Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health·Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Unit Aide ensures a safe and clean environment for patients and families by cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining unit equipment. They are also responsible for ordering supplies and transporting medical specimens and requisitions.
Click here to apply as an internal applicant.
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.
There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years.
We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country.
Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country.
We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face.
We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer.
We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.The Opportunity Under the direction of the Manager, the Unit Aide works within a team to provide safe, clean environment for all patients and their families being served by the service/unit.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Primary role in ordering supplies for the service/unit.
Cleaning and disinfecting in accordance with approved guidelines.
Assist with unit quality initiatives within the roles and responsibilities of a Unit Aide.
Complete monthly Workplace Inspection Report (as required); initiate action for needed repairs or safety issues and report to appropriate person.
Ensure patient rooms are clean and tidy.
Leadership role in ordering non-stock items.
Maintain equipment required for the unit.
Transport defective equipment to Biomedical Engineering.
Deliver requisitions, specimens, x-rays, etc. as required.
Hours of Work Rotating shifts days/evenings/nights, seven days / weekYour Qualifications
Minimum High School Diploma or GED required.
Previous Unit Aide experience preferred.
Good communication skills required.
Commitment to Family Centred Care required.
Must be able to organize and prioritize work effectively.
Knowledge of Health Centre fire response regulations required.
Competency in other languages considered an asset.
Short-listed candidates will be required to complete a written skills testing questionnaire. This questionnaire will assess topics such as WHIMS, inflection control, privacy and confidentiality, and more. Short-listed candidates will be contacted by email to arrange this testing and must receive a minimum score of 80% on the test to be eligible to advance to an interview. **Please note that the contact email for skills testing may be routed to your junk mail. Please ensure you check all folders related to your Success Factors account**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 Support 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.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
A high school diploma or GED is required, with previous Unit Aide experience preferred. Candidates must possess strong communication skills and pass a written skills test covering WHMIS and infection control.
Market context
Unit Aide roles in adolescent intensive services are typically in demand in Nova Scotia because these settings need dependable support staff who can work safely in structured care environments. Competition often centers on communication skills, prior unit experience, and readiness for a written test on WHMIS and infection control. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save time, then prepare examples that show your attention to safety and teamwork.