Position Summary

The Registered Social Worker provides social work services to residents and families within the long term care home. The role supports residents throughout admission, adjustment to long term care, changes in health or cognitive status, psychosocial concerns, family dynamics, end of life care, and other significant transitions.

The Registered Social Worker works collaboratively with nursing, physicians, recreation, dietary, rehabilitation, behavioural supports, spiritual care, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to promote resident wellbeing, dignity, choice, safety, and quality of life.

Key ResponsibilitiesResident Assessment and Support

- Complete psychosocial assessments and identify residents' emotional, social, behavioural, financial, environmental, and family support needs.
- Provide individual supportive counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, and psychosocial support to residents.
- Support residents experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, loss, social isolation, adjustment difficulties, cognitive decline, behavioural changes, or other psychosocial concerns within the scope of social work practice.
- Assist residents with adjustment to admission and transition into long term care.
- Identify barriers affecting a resident's wellbeing and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop appropriate supports.
- Advocate for residents' rights, preferences, dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

Family and Substitute Decision Maker Support

- Provide education, counselling, information, and support to families and substitute decision makers.
- Assist families with adjustment to a resident's admission, changes in health status, cognitive decline, behavioural concerns, palliative care, and end of life situations.
- Facilitate communication between residents, families, substitute decision makers, staff, and other members of the care team.
- Support the resolution of family concerns and interpersonal conflicts through appropriate counselling, mediation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Participate in family meetings and conferences when required.

Care Planning and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

- Participate in resident care conferences, interdisciplinary meetings, behavioural support discussions, and other clinical meetings as required.
- Contribute psychosocial information, assessments, goals, interventions, and recommendations to the resident's plan of care.
- Work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to address complex resident and family situations.
- Participate in planning for changes in resident needs, transfers, hospitalization, discharge, or transition to another level of care when applicable.
- Make referrals to appropriate internal and external services and community resources.

Consent, Capacity and Decision Making Support

- Support residents and families in understanding substitute decision making, powers of attorney, advance care planning, and related processes within the Social Worker's professional scope.
- Assist the interdisciplinary team with complex situations involving consent, capacity, substitute decision makers, family dynamics, and resident wishes.




- Advocate for resident participation in decisions affecting their care and quality of life.

Psychosocial and Behavioural Support

- Work collaboratively with nursing, Behavioural Supports Ontario and other appropriate resources when psychosocial factors contribute to responsive behaviours.
- Assist in identifying social, emotional, environmental, family, or adjustment factors affecting resident behaviour.
- Participate in the development and evaluation of resident centred strategies and interventions.

Palliative and End of Life Support

- Provide psychosocial and emotional support to residents and families during serious illness, palliative care, and end of life.
- Support residents and families experiencing grief, anticipatory grief, loss, and bereavement.
- Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to support resident and family wishes throughout the end of life process.

Community Resources and Advocacy

- Connect residents and families with appropriate community programs, financial resources, government programs, mental health supports, legal or advocacy resources, and other services when required.
- Maintain knowledge of available community and healthcare resources relevant to residents and families.
- Assist with referrals and coordination with hospitals, community agencies, healthcare providers, and other external organizations.

Documentation

- Complete assessments, progress notes, care planning documentation, referrals, reports, and other required records accurately and within established timelines.
- Maintain clear, objective, professional, and confidential documentation.
- Ensure documentation complies with the home's policies, applicable legislation, skilled standards, and privacy requirements.

Resident Rights and Safeguarding

- Promote and protect resident rights, dignity, privacy, independence, choice, and autonomy.
- Identify and appropriately escalate concerns involving suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, unsafe situations, or other risks to resident wellbeing.
- Follow required reporting, documentation, and escalation procedures.
- Participate in investigations, reviews, or resident support planning when requested and within the scope of the position.

Quality Improvement

- Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to resident experience, psychosocial wellbeing, admissions, family engagement, behavioural supports, palliative care, and other relevant areas.
- Identify trends or systemic issues affecting residents and bring recommendations forward to management.
- Participate in committees, education sessions, audits, and organizational initiatives as assigned.

Required Qualifications





- Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from a recognized university or equivalent qualification acceptable for registration in Ontario.
- Current registration and good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as a Registered Social Worker.
- Ability to maintain registration and professional requirements throughout employment.
- Knowledge of social work assessment, counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, care planning, and family support.
- Knowledge of issues affecting older adults, including dementia, cognitive impairment, grief and loss, mental health, capacity, family dynamics, and end of life care.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong assessment, problem solving, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
- Solid documentation and organizational skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

- Master's Degree in Social Work.
- Previous social work experience in long term care, seniors' care, geriatrics, hospital care, community healthcare, or a related setting.
- Experience working with residents living with dementia or other cognitive impairments.
- Experience supporting families through complex healthcare decisions, behavioural concerns, palliative care, grief, and end of life.
- Knowledge of Ontario's long term care system and legislation.
- Familiarity with electronic health records and LTC documentation systems.

Professional Expectations

The Registered Social Worker is expected to

- Practise within the standards and scope of the social work profession.
- Maintain active registration and good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
- Treat residents, families, colleagues, and community partners with dignity and professionalism.
- Maintain resident confidentiality and privacy.
- Demonstrate sound qualified judgment and appropriate professional boundaries.
- Respond appropriately to urgent resident, family, or operational concerns.
- Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with the interdisciplinary team.
- Complete required documentation accurately and on time.
- Comply with the home's policies, procedures, infection prevention and control practices, occupational health and safety requirements, and applicable legislation.

Core Competencies

- Resident centred care
- Psychosocial assessment
- Counselling and supportive intervention
- Crisis intervention
- Resident advocacy
- Family support
- Conflict resolution
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Dementia and geriatric care
- Grief and bereavement support
- Professional documentation
- Communication
- Professional judgment
- Confidentiality
- Organization and time management

Regulatory Requirement

Individuals providing social work services in an Ontario long term care home must meet applicable registration requirements. The successful candidate must therefore maintain current registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers throughout their employment.

Pay: $33.00-$40.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

📌 Registered Social Worker (Brantford)
🏢 Mimak Care
📍 Brantford