Objective: As part of the Nlaka‛pamux Nation Mental Health Team, the Mental Health and Addiction Counsellor is responsible for providing confidential mental health and addiction counselling, education and support to individuals and families within the Nlaka’pamux Nation. This position operates from a holistic and trauma-informed perspective, is sensitive to the Nlaka’pamux tradition and culture, and provides services required to assist community members in attaining and maintaining the highest level of wellness possible. This is a demographic-specific posting, priority will be given to Indigenous applicants with a degree in counselling psychology or human services related field. Salary to commensurate with experience; benefit package offered.
Key Accountabilities:
- Provides direct counselling services such as intake, assessment, and holistic treatment planning as appropriate; consultation/liaison with community agencies, schools, hospitals, and other community services within the Nation.
- Conducts individual counselling from a trauma-informed perspective.
- Maintains basic knowledge of psycho-tropic medications as prescribed by a physician, maintaining and awareness of the effects of such medications.
- Maintains appropriate client documentation.
- Promotes and maintains effective working relationships with clients and families, physicians, schools and hospitals to coordinate services, secure input, cooperation, improve client outcomes and provide community support.
Qualifications:
- Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other Human Services related field.
- 2 years (recent) direct counselling experience; experience in community development, family support work, group facilitation and/or advocacy is an asset.
- Proficient knowledge of, and demonstrated working experience in, the comprehensive issues relating to colonization, intergenerational and residential school trauma, substance and process addictions, mental health issues, concurrent disorders, grief/loss, suicide ideation/intent, family violence and FN specific issues.
- Demonstrated capacity to develop, implement and evaluate programs and psychoeducational information.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Strong assessment skills relevant to the context of local Indigenous history, beliefs and practices.
Nlaka’pamux Health Services 2088 Quilchena Ave P.O Box 1624 Merritt BC, V1K 1B8 Telephone: (250) 378 9772 Fax: (250) 315 0283 Email: Mhreception@nlxfn.com
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn Nlaka’pamux tradition and culture.
- Recent experience working with First Nation clients in rural, remote and on-reserve communities.
- Familiarity with both abstinence and harm reduction model.
- Ability to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy choices through personal role-modelling with resources/agencies and other stakeholders.
- Ensure provision of services to clients is completed in a safe environment regardless of location (i.e., home visit, band hall, satellite stations or main offices).
- Strong written and verbal communications skills, which includes correspondence, case notes and report writing.
- Ability to work independently and in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to facilitate groups within community.
- Demonstrates strong interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.
- Functional in Microsoft Office: MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher.
- Ability to work flexible hours that may include some evenings/weekends. All travel is within a 50 km of main office.
- Hold a valid drivers’ license with a clean drivers’ abstract.
- This is a designated position of trust working directly with vulnerable persons. Consent to a comprehensive criminal record check with clearance is required. Personal and professional references are required.
- Please note travel is involved to communities
Application Submission Process must include the following:
Resume: providing detailed information about your education and employment history that clearly demonstrates your ability to the required job qualifications.
Cover Letter: outlining your understanding of the position and how you’re your education/experience would contribute to the success of the position, the organization and to the communities served.
This is a demographic-specific posting where preference will be given to qualified First Nation applicants.
Apply by Mail or email to:
Tamara George, Executive Director
Box 1624
Merritt, BC V1K 1B8
Email: George.t@nlxfn.com
Application Deadline: until Position is filled