Share the Vision of CSC Health Services:
to be a world leader in humane correctional health services

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) is responsible for, on average, 13,000 incarcerated offenders and 10,000 offenders on conditional release. Canada's penitentiaries are of varying sizes and security levels, ranging from maximum security to community correctional centres. They are widely separated geographically, with institutions located in 8 out of 10 provinces.

CSC Health Services derives its mandate from the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, which requires that inmates be provided with "essential health care" and "non-essential mental health care that will contribute to the inmate's rehabilitation and successful reintegration into the community." Policy direction is provided primarily through a series of Commissioner's Directives and is augmented by several policy memoranda and protocols.

In most cases, physical health services at the institutional level are the responsibility of a Chief of Health Services, who reports to a Deputy Warden. Chiefs are nurse managers who ensure the delivery of services through a matrix of staff nurses and contracted health professionals. Each region has a psychiatric centre, and in addition, there are psychiatrists associated with each institution. Mental health services also are provided through psychologists in each operational unit who are either on staff or provide contracted services under the direction of a Chief Psychologist.

Functional support and guidance is provided by the Health Services Division at National Headquarters. The Division is headed by a Director General, who has a staff of health professionals and generalist managers, each of whom has certain policy responsibilities.

Make the choice that makes a difference

Many offenders have adopted lifestyles prior to incarceration that result in a compromised health status. The majority of incarcerated individuals will eventually return to the community. Through interventions aimed at improving the health of the incarcerated population, correctional nurses contribute to improving the health of the outside community. This is accomplished through some of the following measures:

• education for offenders on admission and throughout their sentence on infectious diseases and healthy lifestyle choices
• thorough health histories upon admission to identify past medical problems and risk behaviours
• screening on admission and throughout incarceration for infectious diseases
• immunization programs
• treatment of chronic conditions and infectious conditions per community standards

Releasing offenders back into the community with chronic and infectious conditions diagnosed and under appropriate treatment will improve the health of the community at large.

The Service is in the fortunate position of having health services delivered by a group of individuals who are highly dedicated health care professionals. They share the general organizational goal of accessibility to health services and strive to create positive outcomes. By virtue of a combination of professional training/ethics and personal attributes, our health care professionals make a difference.

We ask a lot of our nurses…

At Correctional Service Canada, we ask our nurses to act independently, and to make decisions based on their experience, judgement and clinical assessment skills. At the same time, we ask that they be prepared to exercise the patience and understanding required to work effectively in a team setting. Finally, we ask that they be committed to making a difference, not only in their own careers, but also in the lives of offenders and in the attitudes that govern their behaviour.

As a nurse with Correctional Service Canada, you'll be expected to bring professionalism, flexibility and a desire to thrive in a demanding work environment. In return, you'll find challenging, fulfilling and rewarding work. And you'll find others-nurses just like you-who have made the choice to make a difference.

We ask a lot of ourselves…

Correctional Service Canada is a thoroughly professional organisation, committed to its staff and to its goals. Essential to making that commitment a reality is teamwork. In fact, in many ways, the Correctional Service is on the cutting edge of correctional thinking, policy and assessment.

As a nurse, you contribute to our success every day. You are part of a larger team dedicated to assisting and encouraging offenders to become law-abiding citizens. By focusing on the mental and physical health of the men and women in Canada's federal institutions, you're contributing to their successful reintegration into society.

Because you care…

…and because we're looking for talented, committed people who care…

We encourage you to check out the advantages-and significant differences-of a nursing career with Correctional Service Canada. We offer a complete package of benefits, pension plan, excellent medical and disability insurance, and generous holiday and leave allowances. Salaries are highly competitive.

To apply…

For more information or to submit your résumé, please contact: