Director, Mental Health & Community Wellness

Director, Mental Health & Community Wellness

Department: Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority – Yellowknife Region (NTHSSA) is one of eight health and social services authorities established by the Department of Health and Social Services in the Government of the Northwest Territories.

NTHSSA – Yellowknife Region delivers and administers Population Health, Primary Health Care and Social Services programs in the communities of Dettah, Fort Resolution, Lutselk’e, Ndilo and Yellowknife.

Our mission is to work with people to optimize wellbeing through the provision of collaborative and culturally appropriate health and social services.

Job Information

The Director will be responsible for the NWT wide delivery of community counseling services (including the new child and youth care counseling initiative), addictions services, community wellness programs, case management services and supportive living services for both in territory and out of territory programs. Mental health and addictions issues are often identified as primary or secondary issues for clients accessing acute care/emergency services, primary care and public health.

The Director is operationally responsible for the implementation of the community wellness program specific to adult homelessness for the NTHSSA. This program works in partnership with senior Directors at DHSS to ensure that support services are provided to clients accessing shelter services throughout the NWT during public health emergencies. This program requires ongoing collaboration, flexibility and positive leadership to ensure the complex needs of this population are met.

The Director is responsible for the operational oversight of Correctional Health Services under NTHSSA. This role provides the leadership necessary to ensure a smooth transition of the Health Service Units from the Department of Justice to NTHSSA and will require ongoing collaboration with leadership at Justice. A review of current practices and implementation of best practice standards are key priorities while ensuring clients within the corrections system receive optimal care.

The Director is expected to provide positive leadership that strengthens comprehensive mental health and wellness practices throughout the NWT, ensuring that best practice standards are implemented and strategic priorities are met. As a member of the NTHSSA Senior Leadership Team, the Director contributes to the development of the overall strategy for health and social services delivery throughout the territory.

The Director will work collaboratively with the COOs, CEOs and appropriate groups of professional and non-professional staff within each region in the NWT to ensure that territorial policies, standards and quality expectations are met at the regional level. The incumbent will ensure their staff are trained and adhere to patient privacy and information sharing regulations.

The Director is responsible for the establishment of contractual arrangements with NGOs and service providers for the provision of Adult Social Services, MHAS and Corrections Health Service components. The incumbent is responsible for the Out of Territory Placement budget and is accountable for enhancing services in territory for clients who require supported living arrangements.

The incumbent will ensure quality services are delivered to clients, and that all Adult Social Programs, MHAS and Corrections Health Services provided by NTHSSA are in alignment with DHSS priorities, policies, standards, regulations and legislative requirements.

The Director leads a team of approximately fifty (50) staff providing leadership to Social Programs (including shelter services), MHAS and Correctional Health Services throughout the Territory. The incumbent is responsible and accountable to ensure Adult Social Programs, MHAS and Correctional Health Services provided meet or exceed territorial and national standards.

The Director reports directly to the EDCI and has four (4) direct reports that are accountable to provide direction and support to regions and various GNWT departments:

• Territorial Manager, Supported Living
• Territorial Manager, Mental Health and Addictions
• Territorial Manager, Community Wellness
• Territorial Manager, Correctional Health Services

Typically, the above qualifications would be attained by:

A Master's Degree in nursing, health sciences or health administration with a minimum of 10 years of directly related clinical experience with progressively more responsibility including a minimum of 5 years mental health & addictions management experience, Or An undergraduate degree in nursing or health sciences with a minimum of 12 years of directly related clinical experience with progressively more responsibility including a minimum of 5 years mental health and addictions management experience.

GNWT Inquiries

Inquiries Only:

Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel (867) 767-9154 Extension 14106
Fax (867) 873-0445
jobsyk@gov.nt.ca

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.