Clinical Therapist, Children's Intensive Services

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 13 years of age in outreach services, structure intensive ambulatory  services and or in 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 families 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 are additional responsibilities for this position. Clinical services are provided to the family/caregivers in their homes requiring the incumbent to have access to a vehicle and travel regularly across the Province.   

The Clinical Therapist works in collaboration with a very diverse interprofessional team that includes social work, OT, youth care workers, teachers, nurses, psychologists, recreation therapists and Psychiatrists providing very specialized and intensive interventions to children and youth. Intensive services may provide interventions through inpatient services, structured intensive ambulatory services and outreach services for children under 12yo across Nova Scotia. The CT is responsible for the delivery of assessments and evidence-based treatment to children and youth with Tier-4 mental health and addiction challenges. The CT provides assessments, case formulation and planning, and individual, group and family-based therapy for children, youth and their families. Clinical services are provided to the family in their homes or another location convenient to them requiring the incumbent to travel across the province. 

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday; 8:30am - 4:30pm (37.5 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 and skills in providing evidence based individual and group-based therapies in the treatment of child and youth with mental health and substance use challenges and or disorders, 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 knowledge and understanding of standard criteria used (DSM V) for the classification and diagnosis of mental health disorders.
•    Demonstrated competence in application of the Choice and Partnership approach (CAPA), required.
•    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.