Consultant - Policy & Planning - Mental Health &

**Req ID: 139785**
**Company: Nova Scotia Health**
**Location**:Provincial Zone, Flexible within the zone**
**Department: MHA EMental Health-CNS**
**Type of Employment: Temporary** Hourly FT long-assignment** (100%** FTE) x 1** **position(s)**
**Status: MGMT/NON-Union** **Management/Non Union** Position**
**Posting Closing Date: 31-Aug-22**

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators and creative thinkers today.

Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHA) within the Nova Scotia Health Authority is comprised of specialized teams of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Family Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Health Promoters, Recreation Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and other members of the allied health and support team. These interdisciplinary teams work in collaboration with patients, clients, and families within community, regional, and tertiary facilities and rural and urban community settings across Nova Scotia to provide a continuum of health promotion and prevention, treatment and care, specialty service, and community support to those living with mental illness and addictions across the lifespan. This is achieved by working in partnership with others including the IWK Health Centre, the Department of Health and Wellness, primary health care, public health, acute care, Community Services, Education, Justice, law enforcement, municipalities, and a variety of community organizations and agencies.

Provincially, Mental Health and Addictions includes services and supports in the areas of Child and Adolescent/Youth, Adult, Inpatient Mental Health, Inpatient Withdrawal Management and Inpatient Treatment for Addictions, Crisis Support, Community Based Supports and Rehabilitation, Treatment for Substance Use Disorders, Gambling Addictions, and Health Promotion and Prevention. Specialized services are also available including: East Coast Forensic and Correctional Health Services, Forensic Sexual Behaviour Program, Urgent Care and Crisis Support, and other specialty services including consultation to other health centres.

**Responsibilities**:
Reporting to the Director, Policy and Planning, the Consultant is responsible for supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of core MHA services, standards, guidelines and best practices to improve the continuum of prevention and treatment services for individuals living with mental illness and addictions. The Consultant works to facilitate the implementation plan associated with health services planning and contributes to quality improvement initiatives, including but not limited to developing and implementing new models of service delivery and supporting workforce development initiatives.

The Consultant provides leadership, consultation and expertise within MH&A and stimulates inter-sectoral action, establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with national, Atlantic, provincial, district, municipal and community partners as well as with other departments within NSHA, including but not limited to primary care and public health.

Provides expertise and advice on policies and practices related to mental health disorders and addictions. Collaborates with key stakeholders in the development of comprehensive strategies, projects and initiatives related to service improvement for identified priority areas. In collaboration with relevant partners, participates in the monitoring and surveillance of addiction-related harms and of mental health disorders and their impacts in Nova Scotia. Creates, writes and presents policies, presentations, business cases and prepares correspondence and reports (e.g., background/position papers on identified topics, project reports).

**Please Note: This is a provincial position, and placement can be in any of Nova Scotia Health Authority's four zones (Central, Eastern, Northern or Western)**

**Qualifications**:

- Undergraduate degree in a health discipline or a related field (Business, Administration, Health Policy)
- Master's level preparation is an asset (in related health field, business, administration or public policy)
- 3-5 years of leadership experience with progressive accountabilities for project implementation, standards development, evaluation and adoption of best practices to deliver high quality services
- Demonstrated experience in project management and ability to create a