Social Worker, Central Referral

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 221312 
Department/Program: Central Referral, Mental Health And Addictions 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 2 position(s)
Start Date: June 2026
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $36.5798 - $48.53 /hour
Closing Date: June 11, 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 Manager of Central Referral, the Bachelor of Social Worker (BSW) is responsible for providing timely follow-up support, information, navigation, consultation and community outreach services to clients and families/caregivers who would benefit from follow-up services and who are not formally engaged in mental health and addictions program. The BSW will work in close collaboration with the Central Referral and Emergency Mental Health and Addictions (EMHAS) teams who will be the sole referral teams triaging to this service. The Community Outreach Navigator will liaise with many community-based youth-serving organizations as appropriate to meet the needs of the youth/caregiver. The Community Outreach Navigator will empathically and effectively engage clients and their caregivers/families in the community and provide support as needed.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to supporting children, youth and caregivers during a situational crisis, navigation to community resources/services to help improve function, serve as the primary IWK MHA staff connected to Anchor Youth Spaces in Halifax, facilitate the connection and coordination to Schools Plus services, facilitate referrals to community groups, assist caregivers with supportive plans and consulting with MHA clinical staff as needed. The BSW will have knowledge of available resources within IWK Health and the community to address Mental Health and Addiction concerns and advance referrals for more specialized services as needed. The BSW exhibits a commitment to the highest standard of professional integrity, by interacting with colleagues, clients, families, students, and partners in a respectful and collaborative manner in keeping with principles of client-centred, trauma informed care, family-centred care, IWK Health standards, and their own Standards of Professional Practice. Access to a car is needed and there will be travel across HRM.

Hours of Work

Monday – Friday; 8:30-4:30 (37.5 hours per week). Some evening work and flexibility may be required

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work required.
• Registration (in good standing) with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) required.
• Minimum two (2) years related clinical experience required.
• Two years of experience in child and youth mental health and addiction services required.
• Sound knowledge and awareness of mental health and addictions services and current evidence-based interventions for children, youth and their families required.
• Two (2) to four (4) years’ experience in community outreach and system navigation preferred.
• Knowledge and awareness of community-based Mental Health and Addictions organizations and resources for child and youth.
• Ability to engage and support clients and their caregivers
• Experience and competency in triaging risk and clinical needs.
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing, psychosocial rehabilitation and harm reduction models.
• Knowledge and commitment to trauma-informed care practices.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively and in a consultative manner as part of an interprofessional team.
• Must be a skilled communicator with strong interpersonal and written skills.
• Experience and training in cultural competence and safety.
• Strong critical thinking, judgement and decision-making skills are required.
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification (NCI).
• Current successful completion of CPR Level-C Healthcare Provider or Basic Life Support (BLS) course within the last 12 months.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

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.