About Foothills Country Hospice:

Foothills Country Hospice (FCHS) is a hospice providing compassionate, person-centred end-of-life care and bereavement support to individuals and families throughout the Foothills community. Our team is committed to creating a safe, respectful environment where residents and their loved ones are supported with dignity and compassion throughout their end-of-life journey.

Working at FCHS means being part of a close-knit team where relationships matter, every voice contributes, and the work you do has a meaningful impact on residents, families, and our community.

Position Summary:

As an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, the Social Worker provides comprehensive social, emotional, psychosocial, and grief support to hospice residents and their loved ones throughout their hospice journey.

The primary responsibility of this position is to support the bereavement support program. This includes providing individual support, grief counselling, and group-based support to residents, families, and loved ones, as appropriate to the individual's qualifications, training, and professional scope of practice.

The Social Worker provides vital psychosocial support, including assisting with end-of-life planning, identifying and connecting individuals with appropriate service providers and community resources, supporting family conferences, and completing genograms or other relevant psychosocial assessments. This role requires a strong working knowledge of federal, provincial, and community-based resources to effectively navigate available supports for residents and families.

The Social Worker will meet with residents and families within the first three days of their arrival at the hospice to introduce available support services and identify their unique needs and preferences. Working closely with the hospice interdisciplinary team, the Social Worker practices within their education, training, professional designation, and established policies, procedures, and standards. Resident and family safety, dignity, privacy, and choice remain central to all aspects of the role.

Other duties may be assigned by the Social Work and Grief Support Lead.

Position Responsibilities Include:

- Organizational Alignment: Promotes the mission, vision, and values of the Foothills Country Hospice Society (FCHS) and adheres to all policies while interacting with residents, loved ones, employees, and the community.
- Bereavement Programming: Supports families and loved ones through the grief process by facilitating,



and participating in the bereavement follow-up program. Works with and supports volunteers assisting in grief/bereavement programs.
- Counselling & Therapy: Facilitates FCHS’s Grief Support Program by providing one-to-one counselling and group therapy.
- Psychosocial Assessments: Conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including genograms and histories of significant life experiences. Clarifies information the resident has or would like to know related to their illness, inquires about life goals, and creates actionable plans to meet unmet goals.
- Direct Intervention: Works directly with the resident and their social network to manage psychosocial stressors (anxiety, guilt, fear, sadness) through supportive counselling and education.
- Care Coordination: Arranges and facilitates family meetings, case conferences, and interdisciplinary team huddles to help support complex needs, interventions, emotional support, advocacy, and referrals.
- Resource Navigation: Assists residents and families in securing essential needs such as food, housing, and transportation, and provides resources regarding finances, pre- and post-death forms, end-of-life services, and legal contacts.
- Advance Care Planning: Guides and assists in formalizing advance care planning documents, including personal directives, enduring powers of attorney, wills, and end-of-life wishes.
- Mentorship & Collaboration: Provides formal mentoring, presentations, and informal assistance to the interdisciplinary team and volunteers. Collaborates with external professional disciplines (community physicians, agencies, clergy) to enhance continuity of care.
- Documentation & Quality: Maintains accurate, timely charting in the database management system for all clients served. Completes monthly reports for the Social Work and Grief Support Lead.
- Continuous Improvement: Participates in Quarterly Improvement Committee meetings and actively supports continuous quality improvement and accreditation standards.

Accountability: Reporting Line: Social Work and Grief Support Lead

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The position includes one 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.



weekend shift every second weekend, on either Saturday or Sunday.

Occasionally, hours or shifts may be adjusted to accommodate resident, family, or program needs.

Minimum Requirements:

- Education: Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Social Work, Social Services, Human Services, Counselling, or a related field.
- Professional Registration: Current registration in good standing as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).
- Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in healthcare, social services, community support, counselling, or a related setting.
- Specialization: Experience providing psychosocial, emotional, grief, or bereavement support is required. Experience in palliative care, hospice, or end-of-life care is a strong asset.
- Cultural Competence: Experience supporting diverse individuals, families, and communities within a healthcare or non-profit sector.
- Core Competencies: Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and provide compassionate, person- and family-centred support. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Technical Proficiency: Working knowledge of virtual communication platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Demonstrated comfort with learning and adapting to new database and management technologies.

Working Conditions:

- Ability to work in a diversity of settings, including a shared office setting.
- Ability to travel; a current, valid driver’s license is required.
- Strict compliance with all FCHS privacy and confidentiality policies, procedures, and provincial Privacy Legislation is mandatory.
- All employees of FCHS are encouraged to participate on one or more organizational committees.

This position requires the individual to be compliant with all FCHS privacy and confidentiality policies and procedures; and to be compliant with all Privacy Legislation. To apply, please submit Resume and Cover Letter.

Pay: From $28.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Application question(s)

- Do you have current registration in good standing as a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)?
- Are you aware that the Foothills Country Hospice is located 5 minutes north of Okotoks, Alberta and is not accessible by public transit?

Work Location: In person

📌 Social Worker (Okotoks)
🏢 Foothills Country Hospice Society
📍 Okotoks