Clinical Counsellor, Primary Care

Nuxálk First Nations Led Primary Care Centre

Good Day! Come live, work and play in the beautiful Bella Coola Valley, one of the most gorgeous places on Earth. If you are an adventurous soul, this is an opportunity for you. Embrace the rich culture of the welcoming Nuxalk people. Hiking, fishing, rafting, exploring, photography, wildlife – we have it all. Discover why the “Freedom Road” and the “Hill” have an exceptional story to tell. Our Valley has many cultural landmarks and storied areas of importance. This pristine Valley welcomes you to a place where great waterfalls abound and mighty rivers are home to all the Salmon species plus Steelhead, trout, and char. Come see a Grizzly. Make a home in a place where the mountains touch the sky.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Clinical Counsellor works in a community outreach setting and is a valuable partner to all communities of the Vancouver Island Region of the First Nations Health Authority.

The role provides advanced level expertise in community-based clinical services specific to crisis and trauma response with communities from across the Vancouver Island Region. As a valued part of the team, this position provides mental wellness counselling services for crisis and trauma incidents in community. The Clinical Counsellor practices from an Indigenous worldview that recognizes and respects the values, beliefs and customs of individuals, families and communities as well as adhering to best practices current to the field. This role is mobile across the Vancouver Island Region and attends to individual, family and community mental wellness needs across multiple community sites.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Provides crisis support and intervention in the event of a community based critical incident
Provides mental wellness counselling services including individual, group and family sessions, healing/treatment planning, collaborative discharge planning and after care to those impacted by community-based incidents that activate the IH/FNHA Joint Crisis Response Protocol
Collaborates with community health staff, Traditional Healers, families, and community resources as needed
Provides assessments and screenings as needed upon discovery of the presence of suicide risk and mental health related issues
Provides referrals to external agencies, internal services, Traditional Healers and other culturally relevant resources
Provides consultation, education and information to individuals, families, community and caregivers about mental wellness
Evaluates treatment outcomes to ensure effectiveness of services through continuous follow-up plans and actions
Communicates regularly with the Mental Health and Wellness Manager- VI Region, regarding community incidents
Collaborates with First Nation Health leaders to identify and address gaps, barriers and challenges of service delivery and offer solutions
Develops, recommends and implements practices and procedures to improve quality access to mental wellness counselling to community and provides advocacy to address barriers of services.
Documents, and tracks clinical records as per the provided document tracking forms (ie: emr, incident reports, workplans)
Consults regularly with Team Leader, Clinical Supervision resources, and Family Group Team (Hub) regarding incidents statuses, clinical or community based risk factors not otherwise addressed, and any capacity building needs determined during the incident coordination
Works to infuse Cultural ceremony, tradition and customs into and around related duties where appropriate and as needed
Assesses and documents systemic barriers and challenges identified as potential pre-disposing factors related to the incident
Collaborates with Team leader, Mental Health Manager, First Nations Leadership, and Health Leads regarding systemic challenges and barriers
Ensures client/family/community confidentiality and privacy in accordance with professional regulatory guidelines and following standards of practice and legal requirements
Perform other related duties, as assigned

Job Specifications

Education

A Master’s degree in Counselling, Psychology or a relevant human services field
Up to date registration and in good standing with professional regulatory body
Advanced training in threat/risk assessment and/or trauma response

Occupational Certification

Current valid B.C. driver’s license and willingness to submit a driver’s abstract

Experience

5 to 7 years of experience working with complex social systems or an equivalent combination of experience and education
Minimum of 2 years working with threat/risk and trauma assessment, intervention and post-vention
Experience working with First Nations people and communities

Knowledge

Knowledge of various therapeutic and counselling modalities
Experience work from a trauma informed, culturally sensitive perspective
Knowledge of assessment and screening tools and modalities in determining suicide and violence risk and threat
Knowledge of relevant socio-historical events relevant to First Nations in Canada
Knowledge of the importance of critical reflection in practice
Familiarity with traditional healing practices, customs, values and traditions of local First Nations
Excellent communication skill
In-depth knowledge of cultural safety and agility
Ability to use critical self-reflection in practice
An understanding of rural and remote communities and their inherent challenges and barriers
Understanding and ability to practice with Nation based, community driven philosophy
Ability to practices from an individual/family/community perspective
Ability to balance western and traditional Indigenous worldviews in practice
Aware of and applies professional ethics and approaches to resolve ethical dilemmas
Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with a variety of allied professionals, formal and informal community leaders, and knowledge keepers and/or Elders.
Physical ability to perform the duties of the position

Salary $83,000–$94,000 a year

Full time Permanent hours with flexibility 37.5 hours per week

Great health benefit package, pension, retention and recruitment bonus.

To apply please send your resume to

Kirsten Milton-Primary Care Director at primarycare.director@nuxalknation.ca for more information please call -250-799-5809

To apply for this job email your details to primarycare.director@nuxalknation.ca.