LMI - Detailed description

Qualification and skills most often required

Un baccalauréat en travail social ou en service social est exigé. L’adhésion à l’Ordre professionnel des travailleurs sociaux du Québec est obligatoire pour porter le titre. Il est important de vérifier auprès de cet ordre professionnel quelles sont les conditions d’admission ainsi que les modalités particulières qui s’appliquent aux personnes diplômées à l’extérieur du Québec. Des compétences en intervention de crise et en gériatrie, de même que la connaissance de problèmes sociaux comme la toxicomanie, l’alcoolisme et la maladie mentale, sont demandées. Des candidates et des candidats expérimentés sont recherchés. Des aptitudes en communication et la capacité de travailler en équipe sont nécessaires. Un permis de conduire valide et l’usage d’un moyen de transport peuvent être exigés par l’employeur selon la nature du poste. Le bilinguisme peut être requis.

Reason for labor demand

La demande de main-d’œuvre s’explique par l’accroissement des besoins en services communautaires et sociaux liés à des problèmes sociaux, tels que la toxicomanie, la violence, le décrochage scolaire, les troubles de santé mentale, de même que des besoins liés au vieillissement de la population. La demande vient principalement des organismes communautaires, des centres locaux de services communautaires (CLSC), des coopératives de services à domicile, des maisons de jeunes, des centres hospitaliers et des centres d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée (CHSLD).

Job titles

addiction social worker
case management consultant - social work
case management social worker
View all job titles

Nature of work

Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.

Fields of interest

Counseling, helping others
Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

Social workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required
- Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems
- Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
- Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary
- Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups
- Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs
- Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development
- Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs
- May provide public education and consultation to professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
- May supervise other social workers.
* Social workers may specialize in fields of practice such as child welfare, family services, corrections, gerontology or addictions.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Social Workers (4152)

Employment requirements

* A bachelor's degree in social work is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
* In Alberta, a bachelor's degree or diploma in social work is required.
* In Saskatchewan, a bachelor's degree in social work is usually required.
* Supervised practical experience is usually required.
* Successful completion of provincial written and oral examinations may be required.
* Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta.
* Use of the titles "Social Worker" and "Registered Social Worker" is regulated in all provinces.
* Membership in a provincial association of social workers is usually required.