Health Care Social Worker (Bachelors) - Inpatient Psychiatry - Mental Health and Addictions

Req ID: 221427
Location: Western Zone, Valley Regional Hospital
Department: MHA WZ Inpatient Psychiatry AV
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100%) x 1
CUPE Healthcare Position
Posting Closing Date: 5-Jun-26

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing, and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres, and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators, and creative thinkers today.

Nova Scotia Health employs professionals in all corners of our beautiful province. We believe there's a place here for everyone to call home, from vibrant cities with exuberant nightlife to quaint towns with picturesque trails. The work-life balance that comes with a Nova Scotia Health role means you'll have the time to explore, discover, and participate in that coveted Atlantic lifestyle. Visit us today and check out www.novascotia.com to see why more people from across the globe are moving here.

About the Opportunity

Under the direction of the Manager for Inpatient Psychiatry, the Social Worker will work within a multi-disciplinary team and will be responsible for providing a wide range of clinical services to individuals including: screening, assessment, individual counselling, treatment planning, discharge planning, crisis intervention, group programming, case management/navigation and consultation. The social worker will need to be knowledgeable and highly skilled in the utilization of harm reduction, recovery models and the psychosocial rehabilitation model (PSR).

About You

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work
• Registered with the Nova Scotia College of Social Work (NSCSW)
• Two years’ (post BSW) related clinical experience (preferably working with individuals with substance use/gambling concerns and/or mental health)
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources/ programs and community development methods
• A high degree of proficiency in screening and risk assessment skills, including suicide risk assessment
• Strong problem solving skills.
• An ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships within health care and the community at large
• Sound working knowledge of harm reduction strategies and stages of change theory
• Knowledge and experience with brief intervention strategies, solution focused approaches, motivational interviewing skills and client engagement strategies
• Knowledge and experience with trauma informed care approach
• Knowledge of social determinants of health/social context and its importance to decision formulation
• The incumbent will need to have previous experience working with a significant amount of autonomy ensuring the plan of care is being fully articulated and work collaboratively with the care teams when adjustments are needed
• Experienced in offering supportive brief intervention strategies focuses on harm reduction and recovery
• A working knowledge of the DSM and experience in utilizing screening and triaging tools
• Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred

Minimum two (2) years of clinical experience required. If not available, candidates with less than two (2) years of experience may be considered for the selection process. If offered employment, they will be placed on the Healthcare Social Worker A (Developmental) scale.

Please ensure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant education, experience, training, and certifications.

Hours

• Permanent full time position; 75 hours bi-weekly
• Some shifts may include evenings and weekends

Compensation and Benefits

Healthcare Social Worker B: $36.58 - $48.53 Hourly

Healthcare Social Worker A (Developmental): $34.80 - $44.38 hourly

Successful candidates may be eligible for our benefits package which includes health, dental, travel, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage as well as a defined benefit pension plan.

Once You've Applied

Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Employees are encouraged to view their seniority hours and dates in their SuccessFactors online profile. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units, or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity, and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.