Youth Care Worker II

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 218131 
Department/Program: AIS Addictions Day and Out Client, Mental Health And Addictions 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
Start Date: April 2026
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $32.5528 - $39.9124 /hour
Closing Date: April 06, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Clinical Manager, the Youth Care Worker (YCW) II is a member of an interprofessional care team, collaborating on the delivery of care to meet the needs of child/youth and their families by extending therapeutic support into community settings. All YCW IIs are expected to have obtained additional training and experience enabling an expanded scope of employment to support care in the community. Under the direction and supervision of a regulated health professional, the YCW II provides quality care and support to child/youth and their families. The YCW II is accountable to the treatment plan developed by the treatment team and/or clinician most responsible and overseeing the care of child/youth. The YCW II is responsible to implement assigned aspects of a care plan, assess the impact of interventions, and contribute recommendations to the team on changes to the care plan. The YCW II supports the treatment plan, participates in clinical case discussion, team meetings, and case conferences, and supports program operations. Clinical services are provided to families in their homes or other locations (community, school as identified in the treatment plan). This position requires travel to these identified sites as noted in the care plan. 

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday, 7.5 hours days, evening work may be necessary to meet needs of clients and families.

Your Qualifications

• Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care Studies or an undergraduate degree and a graduate from a 2-year accredited Child and Youth Care diploma program or internal applicants (who do not meet the minimum education requirements) currently working as a Youth Care Worker I in the IWK Mental Health and Addictions Program with five (5) years’ experience in child and adolescent mental health and addictions, required.
• CYC Practitioner certification, preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in mental health or related experience with children and adolescents as applicable to the care area. Or internal applicants (who do not meet the minimum education requirements) currently working as a Youth Care Worker I in the IWK Mental Health and Addictions Program with (5) years’ experience in child and adolescent mental health and addictions, required.
• Three to five years’ experience, preferred.
• Successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support (BLS) Program within the last 12 months or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate, required.
• Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCI) certification, required.
• Other YCW education as deemed appropriate based on population needs and model of care.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of mental health and addiction disorders, family systems approach and evidenced treatment modalities, preferred.
• Working knowledge of CONNECT.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, evidence informed practice/best practices.
• Demonstrated appropriate judgement in establishing a therapeutic interaction with client/family population.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interprofessional care team, while effectively carrying out administrative and clinical responsibilities.
• Demonstrated excellent time management, workload prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated conflict resolution skills.
• Holds a valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license, a clean drivers abstract, and reliable transportation.
• Demonstrated commitment in family centred care, trauma informed care, and Equity Diversity Inclusion Reconciliation and Accessibility (EDIRA).

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. 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.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.