Type of Employment: Relief
Department: Justice
Union Status: Exclusion – Non Union – NSPG
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:
https://novascotia.ca/just/Corrections/
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 persons 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.
Responsibilities include:
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.
Your experience and knowledge in the following areas are considered assets in this role:
Include, but not limited to:
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria.
Candidates that are selected for an interview will be provided a medical form to be completed by a doctor.
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
Candidates must identify the geographic location(s) in cover letter where they prefer to work when applying. The location(s) of the vacancies are Dartmouth, Pictou, Yarmouth and Sydney.
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 adults in custody and to function well as a member of a team. Correctional Officers serve as role models to adults 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 bring copies of a valid drivers license, proof of all stated education and training, and references.
An in-depth medical form must be completed by a doctor confirming your ability to work as a Correctional Officer.
Here is the form: https://novascotia.ca/just/Corrections/recruitment/certification-of-medical-fitness.asp
You will be asked to submit a completed Pre-Employment Questionnaire Form (PEQ), prior to the appointment with staff to discuss your PEQ 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.
Here is the form: https://novascotia.ca/just/Corrections/recruitment/questionnaire.asp
Candidates must identify the geographic location(s) where they prefer to work when applying. The location(s) of the vacancies are Dartmouth, Pictou, Yarmouth and Sydney.
If selected for the position, you must provide a current copy of an Emergency First Aid Certificate and Vulnerable Sector Check.
Pay Grade: ACC 04 – Hourly
Salary Range: $27.08 – $33.21 Hourly
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.
A relief employee is an employee who is not regularly scheduled by the Employer, but who works relief assignments on an as-needed basis as operational requirements demand. As such, a relief employee does not have guaranteed hours of work.
Please Note: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.
Please Note: when competing for vacancies, a successful Temporary, Term or Permanent Relief Employee who is currently employed with the Province will maintain their bargaining unit status, seniority and benefit level at the new workplace.
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 Competitions@novascotia.ca.