Medical Social Worker

About the Organization:

The Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC) is an Indigenous governed, Indigenous led regional social planning and development organization. The BANAC service region now covers Simcoe County, Muskoka, and the northern York region. BANAC works in cooperation with Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous organizations to address community-identified priorities through coordinated planning, implementation and evaluation. BANAC has a mandate to support the continued promotion of Indigenous lifelong learning and community wellness through self-determination and community participation.

BANAC offers many innovative programs and services including Aging Well Senior Supports, Bebminot Family Wellness, the Biinoojinsauk Child Care Centre, Maapii Enjii Zaagi Gaazwad and the Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team. Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin offers a wholistic approach to wellness that includes traditional healing practices in primary care, community clinics, addiction and recovery services, counselling programs, midwifery, land-based healing programs, and community health promotion.

About the Role:

This position operates within an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-governed organization that is accountable to the communities it serves. Work is grounded in the principle of Indigenous Health in Indigenous Hands, ensuring that all programs and services are developed, delivered, and evaluated under Indigenous governance structures and community direction. In alignment with Indigenous and provincial standards, the organization upholds excellence in care, accountability, and compliance while centering on Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural safety, and self-determination in health and social service deliverables.

All employees are required to participate in organizational Indigenous Cultural Safety training and to engage in ongoing reflexive practices as part of their professional development. This includes a commitment to examining personal and systemic biases, deepening understanding of Indigenous histories and experiences, and ensuring that service delivery aligns with the values of respect, reciprocity, and wholism that guide the organization’s work.

This position is being posted in response to an existing vacancy at the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle.

This is a full-time permanent position.

As a member of the Counselling and Wellness Supports (CWS) Team, this role will use best practices to provide person centred Social Work services working alongside Indigenous clients with complex mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health needs, and their families. This includes assessment, therapeutic intervention and discharge planning leading to successful transitions in care; in collaboration with the specialized interprofessional clinical team, client, and families. This role supports and works collaboratively with interprofessional team members and communities to develop and implement tailored psychosocial support plans. The Medical Social Worker will be the “go-to” person to help bridge services between primary care clinics, CWS, and community health and supportive service providers.

What You Bring:

• Master's Degree in Social Work preferred or a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and an equivalent combination of experience.
• Member in good standing of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers required.
• Experience collaborating with Indigenous communities and clients; Demonstrated ability to work cross-culturally and provide trauma-informed care
• Knowledge of Indigenous history, culture and community
• Experience working in an interprofessional primary care setting preferred.
• Knowledge of a variety of theoretical frameworks and treatment modalities such as crisis intervention, systems theory, etc.
• Knowledge of the Health Care Delivery System.
• Knowledge of legislation acts and regulations such as Ontario Works, Public Hospital and Mental Health Acts.
• Experience working with issues such as trauma recovery, primary care social work, chronic conditions, addictions, dying, grief and loss.

What We Offer:

Our work is accountable to Indigenous communities, guided by relationships, knowledge, and practices that shape how we serve and learn together. Joining the BANAC team means contributing to work that is community-driven, relational and grounded in Indigenous values of respect, reciprocity, and wholism. We work alongside community members, Indigenous organizations and the broader community to ensure our programs reflect the voices and strengths of those we serve.

Our full-time permanent employees enjoy a generous group health benefits package, participation in HOOPP, enrollment in our Employee Assistance Program, paid time off, cultural leave days, extended holidays, professional training opportunities and the opportunity to work in a dynamic community-based supportive work environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Hybrid: work is typically performed remotely and at all BANAC locations as required.
• Regular travel to meetings and communities is required; access to a personal vehicle is required.
• Reliable Vehicle – Regional Travel Required.
• Regular overtime work may be required from time to time.
• Low to moderate exposure to noise in the work environment.
• Regular exposure to a moderate level of tension and anxiety due to deadlines, competing political pressures, and the competing needs and demands for limited resources.
• BANAC work site locations are periodically exposed to smoke due to the burning of sacred medicines: tobacco, sweet grass, sage and / or cedar.

All pertinent employment conditions are specified within the employment agreement with BANAC and include the following:

• Ability to attend all BANAC worksite locations is required
• Remote work will require a dedicated, quiet, and ergonomic home office setup free from distractions for the entire scheduled workday.
• Valid C.P.R. and A.E.D. Certificates are required
• Valid Class G Ontario Driver’s License is required
• An up-to-date clear Vulnerable Sector Check is required
• An up-to-date clear TST result

Applying to this Job:

To further promote our accountability to the Indigenous communities we serve and to ensure services align with the values of respect, reciprocity, and wholism that guide the organization’s work, preference will be given to candidates of Indigenous ancestry. BANAC strongly encourages applicants to self-identify within the application process.

Please apply directly on the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle careers site at www.banac.on.ca/careers.

Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please advise the Human Resources Department at: [email protected].

Please note that the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC) uses BambooHR as part of its recruitment and selection process. While BANAC incorporates select AI features to enhance process efficiency, BANAC remains committed to human-led decision making. BANAC recognizes that AI is not perfect, as a result all AI-generated outputs are subject to human review to ensure accuracy, inclusiveness and equitable hiring practices. At BANAC,

our goal is to use technology to support, not replace, thoughtful human decision making in recruitment and hiring.

DISCLAIMER: This job posting indicates the general scope and level of work expected. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties and / or responsibilities that will be required by the incumbent. The selected incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required to support business needs.