Attention, Social Work Professionals!Do you have a passion for Social Work and making an impact on the lives of others? Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase and further develop your leadership skills? If so, consider this unique opportunity as Manager, Social Work Services at the Ontario Correctional Institute (OCI), where you will develop, plan, implement, administer and evaluate a diversified social work, rehabilitation and classification program.
As the Manager, Social Work Services, you will plan, organize, and evaluate resources, services and programs pertaining to social services, within the context of a person-centred model of care. You will also be an expert resource to the inter-disciplinary team regarding social work issues. You will work closely with staff and partners to facilitate classification of inmates, temporary absence plans, and discharges, meeting provincial requirements and best practice standards.
About usThe Ontario Correctional Institute is a 228-bed correctional treatment centre providing specialized and intensive treatment for offenders with clearly identified problems relating to substance abuse, sexual misconduct, impulse control and anger management. The facility is staffed by professional clinical personnel. The goal of OCI is to provide treatment that will enable provincial offenders to make positive changes in their lives so they will be able to live healthier, pro-social lifestyles in order to reduce re-offending and thereby creating safer communities.
About the job
As the Manager, Social Work Services, you will:
• Ensure proper assessment, evaluation, classification, and documentation of those admitted and discharged
• Provide professional direction, coaching and mentoring to staff
• Manage human resources, including recruitment, performance management, training and development, and manage issues
• Liaise between the institution and various community agencies such as police departments, Ontario Parole Boards and other branches of the Criminal Justice System, treatment/ psychiatric facilities, and community groups such as the John Howard Society
• Identify individual needs, matching identified needs to specific programs/services or making appropriate referrals to community agencies as part of the discharge planning process
• Work with Senior Management to review, develop and formulate institutional policies, goals and objectives as they relate to social work and rehabilitative programs/services
Leadership in the OPS
The OPS Leadership Behaviours define what it means to be a leader through the following expected behaviours and attributes:
• You are committed to the responsibilities of being a leader by demonstrating authenticity, accountability and courage.
• You are innovative by embracing positive disruption, maintaining a future mindset and leading with a common purpose.
• You are collaborative by driving people-centred outcomes, being inclusive and helping staff and colleagues grow, every day.
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What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
• You are currently registered as a Social Worker in good standing with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers of Ontario
Specialized Knowledge and Experience
• You have demonstrated expertise in current social work and rehabilitation theories as they relate to crisis intervention, classification and counselling/treatment
• You are able to assess client behaviour/needs/mental disorders as well as progress and recommend changes to treatment plans
• You have an understanding of gender-responsive and anti-oppressive practices and approaches to meet the needs of the geographic representation of clients
• You have knowledge of professionally acceptable counselling techniques
• You have knowledge of, and experience with, current rehabilitative theories and techniques
• You are able to interpret and apply relevant legislation, regulations, and policies to ensure compliance (such as the Ministry of Correctional Services Act, Mental Health Act, Social Work and Social Service Work Act, etc.)
• You are able to apply your expertise in social work within a correctional environment, working with inmates
Management and Leadership Skills
• You have leadership skills to supervise a multidisciplinary team, providing technical, administrative and operational direction to staff, as well as mentoring and coaching as needed
• You can manage human resources including recruitment, performance management, training and development, and labour relations issues
• You have financial skills in order to provide control and monitor an allocated budget
• You have expertise in project management principles and methodologies to manage the delivery of plans, initiatives and goals
Communication and Relationship Management Skills
• You can liaise with facilities, staff, and various community agencies and participate on committees
• You have interpersonal and communication skills to respond to service delivery issues with inmates and their families, community agencies and organizations
• You demonstrate the ability to exchange information and provide social work advice for correctional staff to support the rehabilitative program
• You can demonstrate tact and diplomacy
Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
• You can develop and plan social work, rehabilitative, and classification programs to meet institutional needs and objectives within the confines of existing financial and staff resources
• You demonstrate good judgement skills to manage competing tasks and priorities, while meeting timelines and professional standards.
• You can assess and evaluate existing programs and determine needs for new and revised programming
Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-Racism
The OPS is an innovative, responsive and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable. Diversifying leadership is a top priority for the OPS. Our goal is to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most under-represented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) on our leadership teams.
The OPS is an accessible employer and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process. Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion.