Social worker

Durham West Family Health Team is seeking a compassionate, organized, and resourceful Registered Social Worker to join our interprofessional primary care team. Based at Priority Health Clinic, the Social Worker will work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to support patients experiencing social, financial, functional, and system related barriers to care. This role will focus on system navigation, advocacy, care coordination, community resource connections, and short term psychosocial support. Particular attention will be given to newcomers, refugees, seniors, individuals living with disabilities, and other vulnerable or underserved populations. *Key Responsibilities* *Community Resource Navigation* * Assess patient needs and connect patients with appropriate community, regional, provincial, and federal supports. * Assist patients in accessing housing, income supports, disability services, food security programs, transportation, home and community care, caregiver supports, legal resources, settlement services, and other community programs. * Support newcomers and refugees in navigating settlement services, language and interpretation resources, Interim Federal Health Program supports, and culturally appropriate community services. * Support individuals living with physical or developmental disabilities and their families in navigating available services, funding programs, respite supports, accessibility resources, and community care. * Maintain current knowledge of community resources and services available throughout Durham Region and surrounding communities. *Government Programs and Applications* * Support patients in navigating programs such as ODSP, Ontario Works, CPP Disability, the Disability Tax Credit, the Assistive Devices Program, housing supports, drug coverage programs, and subsidized transportation. * Assist patients with application requirements, supporting documentation, deadlines, and follow up. * Complete portions of applications that fall within the Social Worker?s professional scope and are permitted by the applicable program. * Coordinate with physicians, nurse practitioners, or other authorized healthcare professionals when medical certification, prescribing authority, or clinical documentation is required. *Care Coordination and Advocacy* * Identify social and systemic barriers affecting a patient?s health, safety, wellbeing, or ability to access care. * Advocate for patients and support access to appropriate community programs, government benefits, housing, financial assistance, and other services. * Collaborate with physicians and other members of the interprofessional team to support coordinated care. * Facilitate communication between patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, community agencies, and external organizations with appropriate patient consent. * Participate in interprofessional case discussions, care planning, team meetings, and quality improvement initiatives. * Assist in developing referral pathways and practical resources that improve access to community and social supports. *Psychosocial Support* * Provide brief psychosocial assessment, supportive counselling, practical intervention, and safety planning within professional scope and competence. * Support patients experiencing grief, caregiver stress, social isolation, adjustment to illness, financial stress, family or social challenges, and other psychosocial concerns. * Recognize when additional clinical, psychotherapy, mental health, or crisis support is required and facilitate appropriate referral or escalation. * Work collaboratively with available mental health and psychotherapy providers to support continuity of care. *Documentation and Professional Practice* * Maintain timely, accurate, objective, and professional documentation within the Electronic Medical Record. * Obtain appropriate consent and protect patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with PHIPA, professional obligations, a