Department: Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) offers challenging and exciting careers in health and social services delivery and administration in Canada's North. The Territorial Authority has service locations in communities across the territory and a staff of more than 1,600 serving over 43,000 residents of the NWT and 5,900 residents of the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Challenging work, welcoming communities, and expanded opportunities are some of the benefits offered to employees of the NTHSSA.

Job Information

Located in Fort Good Hope, the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor (Counsellor) reports directly to the Regional Clinical Supervisor, Mental Health and Addiction Services for administrative supervision, functional input and clinical guidance. The incumbent is a key member of the Primary Community Care Team (PCC) providing direct, community based, culturally sensitive, mental health, addictions, and family violence counselling services to clients. These services include but are not limited to: prevention and promotion initiatives; planning and delivery of community based mental health, addictions, and family violence therapeutic counselling services; case management; and providing crisis response, supported living, consumer self-help and vocational/education services. The Counsellor is also a key referral agent and service provider for complex addictions, family violence, and psychiatric clients who may be referred for inpatient treatment or other services outside of the community.

The Counsellor operates within a philosophy of education, prevention, therapeutic counselling, out-patient-treatment, and aftercare, to minimize the negative physical, mental, social and emotional impacts of addictions, family violence, mental illness, and trauma through providing clients with the tools, support, and therapeutic venue required to achieve and maintain the highest level of mental health that is possible for the individual. This involves having the skills to work with various cultural groups and all members of the population (elders, adults, adolescents, children and families).

The incumbent works collaboratively with the Primary Community Care team, and as a part of this team they are the key provider of a full range of mental health and addictions counselling services. As a member of the Community Counselling Program (CCP), the Counsellor plays an important role in ensuring that clients' needs are met by providing appropriate screening, intake, assessment, mental health, addictions, and family violence counselling, treatment services, planning, and aftercare.

Typically, the above qualifications would be attained by:
Master's degree in social science with one (1) year of relevant counselling experience in a scope of practice or experience in addictions, mental health, and/or family violence: or
Bachelor degree in social sciences with three (3) years of relevant counselling experience in a scope of practice or experience in addictions, mental health, and/or family violence: or
Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing with five (5) years relevant counselling experience in a scope of practice or experience in addictions, mental health and/or family violence.

The experience of the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor should include clinically supervised education or work experience (counselling experience obtained under a qualified clinical counselling supervisor) that includes at least 500 hours, where at least 120 of those hours are direct client contact. Additional hours are spent in face-to-face supervision, educational activities, documentation activities and professional development.

GNWT Inquiries

Inquiries Only:

Health Recruitment
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
[email protected]

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

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