Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health·Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Social Worker provides counseling and family-integrated care to patients in the NICU and Perinatal Follow Up Program, focusing on stressors related to hospitalization and pregnancy. They also manage intake duties, supervise clinical students, and collaborate with interprofessional teams to advocate for patient resources.
Click here to apply as an internal applicant.
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region.
We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia.
People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities.
We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes.
We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs.
We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us.
We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization.
There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years.
We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country.
Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country.
We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face.
We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer.
We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.The Opportunity Reporting to the Manager of the Neonatal Care Team, the Social Worker practices as a member of an interprofessional team to provide social work services and family integrated care with women and their families in the Women’s & Newborn Health Program (primarily NICU and PFU).
The Social Worker will have a major role in counseling patients and families who may be experiencing stressors associated with hospitalization, pregnancy, the postpartum period, pre-term birth, adjustment to parenting, perinatal and newborn loss.
The primary role of the successful applicant will be to provide individual and family counselling.
The Social Worker will also provide brief check in interventions, screening and assessment as required.
The Social Worker will have knowledge and skills in the areas of infant mental health (attachment), family dynamics, mental health and addictions, psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, trauma support and interprofessional collaboration.
The successful applicant will have experience in trauma responsive, culturally safe care and grief/loss work.
The Social Worker will be responsible to liaise with a range of health and government services with an emphasis on building collaborative partnerships, facilitating resource acquisition and advocating for appropriate resources to meet the client’s needs.
The Social Worker will have responsibilities in supervising clinical MSW student placements, teaching, program development, program evaluation, and research as needed.
The Social Worker serves as a resource to other neonatal team members on a direct and/or consultative basis as needed.
The Social Worker is also responsible to do intake duties for the Women’s & Newborn Health Program and work collaboratively with other social workers within the program.Hours of Work Monday to Friday (Flexible).
Some variations in working times will be required as needed.Your Qualifications
Master's Degree in Social Work required Current license or eligible for licensure with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers required Minimum of two (2) years clinical experience as a Master's prepared Social Worker required Knowledge of infant/child development, obstetric milestones, life transitions, mental health & addictions and women’s health required Advanced Psychotherapy skills. Including brief therapies. Family Therapy experience preferred Demonstrated understanding of the social, structural, emotional, psychological and cultural determinants/factors that affect well-being Demonstrated ability to use an anti-oppressive framework in practice Working knowledge of the DSM-5 considered an asset Ability to reach a joint formulation with the client and family Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act required Excellent time management, critical thinking, organization, decision making, and problem-solving skills required Exceptional interpersonal, presentation and communication (verbal and written) skills required Comfort and skills working collaboratively with internal and external partnerships required Experience in clinical case management and advocacy Demonstrated ability to work autonomously as well as part of an interprofessional team required Experience in Meditech, MS Outlook, and MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) preferred Competencies in other languages is considered an asset
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. 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.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
Candidates must hold a Master's Degree in Social Work and be licensed or eligible for licensure with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. A minimum of two years of clinical experience is required, along with knowledge of infant development, mental health, and trauma-responsive care.
Market context
Behavioral-health positions in Nova Scotia often reflect steady demand in child and adolescent services, especially where trauma-informed care and specialized assessment skills are needed. These roles are competitive because employers typically look for a Ph.D. or PsyD in Clinical Psychology, registration with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology, and direct clinical experience with younger patients. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your registration status and prepare examples of trauma-informed work before applying.