Overview:
Location: Anchor Youth Space Bridgewater
197 Dufferin Street, Bridgewater, NS
Program: Anchor Youth Space -Integrated Youth Services (IYS)
Position Status: Salaried Full Time
Salary Range: $85,000 - $105,000
Reports to: Anchor Youth Space Site Manager
Start Date: September 9, 2026 (anticipated)
Situation:
The YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia is a registered charity dedicated to promoting growth of our people in Spirit, Mind and Body Our visions are one of thriving and healthy communities where everyone is generously welcomed and can shine. With caring, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, and responsibility, together we shine the brightest.
Every charity exists to help find solutions – our charity supports programs to address childcare shortages; social isolation; mental health issues; access to wellness; and more. Today our network is spread across 100+ program locations throughout the province, meeting the most urgent needs of our communities on mental health support, accessible childcare supporting increasing immigrant populations, providing 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.
There is potential inside all of us – we all have it in us to shine. With us at their side, they can Shine On!
As Part of your Compensation:
· Receive a complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitness facilities
· Discounts on YMCA childcare
· Vacation accrual starting at 1.25 days per month (3 wks/yr)
· Paid Wellness Days
· Comprehensive benefits package and pension (CAAT)
Nature and Scope at Anchor Youth Space:
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.
Reporting to the IYS site manager, the clinician provides assessment, clinical treatment, referrals, and advocacy for youth, ages 12 to 25, who are experiencing challenges related to mental health and substance use. The clinician provides clinical support, consultation, and leadership for the Anchor Youth Space site team members. The clinician demonstrates professionalism, adheres to standards of their professional practice, and champions the principles of Integrated Youth Services.
The clinician does not have direct reports but provides clinical leadership, support and consultation to all members of the Anchor Youth Space core site team.
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Key Responsibilities:
1. Carries out assessment, evidence-based treatment, care plan development and implementation, discharge planning, groups, and programming in accordance with Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia guidelines, in alignment with their regulatory body, professional standards and Code of Ethics.
2. Provide guidance, support, oversight, and leadership for Anchor Youth Space services and team members.
3. 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).
4. Act professionally and ethically, following all organizational and Anchor Youth Space guidelines, applicable legislation, regulations, and professional standards.
5. Where required, liaise with external treatment providers and provide youth ages 12 to 25 with evidence-informed case management, and coordinated transfer of care to clinical mental health and addiction services.
6. Collaborate with site staff to design, review, and refine group programs to ensure they integrate best practices to support youth wellbeing, resilience, and developmental needs.
7. Ensure documentation and data is entered into the Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia platform and use the data to guide care and programming; assist youth in entering data as required.
8. On an ongoing basis, work with site staff and management, coalition member organizations, Youth and Caregiver Advisory Committees, Collaborating Service Providers, to ensure that services align with the Pan- Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS.
9. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and protocols, and best practices relevant to integrated youth services.
10. Take part in Anchor Youth Space planning, development, team building, and performance reviews.
11. Take part in Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia training, professional development, research, evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives.
12. Assist with the reception, welcome, and drop-in functions of the Anchor Youth Space site as needed.
13. Other duties as required.
Knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Masters in Social Work, Masters in Psychology (Registered, Masters), Masters in Counseling, Masters in Nursing, Masters in Occupational Therapy.
- Registered and in good standing, or eligible for registration, with relevant professional body required.
- Minimum two (2) years of clinical experience providing assessment, therapy, and treatment in youth mental health/addictions/substance use services required; three (3) to five (5) years preferred.
- Proven experience and demonstrated expertise in collating, synthesizing, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and facilitating measurement-based initiatives to monitor program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
- Experience developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating policies and procedures to ensure effectiveness, compliance, and quality outcomes. Including experience assessing outcomes and suggesting improvements.
- A high degree of proficiency in mental health and addictions screening and assessment, including suicide risk assessment, required.
- Demonstrated experience and competency providing clinical therapy using evidence-based assessment and treatment methods, including solution-focused approaches, motivational interviewing, and client engagement strategies required.
- Well-developed knowledge and skill in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and anti-racism (EDIRAA).
- Demonstrated knowledge of, and commitment to, trauma-informed and person-centred care required.
- Demonstrated skill in clinical decision-making and collaborative leadership required; previous experience overseeing clinical services preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team required; previous training and/or experience working in an integrated service delivery model strongly 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, email programs, and conducting online searches.
- Ability to provide services in person, via text & telephone, and virtually (from the IYS site) required.
- Competencies in other language(s) an asset.
Work Environment at Anchor Youth Space:
· This position deals with multiple demands, deadlines and dealing with the day-to-day interruptions.
· Work involves a moderate amount of physical, mental and visual demands.
· This position requires flexibility in work schedule to include weekend and evenings to support youth, team trainings and meetings.
Competencies:
In addition to bringing a commitment to YMCA vision and values, and an orientation to service, the Mental Health & Addictions Clinician should possess the following competencies:
1. Leadership/Coaching – Ability to coach, mentor, and develop performance of others to achieve desired result within a growth-orientated and strength-based atmosphere.
2. Negotiation/Communication/Interpersonal Skills – Ability to speak, write, listen and secure information in a variety of settings. Ability to cooperate with others to achieve results. Ability to create and build relationships inside and outside the organization.
3. Planning/Organizing – Ability to establish a clearly defined and effective course of action for self and others to accomplish short- and long-term goals. Demonstrate the capacity to assess data, interrupt outcomes, and recommend improvements for measurement-based program initiatives.
4. Solution Focused – Ability to identify an issue, gathers and processes relevant information, determine possible solutions, selects appropriate responses and implements and evaluates them.
5. Initiative/Enthusiasm/Innovation – Ability to manage and lead to achieve and exceed identified goals.
6. Community Awareness and Understanding – Demonstrates and promotes a personal understanding of and appreciation for the vision, mission and values of the organization. Demonstrating a practice approach which embodies dignity, respect, and equity towards others.
7. Project Resource Management – Ability to manage a project from initial planning to completion.
8. Strategic Planning/Visioning - Ability to visualize future direction and formulate strategies, plans and action to achieve vision. Ability to engage in policy writing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for current therapeutic programming and future therapeutic projects.
Please note that all successful candidates are required to provide:
· Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, and Child Abuse Registry Check (less than 3 months old, if 18 years of age or older)
· Attend all required Child Safeguarding Training and undergo all Child Safeguarding Policy requirements in the assigned timeframes.
· Valid First Aid and CPR Level C Certificate (or willingness to obtain within 3 months of employment)
· Proof of Naloxone training within the last 12 months (or willingness to obtain within 3 months of employment)
· Current certification in Non-violent Crisis Intervention (or willingness to obtain within 3 months of employment)
Please note, 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.
To Apply: Please apply via email by Sept 9, 2026 to [email protected]
(Only qualified applicants that meet all requirements will be contacted)
The YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia is an equal opportunity employer that values the diversity of people and communities and is committed to excellence and inclusion in our Association. We are committed to an environment that is barrier free. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.
Pay: $85,000.00-$105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Work Location: In person
