Social Work Officer

Overview

As a member of the military, Social Work Officers deliver professional social work services in a military setting to support the morale, efficiency and mental health of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families. Social Work Officers offer clinical social work services similar to community mental health and social services agencies.

As well as the full range of challenges common to Canadian society, CAF members and their families cope with additional stresses associated with frequent moves and separations. These stresses can give rise to social and family circumstances that involve complex social work interventions.

The primary responsibilities of a Social Work Officer are to:

• Provide clinical intervention services
• Assist in the resolution of compassionate situations
• Consult with and advise leaders on the social circumstances encountered by personnel in their units
• Investigate and report compassionate situations
• Deliver preventive and rehabilitative programs in the areas of:
• Pre- and post-deployment stress
• Suicide prevention
• Family violence

Work environment

Social Work Officers work in an office at a base, wing or garrison, and deploy overseas on operational missions. They may be required to collaborate with civilian social agencies to develop appropriate referral contacts and to remain abreast of current professional development and social legislation.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options
• Paid Education Options

The minimum required education to apply for this position is a Master of Social Work degree from an accredited Social Work Program, a current unrestricted license (active status) to practice as a social worker from a provincial or territorial regulatory authority/association and a letter of ‘good standing’ from that authority. Two years of clinical experience within the last five years is ideal.

Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters (SEELM)

If you have a Bachelor of Social Work degree with a current unrestricted license (active status) to practice as a social worker from a provincial or territorial regulatory authority/association and a letter of ‘good standing’ from that authority and are unconditionally accepted to a recognized Canadian university Masters of Social Work program, the CAF will pay successful recruits to complete their program at a Canadian university; the program must be clinical in nature and be completed within two years (the program must be on campus; distance learning programs are not subsidized). They receive a full-time salary including medical and dental care, as well as vacation time with full pay in exchange for working with the CAF for a period of time. If you apply to this program, you must have proof that you have been accepted without condition in an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) program, having a focus on clinical practice, at a Canadian University.

For further information, please contact a Canadian Forces Health Services Recruiter: HSRecruiting-RecrutementSS@forces.gc.ca

Training

After enrolment, Social Work Officers attend Basic Military Officer Qualification training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for 12 weeks. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the CAF, basic weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic officer training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

Following Basic Military Officer Qualification training, official second language training will be offered to you. Training could take from two to nine months to complete depending on your ability in your second language.

Social Work Officers must complete the Common Health Services Officer (CHSO) course which is an eight-day e-learning course available on the Defence Learning Network (DLN). The CHSO course introduces Social Work Officers to Canadian Armed Forces policies and procedures as well as HR management of military members and civilian personnel.

Upon completion of the Rank Qualification Social Worker – Lieutenant, Social Work Officers are usually posted to a large base for their first employment location where they will expand and broaden clinical social work practice approaches and complete an In-Service certification under the supervision of a more senior Social Work Officer.

Social Work Officers may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training
• Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
• Emotional Focused Therapy for Couples

Part time options

The role of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves is to provide trained personnel to support, augment and sustain Canadian Forces Health Services organizations for CAF operations and training activities, while building and maintaining links between the Forces and the local community.

This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time with a health services unit in their community and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Social Work Officers deliver professional social work services in a military setting to support the morale, efficiency and mental health of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families. Those employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis usually serve at a location within Canada.

Find a Recruiting Centre

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Applicants with a university degree that matches the criteria for this job may be placed directly into junior level Social Work positions following basic officer training and qualification.

Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit in a field ambulance for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms. They are paid 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

Related Careers

Medical Officer

Health Services Management Officer

Nursing Officer