Job Description
Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO, www.youthhubs.ca) is a network of 27, Integrated Youth Services (IYS) hubs where young people ages 12 to 25 years have walk-in access to youth-centered, community based mental health and wellness services informed by youth, family members and service providers. The hubs are provincially-consistent in core features and locally led and adapted to offer and connect to a range of evidence-based services – mental health care, substance use, primary care, education, employment, housing, peer support, family support and care navigation – in youth-friendly spaces. Outcomes are rigorously evaluated within and across hubs focusing on positive outcomes in areas of wellness important to youth and their families. This initiative engages youth, family members and other stakeholders through a co-creation process, ensuring services are designed and delivered according to their needs.
Position Description
The YWHO Provincial Office (PO) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is seeking a full-time, permanent Integration and Implementation Specialist. This position will report to the Manager of Early Intervention and Prevention services. The Integration and Implementation Specialist will play a key role in supporting deliverables of an Integrated Youth Services (IYS) delivery model within local YWHO networks, including the implementation of the PreVenture program. PreVenture is an evidence-based prevention program that uses personality-focused interventions to promote mental health and delay substance use among youth (aged 12-18). YWHO PO in partnership with School-Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON), is supporting the implementation of the PreVenture program in school boards across province, in collaboration with local YWHO Networks. YWHO is also supporting delivery of the program within other youth-serving agencies.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the Early Intervention and Prevention team as well as the Integration and Implementation Team to bring specific capacities and expertise in the areas of Implementation Science, Quality Improvement, change management, stakeholder engagement and co-development, coaching and system change. The successful candidate will have a strong background in anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice, excellent knowledge of equity frameworks and tools, and significant experience supporting others to identify, prioritize, and develop equity-focused actions that advance meaningful and sustained change. The Implementation Specialist supports the active involvement of Indigenous communities and service providers in all stages of implementation, providing tailored and contextualized support at an agency and system level.
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Applying and integrating evidence informed approaches to change such as Implementation Science, Quality Improvement and service/system design to support system stakeholders to adopt new practices;
- Engaging and fostering collaborative relationships with partners to develop a shared understanding and vision;
- Provide expertise and advice related to equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression to strengthen internal YWHO practices to support the implementation and evaluation of Integrated Youth Services (IYS) delivery model within local YWHO networks, including the implementation of the PreVenture program;
- Developing an understanding of the local mental health and substance use systems in order to support contextualized implementation;
- Understanding and reviewing trends and monitoring and evaluating data to identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen equitable service delivery into program and project planning of YWHO programs;
- Assisting partners (internal and external) with implementing practice and/or system change through facilitation, coaching, problem solving, focused capacity building, consensus building, decision making and conflict resolution;
- Using clinical expertise to support partners in the planning and delivery of the YWHO model and its evidence-based interventions;
- Completing training to become a certified PreVenture Trainer. This is involve delivering the PreVenture program in collaboration with YWHO Networks, agencies and/or school boards;
- Provide low-fidelity & high-fidelity training and clinical coaching to YWHO Networks, agencies and school boards implementing the PreVenture program. This will involve working closely with school-based system partners;
- Developing implementation processes, resources and tools based on evidence informed implementation approaches, utilizing Implementation Science as a foundational approach;
- Building and supporting the capacity of organizations/agency to support sustainable and effective change; and
- Supporting the implementation of improvement cycles across and within organizations.
The YWHO Provincial Office at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) supports a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork and complies with all applicable standards and requirements.
Job Requirements
The successful candidate will possess a Master’s degree in the field of social work, counselling, psychology or a related health or social service discipline (required). Registration and in good standing with a relevant professional college/registering body (College of Social Work and Social Service Workers, College of Psychotherapists and College of Nursing) is required. Successful candidate will have at least three (3) years’ experience in the field of health promotion/prevention, community health and/or mental health and substance use services or other related health services.
- Expertise in health or mental health program planning and implementation with a variety of organizations/agencies, with experience in the Indigenous health and/or mental health and/or substance use sector.
- Thorough understanding of principles and practices of Indigenous engagement is required. Demonstrated knowledge of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, cultures, perspectives and health service providers
- Demonstrated commitment to principles of equity, inclusivity, respect and social justice.
- Demonstrated ability to work in collaboration with diverse stakeholders of diverse backgrounds, equity seeking groups (such as First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other racialized people)
- Demonstrated skills and commitment to data driven/evidence-informed decision making.
- Experience working within an Implementation Science framework or other evidence informed implementation or Quality Improvement framework.
- Demonstrated ability to provide guidance and leadership to collaborative partnerships and experience facilitating or contributing to program planning.
- Demonstrated ability to coach partners and colleagues using clinical expertise, strength-based problem solving, active listening, motivational interviewing, modeling and other coaching strategies.
- Experience in assisting organizations/agencies with system change initiatives through facilitation, problem solving, decision-making and conflict resolution.
- Excellent organizational, planning and time management skills, with the ability to multi-task, produce and coordinate projects to tight deadlines.
- Expertise in health equity and a proven track record of engaging others in open, meaningful and productive dialogue about equity, racism, and oppression.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work on a team, as well as function independently with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to supporting the engagement of young people and family members with lived experience in planning and implementation activities, preferably within a mental health/substance use context.
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal, communication (oral/written), community engagement, and creative problem-solving abilities are required.
Other Skills:
- Bilingualism (French/English) and/or the ability to speak an Indigenous language is considered an asset.
A valid license, access to a vehicle and ability to drive to locations as an expectation of travel related to program assignments.