Social Worker

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Support Change, Empower Growth, and Shape Safer Communities - Apply your social work skills to make a lasting impact.

Are you a compassionate and skilled Social Worker looking to make a difference in the lives of others? Join our team at the Toronto South Detention Centre, where you'll support inmates with diverse needs through assessment, counselling, and reintegration planning — helping them build a path forward.

Discover more about this exciting opportunity, our impactful work, and our dynamic team by exploring the opportunity overview. Click Opportunity Overview to learn more and join us on this rewarding journey!

Learn more about the role, the workplace, and ask questions during our online Information Session!
Register Here and join us from 12:00 pm to 1:00pm EST on December 16, 2025. If you are unable to attend, don't worry — we will send everyone who registered a link to the recording after the event.

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About the job

• Provide one-on-one and group counselling, including crisis intervention
• Prepare clinical assessments and statistical reports
• Facilitate rehabilitative programming and reintegration planning
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to support inmate care
• Maintain accurate case notes, reports, and statistics
• Participate in research, staff training, and program evaluation
• Other duties, as assigned

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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 Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
• You have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree

Specialized Social Work Knowledge and Experience

You have:
• in-depth knowledge of social work theories, principles, and practices
• familiarity with applying risk assessment tools and developing rehabilitative/treatment programs and plans
• an understanding of relevant legislation (e.g., Ministry of Correctional Services Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act, Social Work and Social Service Work Act, Mental Health Act, etc.)
• knowledge of community support services and reintegration planning
• experience using digital case management systems

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

You have:
• effective oral and written communication skills for counselling, reporting, and collaboration
• the ability to build rapport and advocate for offenders with diverse backgrounds
• experience demonstrating tact, discretion, and cultural sensitivity in handling confidential and complex situations
• experience working within multidisciplinary teams and with various community agencies

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

You are:
• able to evaluate treatment effectiveness and modify plans accordingly
• able to assess inmate needs and apply appropriate rehabilitative/treatment strategies
• capable of navigating sensitive conversations and resolving conflict, and engage in crisis interventions

Organizational Skills

You possess:
• effective planning and prioritization skills to manage competing responsibilities
• the ability to work independently while consulting with other professionals on complex cases as needed

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Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

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How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer  accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please  contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

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What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province.
We offer:
• A career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• Flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• Many employee networks offering support for and education about underrepresented groups
• Tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self-funded leave and more

Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package includes:
• A defined-benefit lifetime pension plan (guaranteed, ongoing inflation-protected income after retirement)
• Group health, dental, life and disability benefits
• A range of vacation and leave options
• An Employee and Family Assistance Program, which provides confidential counseling services

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Additional information:

Note:

• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• T-CL-236773/25

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How to apply:

1. You must apply online.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.