New Dawn

Full-Time

Weekdays

Description

Reporting to the Site Supervisor and working under the clinician direction of the IYS-NS site Mental Health & Addictions (MHA) Clinician, the Community Outreach Worker provides outreach, intake and screening, case management, service navigation, support, and advocacy for youth (ages 12 to 25) who are experiencing challenges related to mental health and addictions. The Community Outreach Worker (COW) employs a relational, empowering, trauma-informed, and equity-focused approach to practice.

Working with youth, caregivers, members of the Integrated Youth Services team, and others, the COW leads the collaborative development of youth goals and service plans and supports youth to meet their goals. The COW actively collaborates with IYS site colleagues and multi-sector partners to develop an integrated, youth-centred system of care and supports.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Embrace a wholistic approach to youth well-being, informed by the Pan-Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS, the social determinants of health, and the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility, and anti-racism (EDIRAA).
• Under the clinical direction of the site MHA Clinician, provide the following services to youth ages 12 to 25 who present at the IYS site for services:
• Conduct intake and screening related to mental health, addiction and other issues; form a supportive rapport; collaboratively develop a service plan.
• Triage youth presenting with mental health and addiction needs and facilitate access to appropriate services, including urgent and emergency care.
• Provide information on services available within and beyond the IYS-NS site; successfully connect youth and their caregivers with services; monitor and support their progress; advocate for service access as needed.
• Work with site colleagues, the IYS-NS Provincial Leadership Team, youth, and caregivers to ensure supports and services are provided for youth who are wait-listed for clinical and intensive MHA services.
• Provide collaborative case management for assigned youth, working closely with IYS site colleagues and others to integrate service delivery and provide youth with seamless care.
• Facilitate the coordinated transfer and secure attachment of young people to adult services.
• Support youth to be actively engaged in their care plans and treatment, and where possible, to become their own advocates and case managers.
• Ensure client documentation in the IYS-NS data platform (identified in the minimum data set) and other record(s) as relevant; where required, assist youth in entering data into the platform.
• Make use of data to guide care conversations and interventions.
• Maintain timely and accurate client records to enable team communication and coordinated care.
• Lead the collaborative development and implementation of a site youth outreach plan, to proactively engage with youth and young adults who may benefit from IYS but aren’t accessing mental health or substance use supports. Use innovative and creative ways to develop a rapport and introduce these young people to IYS.
• Assist the site supervisor in informing the broader community about the IYS-NS model of care and site services/programs. Create and maintain connections with other youth serving organizations, the municipality and large systems such as NS Health Authority and Department of Community Services.
• On an ongoing basis, work with site staff and management IYS coalition member organizations, Youth and Caregiver Advisory Committees, Collaborating Service Providers, ad the IYS-NS Provincial Leadership Team, to ensure that the Pan-Canadian Principles of IYS guide all aspects of site services.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and protocols regarding addiction and mental health care, and youth/young adults more broadly
• Participate in internal team meetings as required
• Look for potential improvements and help implement solutions 
• Maintain quality, safety and the confidentiality of employees, clients, and volunteers
• Maintain professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity so as to portray New Dawn and IYS in a positive manner, consistent with its values and vision
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, engaging in professional networks, and participating in professional organizations
• Respond to the needs of others with effective communication, mutual respect, and consistent follow through to build trust and workplace relationships
• Promote the mission and values of New Dawn both internally and externally
• Other duties as assigned by the Director, Properties and Development

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Social Work
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers
• Minimum of two (2) years of social work experience required, however 3-5 years is preferred, in one or more of the following areas: intake and assessment, mental health, addictions services, youth services
• Current and up-to-date CPR and First Aid Training
• Current and up-to-date Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training
• Current and up-to-date Brain Story Certification
• Current and up-to-date Mental Health First Aid Training
• Valid Nova Scotia Drivers License, access to reliable transportation, and appropriate licensure and insurance to transport clients is required
• Compassion and empathy
• Experience working with and advocating for vulnerable populations 
• Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and with guidance from others 
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with others; to work together towards a shared goal 
• Highly organized and ability to work well under pressure
• Proficiency with Microsoft suite of programs and applications 
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability
• Understands servant leadership and community-focus as central to the work

Work Conditions

• Travel may be required
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals
• Overtime may be required; working evenings/weekends as needed
• Interacts with employees, management, and the public at large
• Environment can be busy and/or noisy at times

Total Compensation Package

New Dawn Enterprises believes in supporting the well-being of employees and, in service of this, has created the following compensation package for employees of New Dawn Enterprises, in addition to their salaries:

Flexible Work Week
In recognition of the benefits of greater work-life balance and the value of flexibility and autonomy for human wellbeing, New Dawn makes every attempt to offer a flexible work schedule to our salaried employees. This looks different across New Dawn divisions for each position and is structured in discussion with New Dawn management. Some examples include (where possible & appropriate) flex-time, working from home, reduced hours, etc. 

Paid Vacation

All full-time salaried employees are entitled to one hundred and twenty (120) hours of paid vacation, annually. 

Paid Mental & Physical Health Days

All full-time salaried employees are entitled to fifty-six (56) hours of paid leave for mental and physical health, annually. These days can be used to take time off work for physical and/or mental wellness/illness, and to attend appointments for the employee and/or their dependents.

Paid Holidays

New Dawn observes the following thirteen (13) public holidays: New Year’s Day, Heritage Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

The President & CEO reserves the right to close some, or all, New Dawn administrative offices between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to enable employees to spend time with their loved ones without requiring them to use vacation hours. This decision is reviewed annually based on operational requirements. 

Group Health Employee Benefits
Group health benefits for salaried employees and dependents are provided by Group Health. Fifty percent (50%) of benefit premiums are paid by the employer, with the exception of Long-Term Disability which requires benefit premiums to be paid fully (100%) by the employee. 

Self-Directed Registered Retirement Savings Plan  
New Dawn offers salaried employees retirement savings matching for self-directed retirement savings plans after successful completion of their probationary period. Employees may choose to contribute up to 5% of their gross salary to a registered retirement savings plan, deducted from their pay cheque. Contributions are matched by the Employer to a maximum of five percent (5%).

Additionally, New Dawn offers salaried employees who earn less than $60,000 annually an automatic contribution to a registered retirement savings plan at a rate of 5% of their gross salary.  Eligible employees are not required to personally contribute to a registered retirement savings plan in order to receive New Dawn’s 5% contribution to their plan, however, they can at any time make a regular (via payroll) contribution to their plan in an amount of their choosing.

Extended Health & Well Being

Group Health also includes an integrated wellness services through Sparrow Health featuring access to enhanced mental health support, access to direct and seamless virtual healthcare, and an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) that includes critical incident support, 24/7 crisis support, substance-use management, and other resources that go beyond expectation from a traditional EFAP.

Café Marie Discount

All New Dawn employees are entitled to a staff discount at Café Marie, located in the Eltuek Arts Centre.

Rewards & Recognition

New Dawn recognizes and rewards the service of employees with years of service rewards at defined milestones in their careers. New Dawn also recognizes and rewards the work, achievements and significant events of employees throughout the year with ongoing and immediate recognition throughout the year.

Professional Development  
New Dawn is committed to the ongoing professional development and lifelong learning aspirations of employees in their skills and knowledge. Employees are encouraged to discuss position-relevant professional development opportunities with their immediate Supervisor. 

About New Dawn

New Dawn Enterprises Limited is a private, volunteer-directed non-profit social enterprise dedicated to community building. It seeks to identify community needs and to establish and operate ventures that speak to those needs.

Incorporated in 1976, New Dawn is the oldest Community Development Corporation in Canada. Today we employ more than 180 people across many companies including: New Dawn Community Health, Pine Tree Park Care Home & Home Living, Abbey Ridge, Integrated Youth Services, New Dawn Community Food Access, the Eltuek Arts Centre, Café Marie & Catering, New Dawn Properties & Developments, the Cape Breton Island Centre for Immigration.

All of its work is in service of building a more vibrant and self-reliant Unama'ki-Cape Breton Island.

About Integrated Youth Services

Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is a dynamic international and pan-Canadian movement that aims to transform how youth access and receive services for substance use, mental health issues, and other key challenges.

Operating within a community-led, partnership-based model, Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia (IYS-NS) will offer young people and their caregivers a range of in-person and virtual services, programs, and supports, in one convenient location. In doing so, IYS-NS sites will provide a coordinated response that puts youth and caregivers at the centre.

Location Information

Community

Sydney

County

Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Province

Nova Scotia

Country

Canada

Opportunity Information

Employer

New Dawn

NOC Code

Social and community service workers (42201)

Experience Required

Yes

Available Openings

1

Pay Type

Salary

Pay Period

Annually

Remuneration Per Pay Period

$70000.00 per year

Estimated Weekly Hours

—

Start Date

March 3rd 2025

End Date

—

Language

English

Language Proficiency Level

Posted on

February 4th 2025

Expires

February 12th 2025