This job opening is limited to residents living within 50 kilometers of Sahtu Region.

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.

As a member of the Primary Community Care Team, the Community Counsellor is responsible for providing comprehensive and culturally relevant mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families/family violence services for the residents of Fort Good Hope and surrounding communities.

This position is frequently the first point of contact for clients to access support services. Services are provided in accordance with the cultural values of the community and region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently, and as part of the PCC Team, provide a continuum of culturally appropriate therapeutic counselling services for individuals, groups, and families, in the areas of mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families/family violence, using wise practices.
• Provide comprehensive and culturally relevant mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families/family violence care coordination services; independently, with other members of the CCP team, and as part of the PCC Team.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments and mental status exams and provide recommendations regarding care and monitoring to clients who may be in Health Centers, referred by a third party, self-referred, walk-ins, etc.
• As one of the primary providers of CCP within the Sahtu the incumbent is an important consultant and educator of the PCC Team and other community agencies on mental health/wellness, substance use/misuse, and healthy families/family violence.
• Contribute to the effective functioning of the CCP and enhance program development, delivery, and continuity of care.
• Play a key role in the delivery of mental health and addiction crisis response in the community.

Key Qualifications:

• A Diploma in social sciences;

            Psychology, Social Work, Sociology and Child and Youth              

            and

• Two (2) years of direct counselling experience

            and

• Has lived/is living in a Northern Indigenous community for a minimum of Two (2) years and has had interactions with wellness services as a service provider or participant.

Lived experience is defined as:

• Has been active and supportive in the community and in their regional Indigenous culture.
• Has a clear understanding of wellness services personally and professionally.
• Has a strong awareness of cultural diversity, specifically, Northern Indigenous values and practices.
• Lives a healthy lifestyle that is founded in their Indigenous cultural understanding and practices.
• Has an Indigenous cultural understanding of healing from personal experience as an Indigenous person and from the knowledge gain through intergenerational teaching.

Equivalencies can include:

• A Bachelor¿s Degree in social sciences; and One (1) years of relevant counselling and relevant lived experience in Northern Indigenous communities.

The GNWT offers a competitive salary, an annual northern living allowance, a generous defined benefit pension plan, and health/dental benefits in addition to relocation assistance.  For more information about living and working in the Northwest Territories please visit our benefits page or NWT Tourism. 

Inquiries Only:

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
jobsyk@gov.nt.ca

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