Provide psychosocial assessments and interventions for pediatric patients and families, primarily within Oncology and Hematology services. Responsibilities include offering counseling for diagnosis adjustment, crisis intervention, and advocating for community resources and financial assistance.
Requirements summary
Must be registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and be fluent in both English and French. A BSW is required, though an MSW is preferred, along with experience in pediatric or healthcare settings.
Please Note: If you are a current CHEO employee with access to Workday, please apply to this posting via the Workday application as an internal applicant using the Jobs Hub. To successfully apply for this position, please submit your application by 11:59 pm the day before the advertised closing date in the posting to ensure your application is received. In order to be qualified for this position, you must be currently registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land. CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system. Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024 and 2025 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario. POSITION SUMMARY Consistent with the inter professional setting and the mission, vision and strategic directions of CHEO, the Social Worker provides psychosocial assessments and intervention to assist patients and families presenting with health issues primarily to our Oncology & Hematology services. Social work services are provided to patients and families to address social and emotional stressors resulting from the interaction of physical, social, cultural, and psychological outcomes associated with health issues and treatment. The Social Worker will provide counseling related to diagnosis and adjustment to illness, crisis intervention, liaison with community based agencies and services. The Social Worker will advocate on behalf of patients and families with regards to community services/resources and financial assistance. The Social Worker will be a member of the CHEO Discipline of Social Work. The social worker will participate in the social work coverage model. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES Conducts comprehensive psycho-social and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the patient and family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and family and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies. The social worker will provide counseling and support to patients and their families by offering ongoing individual and family counseling, crisis intervention and conflict resolution related to treatment decisions, child welfare, mental health, trauma, illness, treatment refusal, end of life decisions and loss Advocates on behalf of families with respect to services and supports. Work closely with nurse coordinator to provide continuity of care for patients between visits Maintains current knowledge on social work evidence based practice by such methods as reviewing literature, consulting with clinical and community experts in the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices. Performs administrative tasks by maintaining clinical documentation, progress notes, workload statistics and updating health records in accordance with established standards. Carries other responsibilities as assigned QUALIFICATIONS Vulnerable Sector Check (Essential) M.S.W. graduate from an accredited university program in social work (Preferred) B.S.W. graduate will be considered if other qualifications are met (Essential) Member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (Essential) Minimum of 2 years experience within a pediatric or health care setting (Preferred) Sound knowledge and experience in crisis, trauma and bereavement intervention (Essential) Strong problem-solving skills (Essential) Experience working within an interdisciplinary team (Essential) Fluent in both English and French (Essential) Strong interpersonal and team work skills (Essential) Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work (Essential) Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in an inter professional environment with co-workers, physicians, clients and their families and external agencies (Essential) Knowledge of community resources (Preferred) Ability to operate a computerized patient care information system (Preferred) Demonstrated ability to provide trauma informed care (Preferred) Demonstrated ability to integrate the following approaches into practice: Strength-Based Perspective, Family System’s Theory, Crisis Intervention, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy & Grief & Bereavement (Preferred) Comfort level and skill in preparing and delivering presentations (Preferred) Experience working with children and families new to Canada using culturally safe practices (Preferred) Timeline may be extended or shortened based on operational needs.
Benefits
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Competitive Salary
Relocation Reimbursement Benefit
Support for Continued Education
Orientation Program
On-the-job Learning
Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Please note that this position will be based out of Ottawa. Please note that location may be subject to change at any time at the discretion of the employer. All OPSEU members shall be granted an interview upon passing the pre-screening. Pre-screening might include testing. Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested. CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants. Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at talentacquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire. We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted. Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire. CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants. Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at TalentAcquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted. CHEO is much more than a hospital. Our commitment to outstanding care and continued development impacts every part of a child and youth's health and well-being. We play a crucial role in building a healthy future for our community. Working at CHEO means a rewarding career. A career at CHEO provides a: competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package unique culture that fosters dedication, communication, respect and teamwork place where your opinions will be respected, contributions valued and your initiatives rewarded family-friendly environment that supports you and your own family, as well as the children, youth and families we serve chance to grow — personally and professionally — through our comprehensive orientation program and on-the-job learning support for continued education and learning potential for a relocation reimbursement benefit truly unique work environment We are redefining what it means to be a hospital. Exceptional and integrated care is what families, children and youth deserve. We are committed to partnering with them and the community to provide this care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO continues to be selected by local, national and international competitions showcasing employers who lead their sector in offering exceptional workplaces for their employees. For the eleventh time, CHEO has been recognized as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers. We are among a select group of organizations at the forefront of their respective industries who offer exceptional places to work. We were given this honour based on our outstanding: workplace atmosphere benefits employee communications training and skills development community involvement
