KENORA CHIEFS ADVISORY OGIMAAWABIITONG

Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor – 1.0 FTE Permanent Position

RESPONSIBLE TO: Youth Wellness Hub Manager
PROJECTED START DATE: Flexible

Reporting to the Youth Wellness Hub Manager, the Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor is responsible for providing therapeutic intervention and care coordination to youth ages 12-25 at the Youth Wellness Hub. The Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor will provide a range of mental health and substance use interventions including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and CBT as part of our walk-in counselling model. They will also support youth with care coordination, including referrals to primary care, education, employment and cultural services, securing social assistance, housing and supporting smooth transitions to adult services. The Mental Health & Substance Use Counsellor will work collaboratively as part of the Youth Wellness Team ensuring access to low-barrier integrated care.
The Youth Wellness Hub offers timely access to a variety of integrated services, with an emphasis on mental health and substance use. The Youth Wellness Hub is supported by a network of organizational partners, as well as a Youth Advisory Council. The YWH aims to increase access by reducing barriers and co-creating its programs and services with youth.
The Kenora Youth Wellness Hub is committed to hiring individuals who represent the diversity of the populations we serve. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals including applicants from all cultures, Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, applicants with diverse sexual and gender identities, applicants with disabilities, and applicants with lived experience of mental health and addictions challenges.

Summary of Duties:
 Operate as a clinician within the Youth Wellness Team in Kenora; one of ten newly funded teams across Ontario, established to reduce barriers and improve access to youth mental health and substance use services;
 Provide mental health/substance use counselling, relying on clinical practices such as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other evidence-based interventions for supporting youth with concurrent disorders;
 Provide care coordination to ensure youth are effectively accessing the necessary supports and services;
 Develop and coordinate wellness plans that encompass spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellness;
 Monitor clients’ progress, goals and needs, using a stepped-care approach;
 Provide crisis intervention and after-care;
 Work within a harm reduction framework;
 Provide virtual and in-person service;
 Engage with youth to ensure programs and services incorporate youth voice and are youth-based;
 Support youth with miscellaneous needs at the Hub such as food preparation, activities, etc.

Qualifications:
 Bachelors degree in the field of social work, psychology, human services or related field;
 Membership in good standing with a Professional College such as the OCSWSSW, CRPO, or COTO
 Minimum 1-year experience counselling and/or working with youth and families;
 Interest in working with service providers across sectors including mental health, primary care, education and employment;
 Motivated to improve and develop youth wellness services, with an eye for addressing gaps in services and understanding the needs of youth and families;
 Excellent rapport and ability to work with youth;
 Willingness/interest in being certified as an Addictions Specialist and other relevant certifications/trainings;
 Ability to deal with crisis and post-crisis situations;
 Excellent skills in the following areas: team work, computer, organization, networking, interpersonal, presentation and communication (written & oral);
 Knowledge of the Anishinaabe culture and language, and experience working in First Nation communities is an asset;
 Ability to demonstrate and work through a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, religion, culture, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Additional opportunities and incentives:
 Work for a reflexive and dynamic First Nations organization that provides a wide range of health and social services to 9 member First Nations communities in the Kenora area;
 Work as part of an integrated team of service providers to address the needs of youth and families;
 Opportunity to plan and shape this new innovative model of care, incorporating previous work experience, education and knowledge of best practices;
 Opportunities for professional development;
 Company group benefits and pension plan;
 Competitive salary;
 Three weeks paid vacation to start;
 Paid sick leave, mental health leave and cultural leave;
 Flexible schedules, including a 32.5-hour work week;
 Company vehicles provided for any work-related travel;
 Opportunity for relocation incentives including reimbursement for moving expenses and signing bonus.

Please forward resume cover letter and 3 references by Friday, March 19th, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. to:
Human Resource Department
Kenora Chiefs Advisory
P.O. Box 349- 240 Veterans Drive, 3rd Floor
Kenora ON P9N 3X4
Fax: 807-467-2656
Email: resume@kenorachiefs.ca

We thank all that apply, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.