Mental Health

**Title**:Mental Health & Addictions Clinician
**Department**:Housing
**Classification**: Part-time, Permanent
**Hours**:Flexibility within working hours for 24 total hours per week
**Location**: Halifax, NS

YWCA Halifax is a progressive, multi-service, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women, girls, two-spirited and gender diverse people and their families at critical turning points in their lives. We work to transform lives by providing a continuum of services and programs that drive lasting positive change. We strive to change the underlying issues that are root causes of inequality, violence, poverty, and homelessness. Our four program focus areas include: promoting the health, wellness, and leadership of women and girls; advancing women’s economic and housing security; delivering quality, accessible, early learning, and childcare; and working to end violence against women, girls and gender diverse people.

**Why work for the YWCA**

Staff at YWCA Halifax enjoy a supportive and dynamic team environment, a commitment to staff growth, a connection to the national and international YWCA movements, learning from colleagues in a multiservice agency, and a strong shared vision.

**Why YOU should apply**

**Position Overview and Essential Duties**

The YWCA Halifax is dedicated to providing women and gender diverse individuals with housing security and providing integrated support to break the cycle of homelessness. The YWCA currently operates several supported housing programs, Women in Supported Housing (WISH), Supportive Housing for Young Mothers (SHYM), and Waverley Supported Housing Program; with the development of future supported housing program for 2024. The goal of all YWCA’s housing programs is to provide safe, secure and supported housing to women and gender diverse people who have experienced barriers to stable housing.

Piloting a mental health & addictions program to support the needs of housing participants, the Promoting Access to Therapy and Healing (PATH) Program will provide clinical support through a registered mental health clinician. The Mental Health & Addictions Clinician reports to the Housing Manager and provides a diverse range of interventions to YWCA Halifax housing participants, enabling them to achieve their optimal level of functioning and mental health. These interventions include: psychosocial assessments, adjustment therapy, supportive therapy, crisis counseling, resource counseling. The Mental Health & Addictions Clinician is actively involved in advocacy, education, program planning, consultation and collaboration on behalf of YWCA housing participants. The role is multifaceted and dynamic requiring the role to work autonomously as well as collaboratively. The Clinician will have a strong knowledge of the fundamentals of human behaviour including systems theory, family dynamics, group dynamics and theories of behaviour change.

**Qualifications and Requirements**:
The Clinician will hold a degree with a clinical designation, such as social work, registered counselling therapist or equivalent. Must be registered or eligible for registration with a governing body. They will have a minimum of two years’ experience delivering mental health & addictions services. The Clinician will have an understanding of feminist theoretical perspectives and intersectionality. Also of issues such as racism/colonialism, violence against women, sexualized human trafficking, sexual health, and poverty. They will have knowledge of, and experience with community-based, trauma-informed, harm reduction practices as well as a strong commitment to ongoing learning and development in these areas and experience working in collaborative environments on complex issues involving multiple and diverse stakeholders.

YWCA Halifax is committed to diversity, and we welcome all suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. YWCA Halifax is governed by, employs, and serves diverse people and community members. Self-identification by applicants does not guarantee an interview but we want you to know that we understand that lived experience of racialization, Indigeneity, (dis)Ability, and gender diversity are their own knowledge and expertise. We value this expertise and consider it as we discern who to interview.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent

Application question(s):

- Are you legally entitled to work in Canada?

Work Location: In person