Social Program Officer

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

At this time, the Ontario Region is posting four job advertisements for various WP-03 Social Program Officer positions in different locations within the region. Should you be interested in employment in more than one of the identified locations, and apply to more than one job posting, your application will be evaluated only once. Results from the one assessment will be applied to any/all of the four Ontario job advertisements to which you apply. The five job advertisements between which results will be transferred are: 2022-PEN-EA-ONT-177683, 2022-PEN-EA-ONT-177780, 2022-PEN-EA-ONT-178301, 2022-PEN-EA-ONT-178308

Achieving a representative workforce has been identified an Organizational Need and will be applied in this appointment process.

Applicants must complete the Employment Equity portion of the CREATE/MAINTAIN PROFILE identifying themselves as a person of an EE group in their application through GC jobs in order to be considered to meet the Organizational Need in this process.

For this selection process, we will communicate with you by email. You must provide a valid email address to which you wish to receive communication regarding this selection process. It is your responsibility to inform of any change of address, telephone number and / or email address. You must ensure to check/view your email accounts including spam, promotion or other folders regularly as there may be a deadline for responses. Candidates who respond past the deadline risk being removed from the selection process.

Duties

Social Program Officers plan, organize and deliver specific social programs to meet the recreational, social, cultural and personal development needs of the offender population. As a Social Program Officer you will be required to assist with arranging community volunteer groups that deliver activities of interest to the offender population and encourage and motivate offenders to participate in social programs and activities, making a significant contribution to their reintegration into society.
A Social Program Officer is required to work at all security levels within an institution and may be required to work variable hours.

Work environment

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is the federal government agency responsible for administering sentences of a term of two years or more, as imposed by the courts. CSC is responsible for managing institutions of various security levels and supervising offenders under conditional release in the community. CSC is a people organization that values teamwork. We believe in continuous learning throughout your career and offer career development opportunities. CSC believes in an inclusive workforce therefore consists of skilled, diverse workforce that reflects Canadian population.

JOIN US today to make a difference in your community!

Intent of the process

A qualified pool of candidates could be used to staff similar positions in the Kitchener area.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education
• A secondary school diploma, or a satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma, or a successful completion of a provincially/territorially approved secondary school equivalency test.

Degree equivalency

Experience
• Experience in organizing and/or monitoring social programs, including social, recreational or leisure activities.
• Experience in intervening with and/or supporting individuals who are working on changing their behaviour.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to clearly outline how they meet each of the screening criteria (i.e. Education and Experience Qualifications) by responding to the screening questions in the online application. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that the requirement is met or to provide a listing of current responsibilities; rather, the applicant must provide concrete examples that illustrate how they meet the requirement. Lack of EXAMPLES and DETAILS may result in your application being rejected.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Organizational Needs - Increased representation of Employment Equity groups:
Achieving a representative workforce has been identified an Organizational Need and will be applied in this appointment process.

Applicants must complete the Employment Equity portion of the CREATE/MAINTAIN PROFILE identifying themselves as a person of an EE group in their application through GC jobs in order to be considered to meet the Organizational Need in this process.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential
• English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
• Knowledge of the Correctional Service of Canada’s Mission, priorities, and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act/Regulations.
• Knowledge of reintegration programs and related policies.

Abilities
• Ability to plan, facilitate, and evaluate the impact of social programs including social, recreational or leisure activities.
• Ability to establish partnerships with community organizations.
• Ability to provide leadership to volunteers and offender groups.
• Ability to motivate, positively influence, and assist offenders.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Personal Suitability
• Initiative
• Engagement
• Teamwork
• Sensitivity to Diversity
• Values & Ethics

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Asset qualifications

Education
• Successful completion of an accredited post-secondary program in Sports, Recreation, Leisure Activities, Social Sciences or any other area relevant to the duties.

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or a combination of post-secondary education, training and experience related to the position.

Degree equivalency

Occupational Certification
• Candidate must obtain and maintain a valid Standard First Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 'Level C' with automated external defibrillator (AED) certificate from a qualified provider.

Experience
• Experience in recruiting volunteers and facilitating volunteer run activities.
• Experience in the delivery of programs that prepare offenders for reintegration into the community.
• Experience working in a correctional environment.
• Experience working with Indigenous organizations or communities.
• Experience working with Ethno-cultural (not including Indigenous) organizations or communities.
• Experience working with individuals with mental health needs.

** NOTE - It is not necessary to describe how you meet any of the asset experience criteria listed below in your initial application to this selection process. Candidates who are screened in and invited to an interview will be asked to provide this information at that time.

Abilities
• Ability to communicate orally and/or in writing in a language other than English/French that is reflective of the offender population.

Operational requirements
• Employees must work shifts, variable hours, weekends, and statutory holidays.
• Employees may be required to work overtime.

Conditions of employment

Reliability and Security: Enhanced Reliability security status

• Possession of a valid unrestricted driver's licence that conforms to provincial or territorial requirement may be applicable to some positions.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.