Youth Mental Wellness Councillor

Summary:

The Youth Mental Wellness Counsellor travels to North Spirit Lake First Nation via small aircraft to provide counselling to children, youth and families as needed to meet the holistic needs for wellness for our children. The Counsellor will offer support/guidance, addictions support, suicide intervention and prevention, crisis management, group work and case management services. All K.O. Mental Health staff work in close collaboration with community leadership, all community resources, and assist in capacity building. When not travelling, this position may also require staff to provide services to community members off reserve, as well as offer virtual support.

Qualifications:

• Diploma in Social Service Work/Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Social Work, Counselling Psychology, or a related field. 
• Registration with the College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists or another recognized professional body is considered an asset.
• Prefer at least 2 years’ experience working with children, youth and/or families in a counselling capacity.
• Knowledge of techniques and principles of trauma-informed care, the family systems theory, crisis therapy intervention, individual/family/group therapy, trauma response, child abuse and family violence, addictions and harm reduction strategies, de-escalation strategies, suicide intervention strategies, and understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy and/or other relevant techniques.
• Must have experience in assessing high risk clients and responding appropriately.
• Knowledge of mandatory reporting requirements.
• Experience developing presentations and facilitating group work/therapy.
• Can approach work holistically using a wellness model, highlighting, and encouraging community members’ strengths. 
• Support system and self-care strategies in place to maintain own well-being.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain rapport and effectively communicate with community members and resource partners.
• Excellent verbal, written and computer skills.
• Strong interviewing, analytical, problem-solving, organizational and time management skills.
• Self-starter who can take initiative, work both independently and as part of a team and is highly adaptable.
• Knowledge of First Nation culture, history, community-based services, geographic realities, and social conditions within remote First Nations communities particularly in a regional context is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of traditional Indigenous healing, medicines or ceremonies is considered an asset.
• Previous experience working with First Nations communities is an asset.
• Ability to communicate in one of the First Nations dialects from the K.O. communities is an asset.

Accountability:

• This position reports to the Mental Wellness and Addictions Manager.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Regularly travel to K.O. communities to provide counselling, support/guidance, intervention, de-escalation, crisis management, family counselling as required, group work and case management.  Often by small aircraft.
• Travel to other K.O. office sites as needed (i.e., Thunder Bay, Balmertown, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Winnipeg).
• Attend meetings for K.O. Health and the Mental Health Team.
• Conduct mental health assessments, help community members define their goals and create their own holistic plans to meet their individual needs for service.
• Assessment of risk factors, clinical management of risk, stabilization and the developing safety plans with community members and their circle of care.
• Develop therapeutic processes to guide community members in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their challenges. Uses trauma-informed best practices. 
• Focus sessions on recovery, modification of behaviors or better management of conditions/challenges.
• Promote harm reduction strategies.  Work with community and health authority to ensure access to approved harm reduction materials.
• Evaluate community members’ progress regularly and adjust interventions as necessary to meet their needs.
• Coordinate care, collaborate and refer to community/regional resources or specialists.
• Maintain accurate, factual, and objective records in the case management system in a timely manner on all aspects of clinical care.
• Monitor files closely to ensure there is active care, and close inactive files when necessary.
• Protect confidentiality, secure all records, and maintain integrity of the client/community members records.
• Follow Duty to Report requirements as necessary.  
• Lead group therapy/preventative mental wellness workshops.
• Provide regular updates to K.O. Mental Wellness Manager, Health Director, and Chief and Council.
• Participate in regular supervision meetings to review all cases/issues, receive education and direction, and for debriefing.
• Prepare 3-month work plan, in advance to ensure communities receive service in a timely and effective manner.
• Participate in ongoing education on all areas of mental wellness and team meetings. 
• Develop and deliver presentations and group work in-house and in communities as requested.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with community-based mental health workers, NNADAP, Choose Life, health staff etc. and offer support/resources/mentoring.
• Other duties that may be deemed necessary by your immediate supervisor or the Executive Team.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Applicants interested in this position are welcome to submit their resume and cover letter to apply on-line at KO website: www.kochiefs.ca under “Careers”, or via email to hr@kochiefs.ca . Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. We encourage people to self-identify if Indigenous, particularly members of communities served by Keewaytinook Okimakanak.