Wellness Counsellor for Children

**Term**:Permanent Part-Time (Subject to Funding Availability); 21 Hours per Week

**Geographic Catchment Area**:Kamloops which is located in the unceded territory of the Secwépemcul'ecw and home of the Two Rivers Métis Society.

**Reports to**:Métis Child and Youth Mental Health Team Leader of Operations

**Job Summary**:
The Michif Wellness Counsellor works in partnership with our Michif Team to provide a culturally safe approach to the delivery of mental health and wellness services to Indigenous children, youth, and families. The Wellness Counsellor may also provide virtual counselling services to Métis children, youth, and families. The Counsellor provides services in a manner consistent with our Society’s vision, culturally safe and trauma informed practice and incorporates traditional ways of healing.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Works with the Mental Health Clinical Team Leader to develop eligibility criteria for use in an intake and screening process
- Develops and monitors mental health and wellness plans
- Provides counselling, support, and education to youth, young adults, their families, and members of their support network
- Provides individual and group work for youth and their families, including healing circles or other traditional ceremonies
- Consults/liaises with community professionals
- Maintains knowledge of psycho-tropic medications as prescribed by physicians
- Maintains knowledge of Indigenous healing practices, protocols, and teachings
- Maintains appropriate administrative records
- Provides written reports of the activities and events related to the outcome and records plans in computer systems and client files
- Other related duties as assigned or as required

**Qualifications**
- Degree and or Diploma in Counselling and/or Mental Health Services; Master’s degree Considered an asset
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience providing counselling services and/or supporting mental health and wellness services within the Indigenous Community; direct experience working with children ages 0-12 preferred
- Combination of education and experience may be considered
- Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the causes and impacts of intergenerational trauma, grief, and loss

**Competencies**:
The Counsellor should demonstrate competence in the following:

- Relationship Building - Develops strong, cooperative relationships with internal and external partners, customers, clients and colleagues to build long term relationships that foster collaboration and partnership
- Understands the meaning of and demonstrates culturally safe and trauma informed practices
- Culturally Informed practice - able to understand, respond to and incorporate Indigenous cultural values and practices into services
- Influence and Impact - Uses knowledge of situations to identify potential impacts and uses persuasion, presentation, or negotiation to convince others to adopt a specific course of action
- Quality - Sets and attains quality standards that meet or exceed requirements
- Planning and organizing - Plans and organizes time effectively to meet goals and timetables
- Problem Solving - Uses critical thinking skills to solve problems and achieve effective solutions and thinks outside the box
- Accountability - Holds self-accountable for achieving goals
- Communicating Information - Communicates and discusses with team, critical information including rationale behind decisions
- Continuous Learning - Continuously acquires and applies knowledge, skills and abilities to enhance capacity, performance and employability and to think about how to bring new idea to move the organization forward
- Initiative - Is a self-starter, seeking out or taking the initiative to identify new challenges or opportunities and proactively doing things

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Ability to build effective working relationships, find common ground and create win-win solutions
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, effective listening skills, and public speaking skills
- Superior interviewing, assessment, counselling, crisis management and case management skills
- Knowledgeable in family systems theory and child development, and the impacts of intergeneration trauma
- Ability to self-regulate, meet deadlines, have attention to detail and respect confidentiality
- Recognizes and respects all cultural diversity and has a strong understanding of Indigenous Peoples, history and cultures

**Working Conditions**:

- Potential for violence in the workplace
- Travel within Kamloops and surrounding area will be required

**Conditions of Employment**:

- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Criminal Records Check
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid BC Driver’s License
- As per Section 16 of the Federal Charter of Human Rights Act, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry

**Employees of Lii Michif Otipemisiwak are also eligible to receive an annual wellness stipend following successful pr