Social Worker, Central Referral

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Halifax, NS

6d•CA$37 - CA$49•Hybrid

About The Position

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive. Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels. The OpportunityReporting to the Manager of Central Referral, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is responsible for providing timely follow-up support, information, navigation, consultation and community outreach services to clients and families/caregivers who would benefit from follow-up services and who are not formally engaged in mental health and addictions program. The BSW will work in close collaboration with the Central Referral and Emergency Mental Health and Addictions (EMHAS) teams who will be the sole referral teams triaging to this service. The Community Outreach Navigator will liaise with many community-based youth-serving organizations as appropriate to meet the needs of the youth/caregiver. The Community Outreach Navigator will empathically and effectively engage clients and their caregivers/families in the community and provide support as needed. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to supporting children, youth and caregivers during a situational crisis, navigation to community resources/services to help improve function, serve as the primary IWK MHA staff connected to Anchor Youth Spaces in Halifax, facilitate the connection and coordination to Schools Plus services, facilitate referrals to community groups, assist caregivers with supportive plans and consulting with MHA clinical staff as needed. The BSW will have knowledge of available resources within IWK Health and the community to address Mental Health and Addiction concerns and advance referrals for more specialized services as needed. The BSW exhibits a commitment to the highest standard of professional integrity, by interacting with colleagues, clients, families, students, and partners in a respectful and collaborative manner in keeping with principles of client-centred, trauma informed care, family-centred care, IWK Health standards, and their own Standards of Professional Practice. Access to a car is needed and there will be travel across HRM. Hours of WorkMonday – Friday; 8:30-4:30 (37.5 hours per week). Some evening work and flexibility may be required

Requirements

Bachelor of Social Work required.
Registration (in good standing) with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) required.
Minimum two (2) years related clinical experience required.
Two years of experience in child and youth mental health and addiction services required.
Sound knowledge and awareness of mental health and addictions services and current evidence-based interventions for children, youth and their families required.
Ability to work independently, collaboratively and in a consultative manner as part of an interprofessional team.
Must be a skilled communicator with strong interpersonal and written skills.
Strong critical thinking, judgement and decision-making skills are required.
Current successful completion of CPR Level-C Healthcare Provider or Basic Life Support (BLS) course within the last 12 months.

Nice To Haves

Two (2) to four (4) years’ experience in community outreach and system navigation preferred.
Knowledge and awareness of community-based Mental Health and Addictions organizations and resources for child and youth.
Ability to engage and support clients and their caregivers.
Experience and competency in triaging risk and clinical needs.
Knowledge of motivational interviewing, psychosocial rehabilitation and harm reduction models.
Knowledge and commitment to trauma-informed care practices.
Experience and training in cultural competence and safety.
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification (NCI).
Competencies in other languages an asset.

Responsibilities

Providing timely follow-up support, information, navigation, consultation and community outreach services to clients and families/caregivers who would benefit from follow-up services and who are not formally engaged in mental health and addictions program.
Working in close collaboration with the Central Referral and Emergency Mental Health and Addictions (EMHAS) teams.
Liaising with many community-based youth-serving organizations as appropriate to meet the needs of the youth/caregiver.
Empathically and effectively engaging clients and their caregivers/families in the community and providing support as needed.
Supporting children, youth and caregivers during a situational crisis.
Navigating to community resources/services to help improve function.
Serving as the primary IWK MHA staff connected to Anchor Youth Spaces in Halifax.
Facilitating the connection and coordination to Schools Plus services.
Facilitating referrals to community groups.
Assisting caregivers with supportive plans.
Consulting with MHA clinical staff as needed.
Having knowledge of available resources within IWK Health and the community to address Mental Health and Addiction concerns and advance referrals for more specialized services as needed.
Exhibiting a commitment to the highest standard of professional integrity, by interacting with colleagues, clients, families, students, and partners in a respectful and collaborative manner in keeping with principles of client-centred, trauma informed care, family-centred care, IWK Health standards, and their own Standards of Professional Practice.