UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
May 22nd 2018, 5:39 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 37
UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Hi all, I am a UK qualified Social Worker, holding a Master of Arts in Social Work since 2012. I specialise in Children’s Social Work, currently working with foster carers who care for looked after children.
I am planning to come to Canada under the federal skilled workers programme with my qualification. I will be coming with my husband and two children currently aged 1 and 2.
I am just wondering what people’s thoughts are of job opportunities within Social Work? Is there plenty of work within Social Work? What sort of salary would I be looking at? What sort of holiday entitlement?
I have heard Calgary has the highest level of domestic violence in Canada so I am assuming there will be some need for social work intervention?
My husband will be a truck driver there. In England he drives a class 1. We are wondering whether our employment combined will be enough to afford a living in Calgary.
We are thinking of moving to Airdrie because we have friends living there and the houses are cheaper. We are wondering how the traffic is in the mornings and afternoons?
If anyone can give us any thoughts / advice / guidance that would be great.
I am planning to come to Canada under the federal skilled workers programme with my qualification. I will be coming with my husband and two children currently aged 1 and 2.
I am just wondering what people’s thoughts are of job opportunities within Social Work? Is there plenty of work within Social Work? What sort of salary would I be looking at? What sort of holiday entitlement?
I have heard Calgary has the highest level of domestic violence in Canada so I am assuming there will be some need for social work intervention?
My husband will be a truck driver there. In England he drives a class 1. We are wondering whether our employment combined will be enough to afford a living in Calgary.
We are thinking of moving to Airdrie because we have friends living there and the houses are cheaper. We are wondering how the traffic is in the mornings and afternoons?
If anyone can give us any thoughts / advice / guidance that would be great.
May 23rd 2018, 5:14 am
#2
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Hello and welcome to BE!!
You'll probably want to have a good read through the links on this page to ascertain how you can become registered and certified in Alberta.
Social Worker
Registration - ACSW
Trucking: https://www.drivingtest.ca/how-to-ge...ce-in-alberta/
You'll probably want to have a good read through the links on this page to ascertain how you can become registered and certified in Alberta.
Social Worker
Registration - ACSW
Trucking: https://www.drivingtest.ca/how-to-ge...ce-in-alberta/
May 23rd 2018, 7:31 am
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 37
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Hi, thanks for the information. I have submitted my paperwork to IQAS so I am awaiting to hear back from them.
May 24th 2018, 5:14 am
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 15
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
I live in Airdrie and commute daily to Calgary. You'll find many people that complain about the traffic but compared to the UK it's easy. Hwy 2 is usually free flowing even in the winter!
Like anywhere an accident can cause problems and it's certainly busier than when i first moved to Airdrie 5 years ago but i wouldn't get particularly concerned about it.
Like anywhere an accident can cause problems and it's certainly busier than when i first moved to Airdrie 5 years ago but i wouldn't get particularly concerned about it.
May 24th 2018, 8:46 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 221
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Hi all, I am a UK qualified Social Worker, holding a Master of Arts in Social Work since 2012. I specialise in Children’s Social Work, currently working with foster carers who care for looked after children.
I am planning to come to Canada under the federal skilled workers programme with my qualification. I will be coming with my husband and two children currently aged 1 and 2.
I am just wondering what people’s thoughts are of job opportunities within Social Work? Is there plenty of work within Social Work? What sort of salary would I be looking at? What sort of holiday entitlement?
I have heard Calgary has the highest level of domestic violence in Canada so I am assuming there will be some need for social work intervention?
My husband will be a truck driver there. In England he drives a class 1. We are wondering whether our employment combined will be enough to afford a living in Calgary.
We are thinking of moving to Airdrie because we have friends living there and the houses are cheaper. We are wondering how the traffic is in the mornings and afternoons?
If anyone can give us any thoughts / advice / guidance that would be great.
I am planning to come to Canada under the federal skilled workers programme with my qualification. I will be coming with my husband and two children currently aged 1 and 2.
I am just wondering what people’s thoughts are of job opportunities within Social Work? Is there plenty of work within Social Work? What sort of salary would I be looking at? What sort of holiday entitlement?
I have heard Calgary has the highest level of domestic violence in Canada so I am assuming there will be some need for social work intervention?
My husband will be a truck driver there. In England he drives a class 1. We are wondering whether our employment combined will be enough to afford a living in Calgary.
We are thinking of moving to Airdrie because we have friends living there and the houses are cheaper. We are wondering how the traffic is in the mornings and afternoons?
If anyone can give us any thoughts / advice / guidance that would be great.
Hi I have just had a couple post on lately around comparable salaries for UK to Calgary (not much response) but also had another thread running regarding child care fees and benefits they might be of some interest to you.
I was hoping $90-100K income would be comparable to our living just now in the UK.
Regarding holidays there was a good thread see below around this, 2 weeks seems to be the standard but 3 weeks is becoming more common, but again it depends on the employer and what you can negotiate. Some wont even offer you 2 weeks until you complete a full 12 months employment with them.
Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
Cant help you with anything on the employment ops for a social worker though.
May 26th 2018, 8:44 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 221
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Hi
Just to let you know a little more on annual leave I recently had a chat with a potential employer and they advised the leave would be 3 weeks, plus stat hols of around 12, plus they shut down between xmas and new year where you dont have to use leave, I wouldn't have to wait 12 months to use my leave. Regarding unpaid leave that would be discussed further during any job offer stages (I asked about 2 weeks)
They also advised on $1000 health care a year which tbh I am not really sure if this is a good allowance or not but suppose better than $0, again this would be discussed at the next stage if it comes to that.
Just to let you know a little more on annual leave I recently had a chat with a potential employer and they advised the leave would be 3 weeks, plus stat hols of around 12, plus they shut down between xmas and new year where you dont have to use leave, I wouldn't have to wait 12 months to use my leave. Regarding unpaid leave that would be discussed further during any job offer stages (I asked about 2 weeks)
They also advised on $1000 health care a year which tbh I am not really sure if this is a good allowance or not but suppose better than $0, again this would be discussed at the next stage if it comes to that.
May 26th 2018, 12:56 pm
#7
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Hi
Just to let you know a little more on annual leave I recently had a chat with a potential employer and they advised the leave would be 3 weeks, plus stat hols of around 12, plus they shut down between xmas and new year where you dont have to use leave, I wouldn't have to wait 12 months to use my leave. Regarding unpaid leave that would be discussed further during any job offer stages (I asked about 2 weeks)
They also advised on $1000 health care a year which tbh I am not really sure if this is a good allowance or not but suppose better than $0, again this would be discussed at the next stage if it comes to that.
Just to let you know a little more on annual leave I recently had a chat with a potential employer and they advised the leave would be 3 weeks, plus stat hols of around 12, plus they shut down between xmas and new year where you dont have to use leave, I wouldn't have to wait 12 months to use my leave. Regarding unpaid leave that would be discussed further during any job offer stages (I asked about 2 weeks)
They also advised on $1000 health care a year which tbh I am not really sure if this is a good allowance or not but suppose better than $0, again this would be discussed at the next stage if it comes to that.
You would be very fortunate to obtain that much annual leave off the bat, that's quite unusual unless you have a skill set that is in high demand, from what I have seen.
As to healthcare, it's normally a plan - not a cash amount. Group Health Plan Benefits - such as Sunlife, Manulife etc., but you may be fortunate enough to have a 'Health Spending Account' on top of the Group Plan. You can read more (as an example) : https://www.sunlife.ca/ca/Learn+and+...gnLocale=en_CA
Last edited by Siouxie; May 26th 2018 at 12:59 pm.
May 26th 2018, 6:39 pm
#8
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Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 7,861
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca...Page12242.aspx
Looks like $31 to $55 an hour with Alberta Health Services
So at about $45/ hr x 37.5 hr week, you’re looking at around $88,000
Pension and benefits would be valuable with AHS
Looks like $31 to $55 an hour with Alberta Health Services
So at about $45/ hr x 37.5 hr week, you’re looking at around $88,000
Pension and benefits would be valuable with AHS
Last edited by ann m; May 26th 2018 at 6:42 pm.
May 27th 2018, 3:20 am
#9
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
May 27th 2018, 11:47 am
#10
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: UK Social Worker moving to Airdrie, Calgary
Other stats:
Table 2.8
Victims of police-reported family violence, by sex of victim and census metropolitan area, 2016
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002...tbl2.8-eng.htm
Last edited by Siouxie; May 28th 2018 at 4:10 am.
