Social Work Field Practice Educator

Cape Breton University (CBU) invites applications for a Field Practice Educator in the Department of Social Work in the School of Arts and Social Sciences. The Field Practice Educator will primarily be responsible for the instruction and evaluation of the Field Education curriculum of the social work program. This is a Full-Time Limited Term Role from July 2025 to January 2026.  

One of Canada’s youngest and most ambitious universities, CBU recognizes its location on Cape Breton Island as part of Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. CBU offers a comprehensive set of liberal arts, science, and professional programs and a unique commitment to community, economic development, aboriginal learning, and research into many aspects of environment and culture. Currently, home to approximately 5000 students, CBU’s vision of higher education allows students to pursue diverse fields of study in programs with national reputations in final-year student satisfaction, faculty-student interaction, and employability.

CBU delivers an authentic multicultural experience to all who become part of its community. Our faculty bring passion to their teaching and research, and we are known for our smaller class sizes and our friendly and inclusive culture. Strong community involvement and a spirit of entrepreneurship enhance CBU’s position in post-secondary education.

CBU’s BSW program has a unique focus to equip students with specific skills and competencies for practice in rural, Indigenous, and economically marginalized communities. Our program is an accelerated 16-month post-baccalaureate program consisting of sixty credits which includes two field practicums requiring the completion of 700 hours. We offer two optional certificates to enrich students’ learning: One in Mental Health Promotion in Social Work and the other in Indigenous perspectives in Social Work. The Bachelor of Social Work program at Cape Breton University adheres to the core learning objectives of the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE). Our program has received Pre-Accreditation status from CASWE.

The candidate must be a registered social worker with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, an equivalent social work regulatory body, or be eligible for registration. The ideal candidate will value experiential learning and field education as a central component of social work education and embrace the importance of decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization work in social work education. Candidates must possess strong interpersonal skills, organization and time management skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Flexibility and the ability to prioritize tasks are required, as is travel to practicum agency sites for student evaluation purposes.

Collaborating with the Field Education Lead the successful candidate will work to enhance and maintain professional relationships with the community and ensure CASWE accreditation standards are met in relation to field education.

The successful candidate will possess a Master of Social Work degree from an accredited program with a minimum of 5 to 7 years of professional social work practice experience. Preference will be given to a candidate with experience teaching at the university level.  The candidate must be a registered social worker and have a strong knowledge base of regional community-based organizations.

Applications for the successful candidate will include:

• a cover letter describing the expertise of the applicant
• a complete resume (or CV)
• a statement of teaching philosophy
• A list of least three references.
  • Short listed candidates will be required to submit three reference letters.

Please upload all required documents to Additional Documents if no designated area is listed. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The union affiliation of this position is with the Cape Breton University Faculty Association.

Applications must be received by June 13, 2025

The anticipated start date for the position is July 1, 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter).