Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide professional social work and classification services for all offenders in a large correctional facility.

Duties / Responsibilities :

In a large maximum security correctional facility the incumbent provides professional social work services by:1. Formulating discharge plans in full collaboration with other professionals, assigned offenders, and other concerned parties; e.g., family.2. Providing crisis intervention services, including implementation of Ministry Suicide Policy; preparing and maintaining appropriate assessment, progress and statistical reports/records; e.g., psycho-social reports for Ontario Parole and Earned Remission Board.3. Handling case management process to foster continuity of treatment by co-coordinating offender's specific needs with appropriate institutional and community support services; preparing discharge plans, and advocating on offender's behalf for referral to support services/resources.4. Developing and operating in-house rehabilitative programs and Accredited Core Rehabilitative Programs.5. Completing risks/needs assessment using electronic LSI-OR and OTIS 6. Participating in social work research activities and evaluating treatment programs/services.7. Providing social work consultation and training to institutional staff concerning offender needs and status. 8. Participating on institutional Boards and committees to provide expert technical knowledge and assistance.

Staffing and Licensing :

Designation of Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Knowledge :

Job requires in depth knowledge of theories, principles and practices of social work normally acquired through a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) or Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) to develop rehabilitative treatment plans from a social work perspective and psycho-social rehabilitation/treatment theories, principles and techniques; e.g., psycho-social assessments, individual/group therapy, crisis intervention, and development and implementation of programs and rehabilitative plans for offenders to apply appropriate treatment to offenders. Job requires Designation of Registered Social Worker (R.S.W.) in good standing with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Job requires knowledge of relevant legislation; e.g., Ministry of Correctional Services Act, institutional ministry policies, procedures, rules of confidentiality, program support services and risk assessment tools to recommend appropriate classification for institutional program, or alternate institution placement to ensure proper and consistent treatment implementation, to provide information, interpretation and advice to institutional staff and to report observations to manager that may affect programs and offender activities. Job requires knowledge of community support services to assist offenders in formulating discharge plans. Job requires knowledge of computers and related software; e.g., OTIS, LSI-OR and word-processing software packages to input/retrieve offender data, prepare reports and maintain case documentation and statistics.

Skills :

Job requires analytical and problem solving skills to gather and compile data from multiple sources; e.g., offender, file history, ministry staff, family, other external treatment professionals, in order to identify offender needs and appropriate institutional classification, and develop or modify social work rehabilitative, treatment and case management plans in consultation with offender and case management team, and to make recommendations on appropriate classification of offenders. Job requires analytical and reasoning skills to assess offenders in crisis and apply appropriate therapeutic intervention. Job requires analytical skills to evaluate program treatment/services effectiveness based on composite of experience with crisis intervention, conflict resolution, counselling, therapy, observations of offenders and input from other concerned parties. Job requires oral communication skills to carry out assessments and counselling sessions with offenders and other concerned parties (e.g. family) to discuss issues or problematic cases with supervisor or other professionals, and to liaise with correctional staff and/or community support services. Job requires advanced written communication skills to prepare assessment, progress and statistical reports. Job requires interpersonal skills to advocate on behalf of offender in the institution or community, when motivating and counselling offenders, and other concerned parties (e.g. family), to adhere to specific social work treatment program. Job requires tact, discretion and sensitivity when discussing problems/options with offenders in crisis, maintaining confidentiality. Job requires planning and organizational skills to manage own priorities, meet needs of treatment team and prepare discharge plans. Job requires keyboarding skills to prepare reports, etc.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working in accordance with established program policies and procedures to write reports, to provide care to offenders, and provide information about social work services to professional/correctional staff. Job requires working within guidelines of relevant legislation and recognized and approved professional ethics and practices, and maintaining confidentiality. Job requires discussing development and modification of social rehabilitative treatment and case management plans with offender and consultation, as necessary with Supervisor. Job requires providing weekly work update to supervisor, who is consulted on unusual cases and situations not covered by established methods and procedure. Job requires exercising independence in direct dealings with offenders in social work counselling sessions, crisis intervention, liaising with correctional staff, and developing and modifying treatment, case management and discharge plans.