Child, Youth

This is a until -filled competition. Candidates are encouraged not to delay submitting their application as this posting can close at any time after 10 business days with 24-hours posted notice. Resumes will be screened at regular intervals until the position is filled or the competition closes, whichever is earliest.

This posting

This posting will be used to fill 1 permanent full-time position working 75 hours bi-weekly. It will establish a 12-month eligibility list which may be used to fill similar positions.

This job is based in the town of Watson Lake, traditional territory of the Liard First Nation, in the beautiful Yukon.

Our team

Mental Wellness and Substance Use (MWSU) Watson Lake Hubs provide a wide range of mental wellness assessment, treatment, and support services in all Yukon communities outside of Whitehorse. Teams are made up of Child and Youth Clinical Counsellors, Community Counsellors, Clinical Counsellors, Mental Health Support Workers, and Mental Health Nurses who provide individual and group counselling, drop in/outreach services, harm reduction supplies, workshops/community-based groups, and community support. Our dynamic, creative, and strength-based team prioritizes collaboration with First Nation governments and community partners, to help enhance the well-being of Yukoners in rural communities.

Your role

This position offers an incredible opportunity to work within a dynamic interdisciplinary team as a Child, Youth and Family Clinical Counsellor in the town of Watson Lake. Watson Lake lies within the traditional territory of the Kaska people and the Liard First Nation. Kaska is the name of the language spoken by the people and also refers to the cultural group of First Nations peoples who have inhabited the region between the coastal and rocky mountain ranges of northern British Columbia and the southeastern Yukon since time immemorial. The community of Watson Lake consists of the town of Watson lake and the settlements of Liard First Nation including Upper Liard, Two-Mile Village and Two and a Half Mile Village. As the" Gateway to the Yukon" Watson Lake is situated at kilometer mile 635) on the Alaska highway at its junction with the Campbell Highway, making it the first community north of 60th parallel as you enter the Yukon.

To learn more about Watson Lake, please explore here

For more information about Liard First Nation please click here, and for information about the Kaska Dena Council please click here.

The Child, Youth and Family Clinical Counsellor provides specialized services to children and youth under the age of 19, and their families, experiencing difficulties with mental wellness and/or substance use. In this role, you will provide comprehensive assessment, treatment, and case management services, and individual, family and group programming. Reasons for referrals may include parenting concerns, problems at school, peer, and other interpersonal issues as well as physical and emotional health. Liasing with the school, community partners, and specialty services is a key component of the job. The Child, Youth and Family Clinical Counsellor may use a variety of therapeutic approaches depending on the unique needs of the individual accessing services. Common approaches may include therapeutic play, cognitive behavioural therapy, group counselling, psychoeducational workshops, on the land partnerships and other practices.

The ideal candidate for this position is someone who works well both independently and as part of a supportive, diverse, multidisciplinary team. They have values grounded in a strengths-based approach and are comfortable supporting individuals where they are at on their healing journey. Finally, they thrive in a setting that adheres to best practice standards, upholds ethical standards of the profession, prioritizes inclusive practice, cultural awareness and humility and a strong commitment to continual personal and professional growth.

For more information on this job, please contact Lee Covin, Clinical Supervisor, at or

For more information about the recruitment process, please Sneha Iyer, HR Consultant at or

Your benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer many additional financial and non-financial benefits.

• Government of Yukon's many benefits

Your career, your home, your lifestyle

We are the Yukon public service. Every day, we come together to serve the people who live here and make a difference in so many ways. Here, you will find the diverse opportunities you desire to develop your career while enjoying a warm sense of community and vibrant artistic, cultural, and recreational amenities, all set in a spectacular natural environment.

As part of our team, your achievements and enjoyment in both your work and personal life will be valued as you explore the many opportunities the Yukon, and the Government of Yukon, has to offer.

Check out:

• Yukon Life
• Working at Yukon government
• Yukon, Larger than Life

Important application and job requirements

Essential qualifications

Please submit your resume clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications below. Selections for further consideration will be based solely on the information you provide in your resume.

• Master's degree in social sciences, Social Work, Counselling, or other related disciplines
• Considerable, recent experience providing individual and/or group counselling.
• Considerable, recent experience providing assessment and treatment planning for children, youth, and families.
• Considerable, recent experience providing care management services.
• Experience building partnerships and collaborating with First Nation Government and/or other community partners in a social service setting would be considered an asset.

It may be helpful for you to review "Prepare your resume and cover letter".

Desired knowledge, skills and suitability

If selected for an interview, candidates should have, and may be assessed on, the following:

• Ability to demonstrate cultural humility, flexibility, and openness to learning.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community partners and stakeholders to build capacity and develop and deliver responsible community and cultural programming.
• Ability in working effectively to promote and sustain a positive team environment, in prioritizing the health of the person and team to best serve the community.
• Ability to provide effective case management with experience in both individual and group counselling.
• Ability to provide effective screening, mental health and addiction bio-psycho-social assessments, treatment planning and case formulations while working from a harm reduction and client/family/community-centered service delivery model.
• Understanding of collaborative health care delivery systems, and the continuum of services available to clients at different stages of their lives
• Understanding of and adherence to, a harm-reduction two-eyed seeing and trauma informed approach to client care
• Knowledge, and the ability to work within, the stages of change model, i.e. ability to adapt interactions to support engagement and the wellness of clients.
• Effective written and oral communication supported by strong conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to complete and maintain comprehensive clinical records.

It may be helpful for you to review "The job interview process".

Conditions of employment

You must meet the following conditions before being hired, or within the time frame noted.

• Verification of post-secondary degree(s)
• Vulnerable Sector RCMP Security clearance
• WHMIS 2015 (within one month of hire)
• TB screening
• Standard First Aid (within 6 months of starting position)
• Valid class 5 driver's licence or equivalent

Job requirements

This job requires you to perform, and/or be exposed to, the following:

• Regular travel to surrounding communities to provide support services.
• Workplace stresses may arise from counseling clients experiencing mental health crises.

Learn more.

• For help on creating your E-recruitment profile, email E- or phone