competence in psychosocial assessment, counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, care planning, and case coordination.
• Knowledge of long-term care legislation, resident rights, consent and capacity, privacy, abuse prevention, mental health, grief, and community resources.
• Strong clinical judgment, communication, facilitation, documentation, conflict-resolution, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and standard office applications
• Experience supporting people living with dementia, cognitive impairment, responsive behaviours, trauma, or complex family systems
• Training in evidence-informed counselling, crisis response, capacity and consent, grief and bereavement, or conflict mediation.

Salary Range: $64,000 - $85,000