Social Worker MSW, General Surgery and Urology Programs (0.8 FTE, 1-year contract)

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.

The Hospital for Sick Children is a leading tertiary pediatric center providing medical and mental health care to the most complex children and youth and their families. A dynamic clinical, education and research environment, SickKids is committed to excellence in integrated inter-professional care. It is a center of excellence in the delivery of innovative health care to the paediatric population.

Reporting to the Clinical Director, Social Work, this position will provide social work services to both patients and families within the General Surgery and Urology Programs at the Hospital for Sick Children. Through in-depth psychosocial assessments, the Social Worker identifies child and family strengths, problem-solving abilities, interactions, attitudes, feelings and cultural issues in relation to the baby’s/child’s illness. He/she also identifies supports and resources available to the family.

Here’s What You’ll Get To Do:

• Develop and implement a plan of intervention which addresses coping, adaptation, treatment adherence and quality of life. 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
• 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 adjustment counselling around issues of postpartum depression/anxiety
• Support families through their baby’s/child’s admission to improve coping and adjustment
• Support families coping with illness by assessing resource issues secure resources related to the social determinants of health
• 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, preferably with Paediatric hospital experience
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• Clinical experience with children and their families
• Experience with child protection and/or trauma assessment and treatment
• Well-developed family support skills
• 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
• Understanding and commitment to EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) informed practices
• Proficiency in the use of electronic platforms such as Microsoft Office, hospital documentation systems and other relevant technology
• To accommodate the needs of patients and families, flexible hours are required, and the job is primarily on-site at the Elizabeth St location.

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

• 30 hrs/week
• 1 year Full-time Contract with health and dental benefits
• On-site

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.

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.

Technical difficulties? Email [email protected] 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.