Community Outreach Worker - Mental Health & Addictions

Req ID: 221655
Location: Central Zone, Hants Community Hospital
Department: MHA CZ West Hants Community MH
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100%) x 1
NSGEU Healthcare Position
Posting Closing Date: 11-Jul-26

Nova Scotia Health is the largest provider of health services in Nova Scotia, with some specialized services also offered to clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We’re on a mission to achieve excellence in health, healing, and learning through working together, which is reflected in the hospitals, health centres, and community-based programs we operate across the province. Our passionate team of professionals provides a variety of high-quality inpatient and outpatient services including academic, tertiary, and quaternary care, as well as continuing care, primary health care, public health, and mental health and addictions. Join a diverse team of innovators, collaborators, and creative thinkers today.

Nova Scotia Health employs professionals in all corners of our beautiful province. We believe there's a place here for everyone to call home, from vibrant cities with exuberant nightlife to quaint towns with picturesque trails. The work-life balance that comes with a Nova Scotia Health role means you'll have the time to explore, discover, and participate in that coveted Atlantic lifestyle. Visit us today and check out www.novascotia.com to see why more people from across the globe are moving here.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Health Services Manager, the Community Outreach Worker (COW) provides a range of clinical services to adults and their families affected by mental illness and/or substance use or gambling disorder. The COW may be working in both clinic and community settings providing a wide range of services including screening, assessment, brief intervention, case management/navigation, individual and group treatment. This position will play a key role in navigation, advocacy, and the coordination of resources and services within Mental Health and Addictions and the community. The COW must be knowledgeable and use principles of harm reduction, community development and psychosocial rehabilitation PSR). The successful candidate will serve as a resource to colleagues, clients and family members and will create and enrich linkages with organizations and agencies within their community.

About You

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Bachelor of Social Work
• Must be registered or eligible for registration with professional regulatory body.
• One year post BSW clinical experience in Mental Health and Addictions required
• Screening and risk assessment skills, including suicide risk assessment
• This role requires a high degree of independent practice, excellent assessment skills, and the ability to implement an evidenced based plan of care.
• Working knowledge of the DSM
• Experience in offering brief, supportive intervention strategies focusing on harm reduction and recovery
• Ability to navigate and de-escalate situations and offer crisis support.
• Group facilitation skills.
• Ability to use motivational interviewing skills and engage with clients/families
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and program and community development methods
• Demonstrated knowledge of recovery-oriented practice and client and family centered care
• Knowledge of social determinants of health/social context and its importance to decision formulation
• Knowledge and experience with a trauma informed care approach
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships
• Strong problem solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to make sound and reliable clinical decisions
• Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred

Please ensure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant education, experience, training, and certifications.

Hours

• Permanent full-time position; 75 hours biweekly

Compensation and Benefits

$35.83 - $46.37 hourly
Developmental (less than 1 year experience): $34.80 - $43.30 hourly

Successful candidates may be eligible for our benefits package which includes health, dental, travel, long-term disability, and life insurance coverage as well as a defined benefit pension plan.

Once You've Applied

Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Employees are encouraged to view their seniority hours and dates in their SuccessFactors online profile. 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.

Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity, and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.