Youth School Counsellor

Nodin Mental Health Services is Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority’s mental health department. It is a resource available to First Nation children, youth, adults and families from 33 remote northern communities served by SLFNHA. Nodin MHS has several services: intake, counsellors travelling to communities, a crisis response program, community-based children’s mental health and addiction workers, traditional healing, youth school counsellors, and an outpatient mental health service (OMHS).

The Youth School Counsellor provides mental health counselling to First Nation students attending Sioux North High School based in Sioux Lookout. The Youth School Counsellor provides one-on-one or group counselling to school students, while collaborating with teachers, parents and other service providers. The goal of this counselling is to help students who are high risk to overcome behavioural/mental health problems, improve student success, resolve interpersonal problems, or work through personal problems. The Youth School Counsellor works in the school during the week, an office on-site at the school. During the off-school season, the position will travel to communities and/or provide support through phone and videoconferencing and/or provide counselling at Nodin MHS’s base office.

The Youth School Counsellor reports to a Clinical Supervisor.

2024 Salary Range: $85,985 - $110,682

Position Type: FT Permanent

Qualifications:

• Persons of First Nations ancestry will be given preference (OHRC, Part II, Special Employment).
• Ability to communicate in one of the First Nations dialects in the Sioux Lookout Zone is an asset.
• Provide case management, group work and mental health counselling to high risk youth
• Help students with issues associated with high risk behaviours (e.g. bullying, low self-esteem, poor academic performance, relationship troubles, family issues, trauma, mental health problem)
• Empowering students to process their problems, plan goals and take action towards positive change using a client-centred, strength based, flexible, timely, effective, and culturally competent approach
• Foster growth in students’ self-esteem, individual responsibility and in skills such as decision-making and social skills to help ameliorate factors which may precipitate problems for students
• Assist the students in taking responsibility for personal decision making to assist in reducing risk and maximizing students’ emotional, behavioural and educational achievement opportunities
• In collaboration with students, identify mental health concerns, strengths and needs, plan goals, complete risk assessments, and provide treatment
• Using best practices, develop and use creative interventions to help youth reduce high risk behaviours
• Using a tracking system, ensure all high-risk cases are met with consistency with active involvement and thorough documentation
• Report any concerns related to harm to self or others and ensure supports are in place
• Provide crisis intervention support, facilitate group debriefing and deliver mental health/substance misuse groups/workshops/presentations
• Complete all documentation/assessments required for electronic mental health records and follow all standard operating procedures
• Off-school season travel to communities to provide counselling, counsel by phone and facilitate video-conferencing to support the continuum of care required once the school year ends and youth return home
• Off-school season may also be required to provide counselling in other units of Nodin MHS
• Establish and maintain working relationships with various service providers; complete referrals to other agencies/services within SLFNHA when deemed appropriate (art therapy, psychology, tele-psychiatry, traditional healing)
• Participate in probationary and annual performance appraisals
• Attend weekly individual supervision meetings for client consultation, planning and direction
• Attend regular staff meetings as per policy
• Other administrative duties as required and determined by Clinical Supervisor
• The ability to perform the requirements of the position on a regular basis

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Minimum level of education required is equivalent to high school graduation and completion of a diploma training program, specific to mental health and social services, at a recognized college
• Registration with a recognized professional body and/or to become registered within a year of commencing employment
• Minimum 1-3 years related experience is required
• Proficient in clinical counselling, assessment and service delivery to youth
• Asset to have training in assessing risk of suicide, suicide intervention, trauma informed care, substance abuse/addiction, intergenerational trauma, grief, self-harm etc.
• Understanding of underlying mental health issues related to high risk behaviours
• Professional integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality is essential
• Must support and adhere to organizational policies, procedures, philosophy and mission
• Must follow standard clinical operating procedures
• Must be knowledgeable and follow duty to report requirements
• Must have working knowledge assessing high risk clients and responding appropriately
• Self-starter, comfortable in a multi-tasking environment, calm under pressure, diplomatic
• Problem solving capability and ability to work under minimal supervision
• Must have excellent time management skills to effectively maintain a busy schedule
• Proficient in typing and competent in the use of computers
• Must have working knowledge of common software products to manage schedules and documentation
• Accuracy and strong attention to detail is a must
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of the people, culture and mental health priorities of First Nations communities in the Sioux Lookout region
• Ability to communicate in one or more of the First Nations dialects of the Sioux Lookout region will be an asset
• Must have driver’s license and must be willing to travel back and forth to the school by road or willing to travel by air into communities

Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority focuses on hiring Indigenous employees whenever possible.

Candidates are encouraged to self-identify on their application. Self-identification is voluntary and the information is used to assist SLFNHA in hiring Indigenous people from the region whenever possible and to support candidates in their application.

We offer competitive and comprehensive employment benefits to Full-Time employees:

• Pension plan
• Fitness reimbursement program
• Comprehensive insurance coverage
• Professional development opportunities
• Relocation assistance