Province of Nova Scotia

Child Protection Social Worker 1-2

Province of Nova Scotia$74K — $103K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master of Social Work (MSW) or Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) with 2+ years of relevant experience.
  • Eligibility for registration with Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW).
  • Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
  • Deep understanding of child development and trauma-informed care.
  • Excellent problem-solving and creative thinking abilities.

Responsibilities

  • Assess child safety and wellbeing concerns with families and communities.
  • Collaborate and support individuals and families in need.
  • Develop and implement case plans tailored for families.
  • Advocate for community resources beneficial to clients.
  • Participate in risk assessments and potentially provide court testimonies.
  • Plan and supervise care for children in accordance with regulations.

Benefits

  • Endless career growth and development opportunities in Nova Scotia.
  • Reimbursement for registration fees to NS College of Social Workers.
  • Potential for moving expense assistance for out-of-province applicants.
  • Eligibility for overtime and shift premiums for after-hours work.
  • Travel and car allowance for work-related travel.
  • Initial three weeks of vacation with annual pay progression.
  • Robust Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP).
  • Comprehensive health benefits including dental and life insurance.
  • Defined Pension Benefit Plan.
Full Job Description
Competition # : 49501

Department: Opportunities and Social Development

Location: NEW GLASGOW

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 05-Aug-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Our Opportunity

We're hiring dedicated Child Protection Social Workers to join our team in the following program areas, including Assessment, Ongoing Support, and Children in Care. In this vital role, you will provide a wide array of professional child and family wellbeing services. You will be involved in planning for and supervising children in the care of the Minister, liaising with various partners and communities, and advocating on behalf of children and families.

As a role model, you will support and demonstrate a workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, safe, and supportive. 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 ensuring children's safety and wellbeing, provide ongoing supports to parents and children, and collaborate with program areas to determine appropriate and safe places for children to live.

Primary Accountabilities

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:
  • Assessing child safety and wellbeing concerns and working with families and communities to address them
  • Collaborating with and supporting individuals and families
  • Planning and developing case plans with families
  • 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


Qualifications and Experience

A completed Master of Social Work, or a Bachelor of Social work with at least two (2) years of related experience, along with a driver's license are required. You must be eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW). If you are a current social work student with anticipated graduation this year, with at least two (2) years of related experience, we encourage you to apply!

You are:
  • A strong team player
  • Empowered to drive positive change
  • Compassionate, reliable, and resourceful


You possess a deep understanding of child development, family dynamics, trauma-informed care, and community resources. You are well-versed in effective intervention strategies. Your excellent problem-solving skills, combined with creative thinking, enhance the support provided to children and families, contributing to their overall well-being and growth.

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

A typical workday is between 8am - 5pm. Most of your work will involve meeting with clients in their homes or with service providers, requiring substantial 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 also be called upon to work beyond regular business hours on short notice.

Personal resilience is crucial to meet the physical and emotional demands of this position. You will be immersed in high-stress and crisis situations, with extensive support and resources at your disposal. You must be able to work under pressure and be both personally and professionally committed to working inclusively with culturally diverse individuals.

What We Offer

We offer many perks and benefits, based on your employment status including:
  • A social work career without limits; endless opportunities to grow and develop within the Province of Nova Scotia through coaching, training, and advancement opportunities
  • 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.
  • Three (3) weeks vacation to start, and annual pay progression.
  • Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAP)
  • Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability
  • Defined Pension Benefit Plan.


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

Pay Grade: PRCW 13 - PRCW 16

Salary Range: $2,848.71 - $3,983.72 Bi-Weekly

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

About Province of Nova Scotia

The Province of Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located in the eastern part of the country. The province is responsible for providing various public services, including healthcare, education, and social services. The government of Nova Scotia is led by the Premier of Nova Scotia, who is the head of the executive branch of government. The province has a unicameral legislature, known as the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The province was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Learn more about Province of Nova Scotia
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