Youth Support Worker

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Halifax; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary YMCA membership

Access to Y at Home

Three weeks vacation entitlement and…

Comprehensive benefits package and…

Counselling services

Job summary

YMCA Halifax invites applications for a Full-time Youth Support Worker to assist youth aged 12 to 25 and their caregivers. You will provide mentoring, advocacy, and trauma-informed support within a model that integrates services across the Anchor Youth Space North End Halifax site.

The role emphasizes equity, inclusion, and youth-centered care. As part of our team, you will promote holistic wellbeing, coordinate referrals, and collaborate with staff to implement individualized care plans.

Qualifications

• Experience working with youth aged 12–25.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in youth services.
• Ability to mentor and advocate for youth and caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Holistic youth well-being supported by evidence-informed practices.
• Professional and ethical conduct following organizational policies and standards.
• Direct youth support: help youth understand and improve well-being, facilitate referrals, and support care plans.
• Develop caregiver and youth peer support initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate group programs building social connections.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Equity & Inclusion

Mentoring

Advocacy

Communication

Collaboration

Job description

Location: Community YMCA – 2269 Gottingen Street,Halifax, NS
Program: Anchor Youth Space North End Halifax
Position Status: Full-time Permanent
Compensation: $50,000–$60,000

As part of our YMCA's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, this position is designated for a member of the African Nova Scotian community, or members of equity-deserving communities.

There is potential inside all of us – we all have itin us to shine.

Every charity exists to help solve a problem – ourcharity exists to help solve many problems, from childcare shortages, socialisolation, mental health issues, access to wellness, and more. Today, ournetwork is spread across 100+ program locations in HRM and the province,meeting the most urgent needs of our communities in mental health supports,accessible childcare, supporting an increasing immigrant population, safespaces for youth to grow and lead, helping to navigate a precarious labourmarket, delivering wellness programming for all, and creating community forisolated older adults.

We give people the tools, encouragement, and safespace to discover their inner strength. When they know someone’s in theircorner, with unconditional support, they realize they can do more than theythought possible. It’s your support, expertise, and guidance that helps peopleignite their full potential and shape our neighbourhoods into vibrant andhealthy communities.

With us at their side, they can Shine On.

Total Compensation & Benefits

As part of your total compensation:

• Complimentary YMCA membership to our Health & Fitnessfacilities
• Access to Y at Home, where you can participate in fitness programsfrom your own home
• Three (3) weeks' vacation entitlement and paid wellness days
• Comprehensive benefits package and pension
• Complimentary wellbeing and counselling services

About the Role

Integrated Youth Services (IYS) is a service modelthat offers low barrier access to community-led services for youth aged 12 to25 and their caregivers. IYS provides early intervention, prevention, and careregarding mental health and addictions, as well as coordinated access to otherservices.

Each IYS site provides rapid access to high quality,youth-appropriate, evidence-informed supports and services. Youth can accessservices in person, by telephone, or through a virtual platform. The overallgoal of Integrated Youth Services is to transform how young people accessmental health care and services.

Guiding Principles of the Anchor Youth Space Model

The following are important principles that guide theAnchor Youth Space model:

• Youth and caregiver participation in the design, implementation,and evaluation of services.
• The co-location and integration of services, including mentalhealth and addictions care, primary health care, community and peersupport, and social services.
• Continuity of services from age 12 to age 25, including supportingyouths' transition to adult services.
• Services that are culturally responsive, accessible, high quality,youth-centred, and evidence-informed.
• Stepped care to ensure the appropriate levels of care, at the righttime, by the right provider.
• Ongoing collaboration among all Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotiasites and the Anchor Youth Space Nova Scotia Provincial Leadership Team.
• Ongoing, robust measurement of service impact and continuousquality improvement.

In This Role, You Will

Reporting to the site manager and working under theleadership of the clinician, the Youth Support Worker provides support, mentoring, and advocacy for youth, ages 12 to 25.

The Youth Support Worker employs a relational,trauma-informed, and equity-focused approach to practice. The Youth SupportWorker works collaboratively with youth, their caregivers, members of theAnchor Youth Space team, and others, helping youth meet their individualizedgoals.

Key Responsibilities

1. Holistic Youth Well-Being

• Embrace a wholistic approach to youth well-being, informed by thePan-Canadian Guiding Principles of IYS, social determinants of health, andprinciples of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, accessibility,and anti-racism (EDIRAA).

2. Professional Practice

• Act professionally and ethically, following all organizational andAnchor Youth Space policies, guidelines, applicable legislation,regulations, and professional standards.

3. Direct Youth Support Services

Under the clinical leadership of the site clinician:

• Support youth to understand, improve, and maintain their mental andphysical well-being.
• Facilitate referrals to services both internal and external toAnchor Youth Space. Support youth to create and maintain connections torelevant services and care providers.
• Collaborate with youth and Anchor Youth Space team members toestablish, implement, and revise care plans to support youth in workingtowards their goals.
• Assist young people on their wellness journey and in the successfultransition to adult services.
• Assist team members with development of care plans, casemanagement, and crisis navigation.

4. Peer Support Initiatives

• Support the development and implementation of caregiver and youthpeer support initiatives for the Anchor Youth Space site.

5. Group Programming

• Plan and facilitate group programs for youth that build socialconnections and a sense of