Community Mental Health Worker - Youth Huddle

Southern Health-Santé Sud; Portage la Prairie; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Health-Santé Sud in Manitoba is seeking a Community Mental Health Worker for the Youth Huddle program to provide recovery-oriented mental health and addiction support to youth and young adults (12-29) in a collaborative, interdisciplinary setting.

The role emphasizes trauma-informed care, early intervention, and short-term, goal-driven supports guided by consent and cultural safety. The CMHW works with families and partners to reduce barriers and promote self-determination.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited post-secondary education in Health-Related Social Sciences (e.g. BSW, BScMH, OT, MACP, BScPN, BN, RPN).
• Certificate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) or equivalent.
• Masters degree an asset - qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, etc., or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide recovery-oriented mental health and addictions support to youth and young adults (12-29) within Southern Health-Santé Sud.
• Deliver early intervention and short-term supports in collaboration with health system and community partners.
• Engage in trauma-informed, culturally safe practice and collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to promote continuity of care.

Skills

Trauma informed care

Crisis intervention

Motivational Interviewing

CBT

DBT

Assessment skills

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree Health-Related Social Sciences

ASIST certificate

Master's degree asset

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Salary: As per MGEU Prof Tech Collective Agreement

Find your rewarding career in a vibrant and diverse community within Southern Health-Santé Sud. Our organization is privileged to provide care for people at every point in their lives.

Partnering with our communities, we provide safe, accessible and sustainable people-centered health care. We are proud to work in collaboration with all our partners within and throughout our diverse region: seven First Nations Communities, Francophone, Métis, Mennonite and Hutterite communities as well as a growing number of immigrants from all over the world.

Be part of the Southern Health-Santé Sud team, who is rooted in what matters most. Join a region that offers a lifestyle like no other – a safe, peaceful, beautiful, fulfilling life for you and your family.

This text is available in French upon request/Ce profil de poste est disponible en français sur demande. E-mail [e-mail].

Position Overview

The Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) is a regulated health provider who provides mental health services to residents of Southern Health-Santé Sud (SH-SS). As a member of an interdisciplinary team, the incumbent provides a broad range of mental health services to clients and their families that are based on principles of recovery, empowerment, and self-determination. Services are evidence-based, time-limited, goal-oriented, change-focused interventions, therapies, and/or consultations that are based on informed consent, voluntary participation and within individual capacity. The CMHW requires a comprehensive knowledge base about trauma informed psychiatric care, evidence-based therapies and the ability to possess and integrate into practice crisis management and suicide intervention skills.

Community Mental Health Worker - Youth Huddle specific duties

The Youth & Young Adult Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) provides accessible, recovery-oriented mental health and addictions support to youth and young adults (12-29 years) experiencing mild to moderate mental health and/or substance use concerns. Working within Southern Health-Santé Sud and the Youth Huddle Integrated Youth Services (IYS) framework, supported by United Way, the CMHW delivers early intervention and short-term supports in collaboration with health system, community, and social service partners. The role is grounded in youth-centred, trauma-informed, and culturally safe practice, with a strong focus on reducing barriers to care and supporting continuity across services. The CMHW works to the full scope of practice and engages in ongoing education and maintains competency congruent with SH-SS policies, professional standards of practice, the appropriate college and code of ethics and the Regulated Health Professions Act. The position functions in a manner that is consistent with the mission, vision and values; and the policies of SH-SS.

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience providing evidence-based mental health and addictions counselling to youth and adults. 3-5 years preferred.
• Advanced level of practice in clinical assessment and treatment models including individual (youth and adult), family and group therapy interventions.
• Experience in providing clinical assessment and case formulation, mental status examinations, psychotropic medications, psychopathology, substance use and dependency, individual/group/systems intervention.
• Experience and training in trauma informed care, Brief Treatment models, Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, etc.

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

• Graduate of an accredited post-secondary education in Health-Related Social Sciences (e.g. BSW, BScMH, OT, MACP, BScPN, BN, RPN). Other relevant educational qualifications and experience may be considered.
• Certificate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) or equivalent.
• Masters degree an asset - qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse, Occupational Therapist (MOT), Clinical Social Worker (MSW), Family Therapist (MFT), Masters of Counselling Psychology (MACP); or equivalent.
• Enrollment and/or completion of the Applied Counselling Certificate Program: Specialization in Addictions or its equivalent considered an asset.

Certification/Licensure/Registration

• Active license and registration to practice as required by professional association and provincial legislation.
• Requires a valid Class 5 driver’s license, an all-purpose insured vehicle and liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.

Qualifications And Skills

• Advanced mental health psychosocial assessment skills and knowledge of appropriate evidence informed therapeutic counseling models, approaches and interventions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the range of mental disorders, substance use disorders and co-occurring presentations as per DSM V, including corresponding evidence-informed psycho-therapeutic interventions for both youth and adults.
• Knowledge and awareness of the unique needs of 2SLGBTQ+ population.
• Knowledge of:
  • Primary Care principles.
  • Child and adolescent development, stages of family development, system theory and the biopsychosocial model of mental health and addictions.
  • Child and adolescent development, and mental health and addictions issues in childhood and adolescence including suicide risk assessment and risk management.
• Demonstrated:
  • Understanding of Substance Use, Abuse and Dependency.
  • Crisis intervention and bereavement skills.
  • Familiarity with psychotropic medications commonly prescribed for acute mental disorders and substance use disorders.
  • Familiarity with client-related self-help and family participation.
  • Knowledge of all relevant legislation and standards.
  • Knowledge of Recovery-Oriented principles.
  • Excellence in communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
  • Ability to prepare written communication.
  • Ability to complete psychosocial assessment, including mental status examination, preparing diagnostic impressions, and identifying crisis intervention plans.
  • Ability to work in a culturally informed manner within a range of cultures.
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team and across service sectors.
  • Ability to respect confidentiality including paper, electronic formats and other mediums.
• Proficiency with MS Office suite of programs.
• Given the cultural diversity of our region, the ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population is required.
• Proficiency of both official languages is essential for target and designated bilingual positions.
• Good work and attendance record.

Physical Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the job.
• No hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions.
• May work occasionally evenings and weekends as necessary.
• Will be required to travel to other regional facilities as the position duties may require.

Applicants may request reasonable accommodation related to the materials or activities used throughout the selection process.

Southern Health-Santé Sud, in partnership with the Indigenous community, is committed to increasing the representation of Indigenous people within all levels of our workforce. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to apply and to voluntarily self-identify as being of Indigenous descent in their cover letter/application.

Completes and maintains Satisfactory Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Search, Adult Abuse Registry Check and Child Abuse Registry Check. The successful candidate will be responsible for any service charges incurred.

Consistent with the French Language Services Policy of the Government of Manitoba and Southern Health-Santé Sud’s FLS Policy, we are committed to offering services in English and French in designated program/service areas serving French-speaking communities within Southern Health-Santé Sud. If no candidates satisfy the bilingual qualification, candidates meeting all other qualifications may be considered for this position.