Correctional Officer (Casual Relief)

About Us

The Correctional Services division of the Department of Justice is responsible for the administration and operation of community and custody-based programs and services for adults and young persons. Within the Correctional Services core business area there are two programs: community corrections & correctional facilities. Each of these program areas is broken down into closely related activities that have a specific impact on the program's target group.

Four (4) adult correctional facilities and one (1) youth centre provide the safety and security of person in custody while providing programs that address dynamic criminogenic factors to assist with their successful, reintegration back into the community.

Nova Scotia Correctional Services utilizes an evidence-based approach in both Community Corrections and custodial facilities. Core Correctional Practices (CCP) is the foundational practice that drives reintegration and rehabilitation practices deployed within Correctional Services. Utilizing CCP, Correctional Services staff can effectively interact, manage behavior, and help facilitate change, within target populations.

For more information on the Department of Justice Correctional Services please visit our website.

About Our Opportunity

As a Correctional Officer, you are responsible for the safe secure custody, control and supervision of sentence and remand persons in custody in an adult correctional facility on a rotating shift basis. Our Correctional Officer undertakes duties associated with your shift assignment in various areas of the facility. These areas include persons in custody Living Units, Admission and Discharge, Reception/Visitation, Recreation, Laundry, and Canteen Services. In this role, you will have regular and ongoing interaction with persons in custody, while encouraging pro-social behaviour. You are also responsible for administrative functions related to the case management database (JEIN) and the Offender Behavioural Management System. Correctional Officers work with a diverse person in custody population and are accountable for promoting and adhering to policy and procedures, standard operating procedures, post orders and directives.

As part of this role, you will be involved with conducting persons in custody counts and searches, writing reports, ensuring persons in custody security and safety, and compiling tasks related to physical plant cleanliness and maintenance requirements.

Primary Accountabilities

Facility Security
Provides dynamic supervision of persons in custody and safe secure custody, control, and supervision of the persons in custody

Persons in Custody Supervision
Includes, but not limited to participate in the case management of persons in custody; approve and arrange professional and personal visits and professional persons in custody phone calls, and escort persons in custody within the facility; respond to persons in custody complaints and requests; assist in the completion of forms (e.g. requests, complaints); supervise persons in custody work activity inside and outside the facility

Physical Plant Maintenance
Supervise facility cleaning by persons in custody, supervise persons in custody trustees on outside work detail, submit maintenance work orders when required

Programs
Advise persons in custody of available programs and referring and adhering to the posted program schedule and support persons in custody program work in the living units

Administration & Communication
Record and communicate information through reports, forms, logbooks, email and JEIN documentation and participate in committees or meetings as requested by the Superintendent or designate
Communicate in a timely, transparent, and effective manner and participate in workplace wellness initiatives by promoting teamwork, leadership, diversity, and a healthy workplace

Qualifications and Experience

You possess a High School diploma and 2 years of related experience. An equivalent combination of training and experience will be considered. Typical equivalencies include: a certificate/diploma from an accredited Correctional Officer program or a university degree in a related field of study (Criminology, Psychology or other Social Science programs).

Your experience and knowledge in the following areas are considered assets in this role:

• Previous employment as a Correctional Officer, or within Adult/Youth Custody
• Experience in law enforcement (Police, Sheriffs, Border Services, Military Police)
• Experience in the following areas may also be given consideration towards an equivalency: Security, Military (other than Military Police), Firefighting, Social Workers, Residential Counsellors/Caseworkers/Support Workers, Occupational Health & Safety.
• Knowledge or experience in a computerized/automated environment
• Leadership experience (i.e. leading youth programs, groups, or committees, working with vulnerable populations)
  

Equivalency

Include, but not limited to:

• A related 2 year post secondary diploma
• A related 1 year post secondary diploma and 1 year of related experience
• 5 years of employment in a related field, for example Social Work; Residential Counselling, etc …

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

Assessment Information and Process

Qualified applicants will be invited to a competency-based job interview. During the interview, applicants must demonstrate well developed communication, interpersonal and interviewing counselling and conflict resolution skills that leads to effectively dealing with persons in custody and to function well as a member of a team. Correctional Officers serve as role models to persons in custody, and therefore must possess sound observation, decision-making and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to respond effectively to crisis situations.

If you are selected for an interview, you are required to upload copies of a valid Drivers License, Drivers Abstract, proof of all stated education and training, and references to your candidate profile, if not already uploaded at time of application.

If selected for the position, you must provide a current copy of an Emergency First Aid Certificate and Vulnerable Sector Check with Criminal Record Check included.

An in-depth medical form must be completed by a medical doctor confirming your ability to work as a Correctional Officer. This form must be sent for review upon selection for an interview. The link to the form is here.

You will be asked to submit a completed Pre-Employment Questionnaire (PEQ) prior to the appointment with staff to discuss your responses to the form. Click here for the link to the form

The questionnaire focuses on honesty and integrity and candidates must answer all questions accurately and truthfully. Dishonesty or non-disclosure will result in elimination of the candidate's application.

Working Conditions

• Required to work shiftwork which can be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding
• Must be constantly alert when in contact with facility population, not being aware of your surroundings may create the potential for violence and or injury
• Required to perform person and area searches and use restraint equipment which is physically demanding
• Potential for disruption to personal and family life when there is a disturbance at the facility
• A significant proportion of the persons in custody are identified as being a high-risk population for infection of hepatitis, MRSA, HIV and or AIDS.
• Must frequently deal with non-compliant persons and may be exposed to incidents of assaults, threats and, in extreme circumstances, could be surrounded by hostile individuals when completing rounds, that may have the potential to require further interventions.
  

Additional Information

This is a Casual Relief employment opportunity

The facility is a 24-hour operation and is a tobacco-free environment.

This position requires a valid Driver's License, a Driver's Abstract, Standard First Aid/CPR Certificate, and proof of all stated education and training, which shall be provided at time of interview.

Relief employees fill gaps in the schedule and replace full time employees when operational requirements demand as determined by the Employer - as a relief employee there is no guarantee of hours.
Relief correctional officers are required to work shift work (day shift, night shifts, holidays, weekends on short notice).

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.