Social Worker, Mental Health

Are you motivated to make a difference in the lives of others? If so, consider this challenging opportunity at the Hamilton‑Wentworth Detention Centre where you will provide specialized and professional social work services for inmates.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation package including:

• A defined benefit pension plan
• Maternity and parental leave top‑up benefits
• A comprehensive health and dental plan
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including online training and mentorship programs
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization

In this role, you will:

• Complete bio‑psycho‑social, suicide, mental health, risk/needs, and clinical assessments and reports for crisis intervention, counselling, classification, rehabilitative programs, reintegration planning and parole proceedings
• Conduct individual and/or group counselling and case work sessions
• Provide individual and/or group rehabilitative programming
• Plan, develop and deliver rehabilitative treatment programs and intervention strategies to address the social, emotional, criminogenic and/or psychological needs of female offenders
• Explore community resources and facilitate referrals for female offenders re‑entering the community

• Currently registered as a Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
• Hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree

• Apply risk assessment tools and rehabilitative treatment placement options to provide recommendations on offender classification placement
• Develop rehabilitative program and treatment plans for offenders using bio‑psycho‑social rehabilitative treatment theories, principles, and techniques
• Utilize trauma‑informed and culturally responsive approaches addressing sexual abuse, addiction recovery, and gender‑responsive individual, group, and family practices
• Be familiar with community support services to assist offenders in formulating reintegration plans
• Know relevant legislation (e.g., Social Work and Social Service Work Act, Health Information Protection Act, privacy acts) and can comply with regulatory requirements

• Liaise with clients, correctional staff, and community support services
• Connect and build rapport with a diverse client population with varied cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds, and provide individual counselling, evaluation, and assessment services to offenders with complex needs
• Work within a multi-disciplinary setting, including community agencies
• Demonstrate tact, discretion and sensitivity to discuss problems/options with offenders and maintain confidentiality
• Possess advanced written communication skills to prepare case notes, assessments, progress and statistical reports

• Gather and compile data from multiple sources to identify female offender needs
• Develop or modify rehabilitative, treatment and case management plans
• Make recommendations on appropriate classification of offenders
• Assess female offenders in crisis and apply appropriate therapeutic intervention
• Evaluate program and treatment effectiveness

• Manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and contribute effectively as part of the multi‑disciplinary team
• Be proficient with computer software and database systems to input and retrieve inmate data, prepare reports, and maintain case documentation and statistics

• Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• Accessibility
• Anti‑Racism Policy

1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 165 Barton St E, Hamilton, West Region

3‑7

Health and Social Services

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

• A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. Each situation is considered based on the role’s responsibilities.
• If you have lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you must provide an out‑of‑country police clearance certificate from the relevant country.
• Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.

Thursday, July 2, :59 pm EDT – Late applications will not be accepted.

Accommodation is available under the Ontario's Human Rights Code.