Child & Youth MHSU Clinician

Close Date Location Nanaimo Youth & Family Addiction Services (NYFAS) - Nanaimo, BC V9R 2V1 CA (Primary) Work Area (FBA Only) Multi-Site No Travel Requirement Travel between multiple sites may be required Shift Start Time/End Time 08:30-16:30 Days Off Weekend/Stats Vacancy Type Temp FT Salary Range (Hourly Rate) $44.85 - $56.02 Paid FTE 1.0 Worked BI-WEEKLY HOURS 75 Planned Start Date Jun. 29 2026 Approximate End Date (For Temporary Assignments ONLY) Oct. 14 2027 Pending Return of Incumbent Yes CRC required? (employee will be working with or have access to children or vulnerable adults and requires a Criminal Record Check) Yes

Job Description

In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority ( Island Health), patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. Reporting to the Manager or Delegate and working as a member of a multi-disciplinary health and human services team the MHSU Clinician provides client and family-centered care through a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and evidence-informed practice to individual children, youth, and families with and affected by emerging problematic dependencies, substance use disorders, mental health concerns, or are at high risk of developing these conditions. Children and families will present with a range of acuity and complexity. Areas of focus may include smoking, vaping, illicit drug use, alcohol consumption, chronic technology usage, and other mood-altering behaviours relating to problematic dependency or compulsivity. The MHSU Clinician focuses on early intervention and harm reduction strategies in individual client work, family systems work, and broader community and school education projects. Working collaboratively with school-based partners, the MHSU Clinician develops and delivers psychoeducation to children and youth in school and community settings to address risky behaviours and problematic substance use. Working specifically with clients who are substance affected, engaged in problematic substance use, or have other chronic usage or dependencies, the MHSU Clinician provides intake, assessment, intervention, education, treatment, and consultation in an outreach-based approach to children, youth, and families as referred. The MHSU Clinician works with clients, their families, caregivers, and other supports to provide individual assessment of each client's particular situation, assists each client to set goals and develop plans which minimize the harms associated with substance use and other problematic dependencies to maximize their capacity to develop and work towards the goals which have been identified. The MHSU Clinician works closely with a team of clinical counsellors, peer support workers, and other support services to provide wraparound substance use and mental health care in a client-centered, team-based approach. In addition to traditional methods of psychotherapy and psychoeducation, the MHSU Clinician practices creatively and collaboratively in individual, group, and community settings to enhance the outreach model of the service and reach a broader affected population. Practicing from a recovery oriented, neurodiversity affirming, and trauma informed perspective, the MHSU Clinician maintains respect for client dignity and confidentiality while equipping children, youth, and their families to pursue their goals and reduce harm. Travel may be a requirement of this position. Transportation arrangements must meet the operational requirements of Island Health in accordance with the service assignment and may require the use of a personal vehicle.

Qualifications

• Education, Training And Experience
• Master's Degree in a relevant field, including but not limited to Social Work, Counselling Psychology, Clinical Counselling.
• Two (2) years' of recent, related experience including working with persons with mental health, substance use concerns, problematic dependencies, and diverse abilities.
• Valid BC Driver's License.
• Knowledge of and experience with a range of emotional, behavioral and mental health issues specific to the child and youth population. Knowledge of developmental disabilities, mental health and/or alcohol and drug use assessments, treatment methodologies, intervention strategies, the change process, and community dynamics.
• Extensive knowledge of Indigenous communities and resources, ideally those on Vancouver Island.
• Eligible for registration with a relevant/applicable professional association.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, such as the Mental Health Act, the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act and the Guardianship Act; Knowledge of available programs such as community agencies, partner organizations including school districts and Ministry of Children & Family Development, their interrelationships, and their function in delivering care in the community to children and youth with diverse abilities, mental health and substance use illnesses.
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered. Skills And Abilities
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deliver empathic/non-judgmental age and gender sensitive service and to relate well with people from a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural environments.
• Demonstrated foundation in counselling, evidence-based modalities and approaches including but not limited to Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Family Therapy, and the Transtheoretical Model of Change.
• Demonstrated ability in problem solving and ethical decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to engage clients with sound judgment, good observation and attending skills, tact and empathy.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships that are trauma informed and culturally safe, and are based on mutual respect and trust, appropriate sensitivity and transparency, empathy, and compassion with clients, colleagues, professional associates, and the greater community.
• Ability to engage in productive clinical supervision processes.
• Ability to apply a neurodiversity affirming lens when addressing risk for substance use, problematic dependencies, and other mood-altering behaviours in children and youth diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, etc.