Clinical Therapist in Halifax

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.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager of Community Mental Health and Addictions, the master’s prepared clinical therapist will ensure the provision of evidence-based treatment and care coordination for children and youth with complex needs, typically involved with multi-agencies, both internal and external to the Mental Health and Addictions program. Using the Adaptive Mentalizing Based Integrative Treatment (AMBIT) approach, the incumbent will support the client’s existing treatment teams and system partners to facilitate the coordination of service providers in order to promote the adaptive functioning of the client and network.

The clinical therapist will provide direct and/or consultative services with clients, their families, support networks, and community partners, utilizing mentalization as an evidence-based approach to interventions. The clinical therapist will be responsible to liaise with a wide range of health, government, and other services within our community. In working with these partners, the emphasis is on building collaborative partnerships, facilitating resource acquisition, and advocating for appropriate resources to meet the client’s needs using the AMBIT framework. This position will support program development, further fostering relationships amongst stakeholders, and other evaluation activities. The position will be based in Bedford and requires regular local and provincial travel to meet clients, families, and stakeholders.

Hours of Work: 7.5 hours, day and evening shifts

Your Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in a clinical health-related discipline (Master’s in Social Work, Psychology, Master’s in Counseling, Master’s in Nursing, or Master’s in Occupational Therapy) required.
• Current professional registration (in good standing) or eligible for registration with the appropriate association or regulatory body required.
• Clinical training and skills in providing evidence-based individual and group-based therapies in the treatment of child and youth with mental health and substance use challenges and/or disorders, required.
• Minimum two (2) years experience in providing clinical assessment, treatment planning, intervention, and discharge planning required.
• Minimum two (2) years' clinical experience in child and youth mental health required.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of standard criteria used (DSM V) for the classification and diagnosis of mental health disorders.
• Demonstrated competence in application of the Choice and Partnership approach (CAPA), required.
• Knowledge and experience working with Measurement Based Care platforms and engaging clients in data collection within their practice.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and a strong understanding of how the social determinants of health impact on mental/physical health, required.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, ability to take initiative, work independently with limited supervision and participate as a member of an interprofessional team.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in crisis intervention, suicide and violence risk assessment/intervention.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in collaborating and engaging with families in relation to sharing information and implementing family-sensitive services that involve families/caregivers in the care.
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• High level of written/oral/interpersonal communication skills; experience with conflict resolution.
• Ability to work effectively in multiple software applications.
• Non-violent crisis intervention and Suicide Risk Assessment preferred.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health. Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position. An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.