Counsellor

At the Northern Nations Wellness Centre in Chetwynd, BC, we deliver team-based care that blends traditional Indigenous healing with western medical practice. Our clinic is rooted in respect, collaboration, and community. We have a supportive, culturally informed team, passionate about wraparound care and improving health outcomes for all.

We are currently seeking highly skilled and compassionate Mental Health Professionals to join our healthcare team. You will play a pivotal role in delivering comprehensive primary care services to the community of Chetwynd and surrounding First Nations. We are looking for counsellors who embrace our team-based care model and support traditional wellness practices as part of their care plans.

In this vital role, you will provide senior-level mental health services, including assessments, counselling, crisis intervention, and collaborative care planning. You'll support clients through trauma-informed, culturally enriched approaches. This role offers the opportunity to engage in harm reduction initiatives, post-discharge care, and mobile outreach services within rural communities and advocate for improved mental health services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Senior-Level Mental Health Services and Client Support

• Provide mental health services at a senior level, including consultation, intake, assessment, counselling, education, collaborative care planning, healing and treatment planning, and resource navigation.
• Offer trauma-informed, culturally enriched support, emphasizing intergenerational trauma and substance use prevention.
• Engage clients in crisis (e.g., suicidal or homicidal ideation) and coordinate with emergency services when needed.
• Deliver counselling and case management for clients with moderate to severe mental health conditions.
• Provide post-discharge support for mental health patients from hospitals or detox facilities.

Assessment, Screening, and Treatment Planning

• Conduct comprehensive assessments and screenings, including evaluations for suicide risk and mental health-related issues.
• Develop and monitor treatment plans, ensuring service effectiveness through continuous follow-up.
• Link clients to specialized care, addiction treatment centers, mental health facilities, and other appropriate services.
• Identify and document systemic barriers that impact mental health and wellness outcomes.

Collaboration and Wraparound Care Coordination

• Collaborate with Indigenous Social Navigators, Traditional Healers, physicians, and other healthcare providers to offer wraparound support.
• Work with internal and external partners to coordinate care plans and referrals, addressing individual client needs.

Outreach and Harm Reduction

• Facilitate harm reduction programs, including safe injection services, Narcan training, and opioid-agonist therapy (OAT) coordination.
• Provide outreach services through peer engagement programs and community outreach, especially for opioid users.
• Participate in mobile health clinics and distribute harm reduction supplies.

Education, Advocacy, and Community Engagement

• Provide consultation and education to individuals, families, caregivers, and local First Nations communities on mental wellness.
• Advocate for culturally relevant approaches and improved access to mental health services by addressing barriers.
• Develop and implement practices to enhance service quality and accessibility for community members.

Culturally Safe and Trauma-Informed Care

• Champion cultural safety, humility, and trauma-informed care in all services.
• Integrate cultural ceremonies, traditions, and customs into care where appropriate.
• Foster a racism-free and culturally safe environment for patients, families, and staff.
• Use culturally safe approaches to gather holistic client information, acknowledging patients' lived experiences, values, and beliefs.

Monitoring, Documentation, and Confidentiality

• Document clinical records, including assessments, referrals, and treatment outcomes, in the EMR system.
• Manage appointments, referrals, and follow-up tracking to ensure seamless care.
• Ensure accurate tracking of work plans, incident reports, and client records.
• Maintain client, family, and community confidentiality in accordance with professional and legal standards.

Job Specifications

Education

• A master's degree in psychology, counselling, social work, or related health professional qualifications with a specialization in mental health, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Advanced training in threat/risk assessment and/or trauma response, as well as training in brief intervention approaches (such as CBT, motivational interview, SBTA, etc.).

Occupational Certification

• Current practicing registration with an applicable professional governing body in B.C. plus, designation as either a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), a Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), or a Registered Social Worker (RSW).
• A valid Class 5 BC Driver's License.

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with complex social systems in a clinical setting or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Preference given to those who have direct experience conducting mental health, addictions, threat/risk and trauma assessments, and providing intervention and postvention treatment services.
• Three (3) years' recent direct experience providing counselling services.
• Experience working with First Nations people and communities, providing mental health services which integrate holistic Indigenous approaches is an asset.

Knowledge

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build therapeutic relationships with patients.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, allied professionals, and community leaders.
• Commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.
• Experience working with First Nations clients, with knowledge of First Nations culture, traditional healing practices, and Anti-Indigenous Racism Response.
• Training or willingness to undertake training in Anti-Indigenous Racism Response, Cultural Safety, and Humility.
• Understanding of relevant socio-historical events impacting First Nations communities.
• Familiarity with rural and remote communities and their unique challenges.
• Ability to work within a Nation-based, community-driven philosophy and apply culturally safe, trauma-informed care practices.
• Knowledge of therapeutic and counselling modalities, including brief intervention approaches.
• Expertise in emergency psychiatry, crisis intervention, addiction issues, recovery-oriented care, and severe mental illness.
• Ability to use and apply suicide and violence risk assessment tools.
• Experience practicing from a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive perspective.
• Ability to engage in critical self-reflection to enhance practice and decision-making.
• Awareness of professional ethics and the ability to resolve ethical dilemmas.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with healthcare professionals, knowledge keepers, Elders, and informal community leaders.
• Understanding of individual, family, and community-focused care approaches to meet diverse needs.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $30.00-$45.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Vision care

Work Location: In person