Mental Health and Addictions Clinician

_Location: YMCA of Cumberland, Amherst, NS_
- Program: Integrated Youth Services (IYS)_
- Position Status: Full-time_
- Compensation: $90,000 - $105,000.00 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

**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, the Mental Health & Addictions Clinician (“MHA Clinician”) champions the Pan-Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS and provides clinical direction and leadership for the IYS site staff team. The MHA Clinician provides assessment, crisis intervention, bridge clinical treatment and case management, referrals, and advocacy for youth (ages 12 to 25) who are experiencing challenges related to mental health and addictions..

The Mental Health and Addiction Clinician does not have direct reports per se but provides clinical direction and coordination to all members of the core IYS site staff team.

**CLINICAL SUPERVISION**:
Clinical supervision will be provided through regular meetings of the _IYS-NS Clinicians Community of Practice, _comprised of the IYS Clinicians from across the province and the Social Worker, IYS-NS Provincial Leadership Team. Consultant support will be provided by an experienced MHA clinician.

**In this role you will**:
Embrace a wholistic 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).

Provide clinical direction and oversight for youth and caregiver services provided by site staff members which includes the following;
- Where required, provide youth ages 12 to 25 with evidence-based bridge clinical treatment, case management, and the coordinated transfer of care to clinical addiction and mental health services.
- Liaise with external clinical treatment providers and, as needed, provide case management for youth who are receiving external clinical services.
- Participate in meetings of the IYS-NS Clinicians’ Community of Practice and relevant working groups and committees.
- Collect and enter data (identified in the minimum data set) into the IYS-NS data platform, and use the data to guide care conversations; assist youth in entering data as required.
- On an ongoing basis, work with site staff and management, IYS coalition member organizations, Youth and Caregiver Advisory Committees, Collaborating Service Providers, to ensure that services align with the Pan-Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and protocols regarding addiction and mental health care, and youth/young adults more broadly.
- Take part in IYS planning, development, team-building, research, evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives (locally, provincially and occasionally nationally).
- Take part in regular performance appraisals and employer/IYS-NS training and professional development.
- Act professionally and ethically, following all organizational and IYS-NS policies procedures, applicable legislation