Integrated Youth Services Youth Support Worker

Job Description

Reporting to the IYS Site Supervisor and working under the clinical direction of the site Mental Health and Addictions Clinician, the Youth Support Worker provides individual support, mentoring, and advocacy for youth (ages 12-25) who are experiencing challenges related to mental health and addictions.

The Youth Support Worker employs a relational, empowering, developmental, trauma-informed, and equity-focused approach to practice. The Youth Support Worker works collaboratively with youth, their caregivers, members of the Integrated Youth Services team, and others, helping youth meet established goals and objectives, and supporting changes to care plans as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

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 (EDIRA-AR).

Under the clinical supervision of the site MHA clinician, provide direct service to assigned youth, ages 12 to 25:

• Actively support youth to understand, improve, and maintain their mental and physical well-being.
• Facilitate referrals to services and programs, proactively support youth to create and maintain meaningful connections with service providers within and beyond IYS and facilitate the coordinated transfer and secure attachment of young people to adult services.
• Collaborate with youth and colleagues to establish, implement, and revise care plans and goals; support youth in achieving their goals.
• Assist with case management and crisis intervention.
• Collaborate with IYS colleagues and others to coordinate and integrate service delivery at all levels.

Where required, assist youth in entering data (identified in the minimum data set) into the IYS-NS data platform.

Under the direction of the MHA Clinician, make use of data to guide care conversations and interventions.

Plan and (co-)facilitate group programs for youth, in order to foster social relationships and belonging, and to increase participants’ knowledge and abilities regarding mental health/addiction issues, cultural heritage & identity, life skills, and well-being (defined wholistically).

In collaboration with the provincial Youth and Caregiver Engagement Coordinator, organize and support the site- based Youth Advisory Committee.

Assist in developing and implementing youth peer support initiatives within the IYS site.

Actively nurture and support formal and informal opportunities for youth engagement, personal development, peer support, and leadership.

In accordance with an established site outreach plan, proactively engage with youth and young adults in the community who may benefit from IYS, in order to develop a rapport and introduce them to IYS.

On an ongoing basis, work with site management and coworkers, IYS coalition member organizations, Youth and Caregiver Advisory Committees, Collaborating Service Providers, and the IYS-NS Provincial Leadership Team, to ensure that the Pan-Canadian Principles of IYS guide all aspects of site operations.

Maintain timely and accurate electronic case documentation.

Participate in internal team meetings as required

Look for potential improvements and help implement solutions

Maintain quality, safety and the confidentiality of employees, clients, and volunteers

Maintain professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity so as to portray New Dawn and IYS in a positive manner, consistent with its values and vision

Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, engaging in professional networks, and participating in professional organizations

Respond to the needs of others with effective communication, mutual respect, and consistent follow through to build trust and workplace relationships

Promote the mission and values of New Dawn both internally and externally

Other duties as assigned by the Director, Properties and Development

Qualifications

• Diploma in Child and Youth Care from an accredited college or university, specialization in mental health/addiction services is preferred
• Minimum one (1) year experience working with youth and/or adolescents (age 25 and younger), preferably in mental health/addictions services
• Current and up-to-date CPR and First Aid Training
• Current and up-to-date Naloxone Training
• Current and up-to-date Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training
• Current and up-to-date Brain Story Certification
• Current and up-to-date Mental Health First Aid Training
• Valid Nova Scotia Drivers License, access to reliable transportation, and appropriate licensure and insurance to transport clients is required
• Compassion and empathy
• Experience working with and advocating for vulnerable populations
• Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and with guidance from others
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with others; to work together towards a shared goal
• Highly organized and ability to work well under pressure
• Proficiency with Microsoft suite of programs and applications
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability
• Understands servant leadership and community-focus as central to the work

Work Conditions

• Travel may be required
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals
• Overtime may be required; working evenings/weekends as needed
• Interacts with employees, management, and the public at large
• Environment can be busy and/or noisy at times

New Dawn Enterprises believes in supporting the well-being of employees and, in service of this, has created the following compensation package for employees of New Dawn Enterprises, in addition to their salaries:

Flexible Work Week

In recognition of the benefits of greater work-life balance and the value of flexibility and autonomy for human wellbeing, New Dawn makes every attempt to offer a flexible work schedule to our salaried employees. This looks different across New Dawn divisions for each position and is structured in discussion with New Dawn management. Some examples include (where possible & appropriate) flex-time, working from home, reduced hours, etc.

Paid Vacation

All full-time salaried employees are entitled to one hundred and twenty (120) hours of paid vacation, annually.

Paid Mental & Physical Health Days

All full-time salaried employees are entitled to fifty-six (56) hours of paid leave for mental and physical health, annually. These days can be used to take time off work for physical and/or mental wellness/illness, and to attend appointments for the employee and/or their dependents.

Paid Holidays

New Dawn observes the following thirteen (13) public holidays: New Year’s Day, Heritage Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

The President & CEO reserves the right to close some, or all, New Dawn administrative offices between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to enable employees to spend time with their loved ones without requiring them to use vacation hours. This decision is reviewed annually based on operational requirements.

Group Health Employee Benefits

Group health benefits for salaried employees and dependents are provided by Group Health. Fifty percent (50%) of benefit premiums are paid by the employer, with the exception of Long-Term Disability which requires benefit premiums to be paid fully (100%) by the employee.

Self-Directed Registered Retirement Savings Plan

New Dawn offers salaried employees retirement savings matching for self-directed retirement savings plans after successful completion of their probationary period. Employees may choose to contribute up to 5% of their gross salary to a registered retirement savings plan, deducted from their pay cheque. Contributions are matched by the Employer to a maximum of five percent (5%).

Additionally, New Dawn offers salaried employees who earn less than $60,000 annually an automatic contribution to a registered retirement savings plan at a rate of 5% of their gross salary. Eligible employees are not required to personally contribute to a registered retirement savings plan in order to receive New Dawn’s 5% contribution to their plan, however, they can at any time make a regular (via payroll) contribution to their plan in an amount of their choosing.

Extended Health & Well Being

Group Health also includes an integrated wellness services through Sparrow Health featuring access to enhanced mental health support, access to direct and seamless virtual healthcare, and an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) that includes critical incident support, 24/7 crisis support, substance-use management, and other resources that go beyond expectation from a traditional EFAP.

Café Marie Discount

All New Dawn employees are entitled to a staff discount at Café Marie, located in the Eltuek Arts Centre.

Rewards & Recognition

New Dawn recognizes and rewards the service of employees with years of service rewards at defined milestones in their careers. New Dawn also recognizes and rewards the work, achievements and significant events of employees throughout the year with ongoing and immediate recognition throughout the year.

Professional Development

New Dawn is committed to the ongoing professional development and lifelong learning aspirations of employees in their skills and knowledge. Employees are encouraged to discuss position-relevant professional development opportunities with their immediate Supervisor.

New Dawn Enterprises Limited is a private, volunteer-directed non-profit social enterprise dedicated to community building. It seeks to identify community needs and to establish and operate ventures that speak to those needs.

Incorporated in 1976, New Dawn is the oldest Community Development Corporation in Canada. Today we employ more than 180 people across many companies including: New Dawn Community Health, Pine Tree Park Care Home & Home Living, Abbey Ridge, Integrated Youth Services, New Dawn Community Food Access, the Eltuek Arts Centre, Café Marie & Catering, New Dawn Properties & Developments, the Cape Breton Island Centre for Immigration.

All of its work is in service of building a more vibrant and self-reliant Unama’ki-Cape Breton Island.

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 supports, in one convenient location. In doing so, IYS-NS sites will provide a coordinated response that puts youth and caregivers at the centre.