Caseworker 1(A)-(B)-2(A)-(B)

Competition # : 44455

Department: Education & Early Childhood Development

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 08-Nov-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

At Education and Early Childhood Development we ensure children in their early years have the support they need for a positive start to school; students in pre-primary to grade 12 receive a quality education, preparing them for what lies ahead; and we work with schools, teachers and others to increase overall student achievement and success.

About Our Opportunity

As the Caseworker, you are responsible for determining eligibility for the Child Care Subsidy Program, which aids families in accessing regulated child-care. The Caseworker reviews all applications to determine eligibility for the program, based on comprehensive financial assessment following departmental guidelines and policies.

The Caseworker works closely with families and community partners, child-care centre licensees and centre directors. The Caseworker is responsible for managing a large caseload and responding to multiple inquiries from families, child-care centres, and the public on a daily basis, and has the ability to exercise professional discretion, manage competing interests, while maintaining and building effective relationships.

The incumbent may perform other related duties as required.

This position reports to the Childcare Subsidy Manager.

Primary Accountabilities

• Analysis of applicant's income and any special circumstances.
• Responsible for conducting annual reviews to determine each client's ongoing eligibility for the program.
• Ensure that the program is operating effectively and efficiently to serve Nova Scotia families.
• Maintaining up-to-date electronic files.
• Processing subsidy transfers from one regulated program to another.
• Monitoring monthly claims to ensure that families are accessing child-care and that child-care centres receive payments on behalf of families.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in the role you have a Bachelor’s degree, with a focus on early childhood education or social sciences, or an equivalent combination of training and experience will be considered.

You must demonstrate excellent interviewing, communication (written/verbal), planning/organizational, team building, and crisis intervention skills. You understand budgetary and case management concepts, and demonstrate initiative, sound judgement, and sensitivity to the impact of culture, socioeconomic status, gender, age, and sexual orientation on client experience. You must be able to meet deadlines and deal effectively with difficult situations.

As the successful candidate, you will gather information regarding financial need to determine the eligibility for the Child Care Subsidy Program. You have excellent interpersonal skills, skilled at connecting with a wide range of clients from various social-economic backgrounds. You exercise tact, diplomacy and sound judgement when dealing with internal and external clients and solid decision-making skills to address complex family and financial situations with confidence.

You possess exceptional organizational skills and the ability to work collaboratively on multiple deadlines simultaneously. You can work independently and in a team environment. You have experience using Microsoft programs (Word, Outlook, Excel) and internet search engines. You understand basic financial concepts and income tax reporting as it pertains to income assessment.

Assets for this position:

• Familiarity with the organizational structure of the Dept. of Education and Early Childhood Development in the regulated child-care sector
• Experience working with data bases and electronic case management systems
• The ability to communicate in Arabic, both oral and written.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time position.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.
• Department specific flexible working schedules

Pay Grade: PR 04 - PR 11

Salary Range: $1,773.75 - $2,867.11 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [email protected].