Social Worker MSW, NNFU & NICU (0.6 FTE, 1-year contract)

About SickKids

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

Position Description

Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up (NNFU) Clinic (0.4 FTE) & Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (0.2 FTE)

SickKids NICU is a level 3+ unit, providing care to the most critically ill patients. The Social Worker is an integral part of the health care team, providing in-depth psychosocial assessments, and treatment to families of critically ill babies. This includes, identification of family strengths, problem-solving abilities, barriers to service, interactions, attitudes, feelings and cultural issues in relation to the baby's illness. Supporting families in crisis as they adjust to what is often an unexpected admission is an integral part of this role. Social workers in the NICU support parents around post-partum depression/anxiety. Supporting families with issues of grief and loss is also a key portion of the role of Social Worker in the NICU.

The Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Clinic assesses babies who have been admitted to the NICU or Cardiac Critical Care Unit (CCCU) and may be at risk for developmental issues due to reasons such as prematurity or serious medical problems during delivery or after birth. In the Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow Up Clinic, the Social Worker will support families who have been discharged home from the NICU and CCCU. They will provide support around the transition to home, resource counselling, and overall adjustment counselling. Assessment for postpartum depression/anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will also be part of this role. The Social Worker will also support the educate the interdisciplinary team around psychosocial risk and protective factors by conducting assessments within the clinic setting.

Here's What You'll Get to Do:

• Provide psychosocial assessments and develop/implement a plan of intervention which addresses coping and adjustment to the NICU admission. This is achieved through a variety of modalities including counseling, consultation, case management, crisis intervention, community outreach and advocacy.
• Support families in their adjustment to life changing acute and chronic illness at a unique stage of the life cycle
• Provide support to families once they have transitioned out of the NICU - in the outpatient context in the Neonatal Follow Up Clinic
• Facilitate bonding, attachment and connection between parents and their infant
• Provide bereavement counselling around end of life issues
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary health care team
• Integrate research into practice
• Provide education to other members of the team in terms of social work interventions that benefit patients and families
• Provide assessment and adjustment counselling around issues of postpartum depression/anxiety
• Support families coping with illness by assessing resource issues and secure resources related to the social determinants of health- both in the inpatient and outpatient context
• Work collaboratively with a dynamic team in a fast paced ever changing environment
• Assume responsibility for all aspects of practice including issues of productivity and utilization

Here's What You'll Need:

• Master's degree in Social Work
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• Hospital experience strongly preferred
• Perinatal mental health experience preferred
• Clinical experience with children and their families
• Experience with child protection and/or trauma assessment and treatment
• Experience with issues of loss, grief and bereavement
• Knowledge of the network of community services and resources
• Understanding of health care delivery systems and the practice of social work in a secondary setting
• Ability to collaborate effectively as a member of the inter-professional health care team and to take initiative and leadership when appropriate
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, time management skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated commitment to practice in a manner that is consistent with the philosophy of continuous quality improvement and evidence-based practice
• Understand importance and demonstrates ability to foster a culture of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Here's What You'll Love

• A focus on employee wellness with our new Staff Health and Well-being Strategy. Self-care helps us support others.
• A hospital that welcomes and focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• The opportunity to make an impact. Regardless of your role or professional interest, you will be making a difference at SickKids and contributing to our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
• For more on why you'll love working at SickKids, visit our careers site.

Employment Type:

• 0.6 FTE, 22.5 hrs/week
• 12-month contract (modified benefits - dental and health)

Our Commitment to Diversity

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

Accessibility & Accommodation

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

How To Apply

Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.

Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.

Every application is reviewed by a human recruiter and all hiring decisions are made by people. In some cases, AI-assisted tools are used to help review applications based on job-related qualifications.

All positions posted on the SickKids Hospital's Careers Site represent current vacancies, unless otherwise posted in the job description.