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.

Located in Tulita, the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor (Counsellor) reports directly to the Regional Clinical Supervisor, Mental Health and Addiction Services for administrative supervision, functional input and clinical guidance. The Counsellor is a key member of the Primary Community Care Team (PCC) providing direct, community based, culturally sensitive, mental health, addictions, and family violence Counselling services to clients. These services include but are not limited to: prevention and promotion initiatives; planning and delivery of community based mental health, addictions, and family violence therapeutic counselling services; case management; and providing crisis response, supported living, consumer self-help and vocational/education services. The Counsellor is also a key referral agent and service provider for complex addictions, family violence, and psychiatric clients who may be referred for inpatient treatment or other services outside of the community.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of therapeutic treatment options as well as the skill and ability to provide such treatment to people of all ages with mental health, addictions, and family violence issues.
• Knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult developmental, psychological, social, and cognitive development.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of the different referral agencies/services available within the NWT (and community) for those individuals who require in-patient or alternative (such as psychiatric) assessment and care, this includes knowledge of referral routes and case management techniques.
• Knowledge of and an ability to refer clients to traditional healers and elders.
• Knowledge of the biopsychosocial presentation, determinants and precipitators of mental health and mental health disorders and the biopsychosocial presentation, and models of addictions (abstinence model, moral model, harm reduction model, etc.) and the biopsychosocial presentation, determinants and precipitators of family violence in order to recognize and interpret findings and determine an appropriate treatment plan.
• Ability to appropriately use clinical, diagnostic and treatment planning terminology with clients, other health care providers and referral agents.
• Knowledge of the Diagnostic Standards Manual classification system, psychopharmacology and psychophysiology of disorders.
• Knowledge of the signs of violence and/or abuse at an early stage as well as current trends and best practices in addressing psychological outcomes of violence, including interpersonal therapy, supportive counselling, group support and cognitive behaviour strategies.

Typically, the above qualifications would be attained by:

Master’s degree in social science with one (1) year of relevant counselling experience in a scope of practice or experience in addictions, mental health, and/or family violence: or

Bachelor degree in social sciences with three (3) years of relevant counselling experience in a scope of practice or experience in addictions, mental health, and/or family violence: or

Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing with five (5) years relevant counselling experience in a scope of practice or experience in addictions, mental health and/or family violence.

The experience of the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor should include clinically supervised education or work experience (counselling experience obtained under a qualified clinical counselling supervisor) that includes at least 500 hours, where at least 120 of those hours are direct client contact. Additional hours are spent in face-to-face supervision, educational activities, documentation activities and professional development.

Inquiries Only:

Health Recruitment
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
hlthss_recruitment@gov.nt.ca

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