Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health·Halifax, Nova Scotia
Provide evidence-based mental health and addictions treatment, assessments, and therapy to children and youth up to 19 years of age. Responsibilities include individual and family therapy, group interventions, and the clinical supervision of students and support workers.
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 Reporting to a Manager in the Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) program, the clinical therapist will work as part of an interprofessional team in one of the MHA ambulatory clinics or Intensive Services. The clinical therapist will work with healthcare professionals including Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, In-Home Support Youth Care Workers, Community Navigators, Recreation Therapists, Teachers and Psychiatrists. The clinical therapist will work with children, youth and families, utilizing a culturally relevant and evidenced informed treatment to deliver mental health and addictions treatment to children and youth up to 19 years of age in an ambulatory clinic, outreach services, day treatment services or a community-based settings. This is done in accordance with the mission, philosophies and vision of the IWK Health Centre. Responsibilities include clinical work with children, youth and their caregivers specific to their mental health and addiction needs, within a Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA). The clinical therapist will have a scope of practice that includes individual and family therapy, as well as delivery of evidence-based group interventions. Teaching and clinical supervision of students, capacity-building initiatives and supervision of in-home support workers and community navigators are additional responsibilities for this position. About the Opportunity IWK Mental Health & Addictions is hiring Clinical Therapists (CT) across the portfolio in different service areas across the Mental Health and Addictions program. Community Outpatient Mental Health & Addictions - The Clinical Therapist (CT) is member of an interprofessional team and responsible for the delivery of assessments and evidence-based treatment to children and youth with moderate to severe Tier 3 mental health and addiction challenges. The CT is responsible for providing assessments, case formulation, treatment planning, and individual/group/family-based therapy to children, youth and their caregivers. In addition to the core responsibilities noted above, the CT will implement measurement-based care into their practice, participate in quality initiatives in the program of care, support student learners, engage in collaborative person-centered care, and utilize available information technology to support best practice.Hours of Work Monday to Friday; 18.5 hours per week. Some evening work and flexibility may be required.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, supervision and skills in evidence based mental health and addictions treatment including but not limited to cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), emotion focused family therapy and trauma focused CBT 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 competence in application of the Choice and Partnership approach (CAPA), required.
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of standard criteria used (DSM V) for the classification and diagnosis of mental health disorders.
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.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
Requires a Master's degree in a clinical health-related discipline and current professional registration. Candidates must have at least two years of clinical experience in child and youth mental health and proficiency in evidence-based treatments like CBT and DBT.
Market context
Behavioral-health positions in Nova Scotia often reflect steady demand in child and adolescent services, especially where trauma-informed care and specialized assessment skills are needed. These roles are competitive because employers typically look for a Ph.D. or PsyD in Clinical Psychology, registration with the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology, and direct clinical experience with younger patients. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your registration status and prepare examples of trauma-informed work before applying.