Location: 2269 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS
Program: Anchor Youth Space North End Halifax
Position Status: Full-time
Compensation: $70,000-$80,000
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:
- Complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities
- Access to Y at Home, where you can participate in fitness programs from your own home
- Three (3) weeks’ vacation entitlement and paid wellness days
- Comprehensive benefits package and pension
- Complimentary wellbeing and counselling services
About the role:
Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is a service model that offers low barrier access to community-led services for youth aged 12 to 25 and their caregivers. IYS provides early intervention, prevention, and care regarding mental health and addictions, as well as coordinated access to other services.
Each IYS site provides rapid access to high quality, youth-appropriate, evidence-informed supports and services. Youth can access services in person, by telephone, or through a virtual platform. The overall goal of Integrated Youth Services is to transform how young people access mental health care and services.
The following are important principles that guide the Anchor Youth Space model:
- Youth and caregiver participation in the design, implementation, and evaluation of services.
- The co-location and integration of services, including mental health and addictions care, primary health care, community and peer support, and social services.
- Continuity of services from age 12 to age 25, including supporting youths’ transition to adult services.
- Services that are culturally responsive, accessible, high quality, youth-centred, and evidence-informed.
- Stepped care to ensure the appropriate levels of care, at the right time, by the right provider.
- Ongoing collaboration among all Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia sites and the Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia Provincial Leadership Team.
- Ongoing, robust measurement of service impact and continuous quality improvement.
In this role, you will:
Reporting to the site manager and working under the leadership of the clinician, the community outreach worker provides outreach, intake and screening, case management, service navigation, support, and advocacy for youth, ages 12 to 25, who are experiencing challenges related to mental health and substance use. The community outreach worker employs a relational, trauma-informed, and equity-focused approach to practice. Working with youth, caregivers, members of the Anchor Youth Space team, and others, the community outreach worker leads the collaborative development of youth goals and care plans supporting youth to meet their individualized goals. The community outreach worker actively collaborates with Anchor Youth Space site team members and multi-sector partners to develop an integrated, youth-centred system of care and supports.
The community outreach worker demonstrates professionalism, adheres to standards of their professional practice, and champions the principles of Integrated Youth Services.
- Embrace a wholistic approach to youth well-being, informed by the Pan-Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS, social determinants of health, and principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and anti-racism (EDIRAA).
- Act professionally and ethically, following all organizational and Anchor Youth Space guidelines, applicable legislation, regulations, and professional standards.
- Under the clinical leadership of the site clinician, the community outreach worker provides the following services to youth ages 12 to 25 who present at the Anchor Youth Space site for services:
a. Conduct intake and screening related to mental health, substance use and other challenges; form a supportive rapport; collaboratively develop a care plan.
b. Triage youth presenting with mental health and addiction needs and facilitate access to appropriate services, including urgent and emergency care.
c. Provide information on services available within and beyond the Anchor Youth Space site; successfully connect youth and their caregivers with services; monitor and support their progress; advocate for service access as needed.
d. Provide collaborative case management for assigned youth, working closely with site team members and others to integrate service delivery and provide youth with seamless care.
e. Facilitate the coordinated transfer of young people to adult services.
f. Support youth to be actively engaged in their care plans and treatment.
g. Maintain timely and accurate client records to enable team communication and coordinated care.
- Lead the collaborative development and implementation of a site youth outreach plan, to proactively engage with youth who may benefit from Anchor Youth Space site services but aren’t accessing mental health or substance use supports. Use innovative and creative ways to develop a rapport and introduce young people to supports and services provided at Anchor Youth Space.
- In collaboration with the site manager, promote Anchor Youth Space and Integrated Youth Services in the catchment area.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and protocols, and best practices relevant to integrated youth services.
- Ensure documentation and data is entered into the Anchor Youth Space Nova platform and use the data to guide care; assist youth in entering data as required.
- Take part in Anchor Youth Space planning, development and team building.
- Take part in Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia training, professional development, research, evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Assist with the reception, welcome, and drop-in functions of the Anchor Youth Space site as needed.
- Other duties as required.
Education and skills qualifications:
- Bachelors or Masters degree in a relevant health or social care discipline (ex. registered nurse, occupational therapist, social work, registered counselling therapist) required.
- Registered and in good standing, or eligible for registration, with relevant professional body required.
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience required. Three (3) to five (5) years preferred, in one or more of the following areas: intake and assessment, mental health care, addictions services, youth services.
- ASIST, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, First Aid and CPR certification, and Naloxone Training within the last 12 months or willingness to obtain within 3 months of employment.
- Well-developed knowledge and skills in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and anti-racism (EDIRAA).
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills to serve youth and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, including African Nova Scotian, Newcomer, and Indigenous populations required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of, and commitment to, trauma-informed and person-centred care required.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong therapeutic relationships with youth and caregivers.
- A high degree of proficiency in screening and intake assessment, including suicide risk assessment, preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team required; previous experience working in an integrated service delivery model, preferred.
- Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills required.
- Demonstrated good judgment and high levels of interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy required.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, and to work both independently and collaboratively, required.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, be flexible in response to changing demands, and ensure effective organization and time management required.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain timely and accurate electronic client records required.
- Proficient in MS Office computer applications and file management, and email programs.
- Ability to provide services in person, by telephone, and virtually required.
- Competencies in other languages is an asset.
To apply:
Please apply online at https://ymcahfx.ca/workwithus/ by June 19, 2026.
Please note that all successful candidates are required to provide:
- A Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, and Child Abuse Register Check (less than 6 months old), if 18 years of age or older
- Valid First Aid and CPR Training
Please note that background checks are reviewed on an individual basis – offenses, if any, are based on role and Child Safeguarding requirements, and may not eliminate candidates from employment at our YMCA.
At the YMCA, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We believe that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our organization, enabling us to better serve our community and achieve our mission. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, racially diverse, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, gender-diverse people, people with diverse abilities, members of ethnic minorities and faith groups, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.
