Community Outreach Worker, Bsw

_Location: YMCA of Cumberland, Amherst, NS_
- Program: Integrated Youth Services (IYS)_
- Position Status: Full-time _
- Compensation: $58,000 - $75,000 per year_
- Reports To: Site Manager of Youth Leadership and Development_

**There is potential inside all of us - we all have it in us to shine.**

Every charity exists to help solve a problem - our charity exists to help solve many problems, from childcare shortages, social isolation, mental health issues, access to wellness, and more. Today, our network is spread across 100+ program locations in HRM and the province, meeting the most urgent needs of our communities in mental health supports, accessible childcare, supporting an increasing immigrant population, safe spaces for youth to grow and lead, helping to navigate a precarious labour market, delivering wellness programming for all, and creating community for isolated older adults.

We give people the tools, encouragement, and safe space to discover their inner strength. When they know someone’s in their corner, with unconditional support, they realize they can do more than they thought possible. It’s your support, expertise, and guidance that helps people ignite their full potential and shape our neighbourhoods into vibrant and healthy communities.

**With us at their side, they can Shine On.**

**As part of your total compensation**:

- Receive a complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities
- Discounts on YMCA childcare and camp programs
- 3 weeks’ Vacation entitlement and paid wellness days
- Comprehensive benefits package and pension
- EFAP Program

**About the Role**:
Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is a dynamic international and pan-Canadian movement that aims to transform how youth access and receive services for substance use, mental health issues, and other key challenges. Operating within a community-led, partnership-based model, Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia (IYS-NS) will offer young people and their caregivers a range of in-person and virtual services, programs, and support, in one convenient location. In doing so, IYS-NS sites will provide a coordinated response that puts youth and caregivers at the center.

Reporting to the Site Manager and working under the clinician direction of the IYS-NS site Mental Health & Addictions (MHA) Clinician, the Community Outreach Worker, BSW provides outreach, intake and screening, case management, service navigation, support, and advocacy for youth (ages 12 to 25) who are experiencing challenges related to mental health and addictions. The Community Outreach Worker (COW), BSW employs a relational, empowering, trauma-informed, and equity-focused approach to practice. Working with youth, caregivers, members of the Integrated Youth Services team, and others, the COW, BSW leads the collaborative development of youth goals and service plans and supports youth to meet their goals.
The COW, BSW actively collaborates with IYS site colleagues and multi-sector partners to develop an integrated, youth-centred system of care and supports.

**In this role you will**:
Embrace a holistic approach to youth well-being, informed by the Pan-Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS, the social determinants of health, and the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and anti-racism (EDIRAA).

Under the clinical direction of the site MHA Clinician, provide the following services to youth ages 12 to 25 who present at the IYS site for services:

- Conduct intake and screening related to mental health, addiction and other issues; form a supportive rapport; collaboratively develop a service plan.
- Triage youth presenting with mental health and addiction needs and facilitate access to appropriate services, including urgent and emergency care.
- Provide information on services available within and beyond the IYS-NS site; successfully connect youth and their caregivers with services; monitor and support their progress; advocate for service access as needed.
- Work with site colleagues, the IYS-NS Provincial Leadership Team, youth, and caregivers to ensure supports and services are provided for youth who are wait-listed for clinical and intensive MHA services.
- Provide collaborative case management for assigned youth, working closely with IYS site colleagues and others to integrate service delivery and provide youth with seamless care.
- Facilitate the coordinated transfer and secure attachment of young people to adult services.
- Support youth to be actively engaged in their care plans and treatment, and where possible, to become their own advocates and case managers.
- Ensure client documentation in the IYS-NS data platform (identified in the minimum data set) and other record(s) as relevant; where required, assist youth in entering data into the platform.
- Make use of data to guide care conversations and interventions.
- Maintain timely and accurate client records to enable team communication and coordinated care.
- Lead t