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 Aklavik, the Community Counsellor (CC) reports directly to the Regional Clinical Supervisor of Community Counselling and is a key member of the Primary Community Care (PCC) and regional Community Wellness and Support Services (CWSS) Program teams providing direct, community-based, culturally appropriate mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families counselling services for adults, Elders, and their families to ensure their needs are met, while adhering to the standards and protocols of the NTHSSA Community Counselling Program. These services include, but are not limited to prevention and promotion initiatives; providing appropriate screening, intake, assessment, planning, aftercare services; the delivery of community-based mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families therapeutic counselling services; care coordination; and providing crisis response services. The CC is also a key referral agent and service provider for complex substance use/misuse, family violence, and people with psychiatric issues who may be referred for inpatient treatment or other services outside of the community.

This position operates within a philosophy of education, prevention, therapeutic counselling, and aftercare, to minimize the physical, mental, social, and emotional impacts of substance use/misuse, healthy families/family violence, mental illness, and trauma through providing clients with the tools and support required to achieve and maintain the highest level of mental health that is possible for the individual. This involves having the skills and cultural humility to work with various cultural groups and members of the population (adults, Elders, and families). The incumbent works collaboratively with the PCC Team, and as a part of this team, they are one of the key providers of a full range of mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families counselling services.

Services will be provided in remote locations (i.e., client home, etc.). In these situations, the incumbent may be required to walk to and from the different locations and will experience a variety of weather conditions, including severe cold.

From time to time the CC may be required to work with the Community Wellness Worker and/or Child and Youth Counsellor and/or other service providers in the provision of services to clients, some of whom may be abusive, individuals under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) escorts. These incidents may occur while the incumbent is on duty, as well as when off-duty.

The CC occasionally works with mandated clients (probation, social services), and others that may present as dangerous and unpredictable. As well, the incumbent may be called upon outside of work hours when a traumatic event occurs, within the community or to an individual.

As a result of living in an isolated, Northern community, the incumbent may be required to travel on small planes and ice or winter roads when travelling to or from the community, or to provide service to other communities in the region.

Typically, the above qualifications would be attained by:
1. A Diploma in social sciences; and
2. Five (5) years of relevant counselling and/or relevant lived experience in Northern Indigenous communities.
Lived experience is defined as someone who has:
• lived/is living in the Beaufort Delta Region, and has had interactions with wellness services
• a clear understanding of wellness services personally and professionally
• been active and supportive in the community and in their culture
• a healthy lifestyle that is founded in cultural understanding and practices
• a cultural understanding of healing
Strong awareness of cultural diversity, specifically, Northern Indigenous values and practices.
Eligibility to register with a professional governing body is an asset i.e. Social Work Licence in the Northwest Territories; Certification with Canadian Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association; etc.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

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.

#J-18808-Ljbffr