Child & Youth Counsellor

Tla’amin Nation • Powell River, Canada • 2d ago

The Tla’amin Nation is a modern, forward thinking, self-governing nation located on the beautiful upper Sunshine Coast (qathet Region). Position Summary Job Type: Full-time, temporary – one year term Hours of Work: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Reporting to: Director of Education Department: Education The goal of the Child & Youth Counsellor is to provide culturally safe clinical counselling services to children and youth from kindergarten to age 19. Working within a holistic model of wellness and in collaboration with families, schools, and interdisciplinary teams, this role supports the mental, emotional and behavioural health of Tla’amin children and youth. The counsellor incorporates traditional healing approaches alongside western therapeutic modalities, recognizing the unique strengths, history, knowledge, and teachings of Tla’amin Nation. The counsellor also provides a level of case management oversight on the Education team and acts as a support for other team members. Key Responsibilities Performs all duties and responsibilities in accordance with Tla’amin laws, regulations, policies, practices and procedures as directed by the Director of Education. Maintains confidentiality as required pertaining to Citizens, clients, employees and general matters of the Nation. Provide individual and group counselling to students using evidence-based, developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant approaches. Address issues such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, family conflict, trauma, attachment, self-harm, suicidal ideation, self-esteem, identify and school related challenges. Conduct assessments and create individualized treatment plans in collaboration with children, caregivers and school staff. Work closely with parents, caregivers, educators, Elders and other service providers to support holistic, wrap-around care. Provide consultation and in-service education to Indigenous Education staff /cultural support workers regarding child and youth mental health. Offer debriefing and emotional support to the Tla’amin school-aged team to promote staff wellness, manage vicarious trauma, and support the team’s capacity to effectively manage their caseloads. Liaise with external agencies (e.g. Ministry of Children and Family Development, qathet School District, mental health teams) as appropriate and maintain collaborative relationships with agencies and external service providers. Actively collaborate with other service providers throughout Tla’amin Nation (Tla’amin Health, Child & Family Services). Provide clinical supervision and consultative support to school-aged team members who are not registered or trained counsellors. Guide staff in best practices and ethical approaches when supporting youth with mental health or behavioral needs. Provide case management oversight within the Department of Education, collaborating with the Director, K-12 Manager, or designate, to monitor caseloads and initiate referrals to external services when the needs of a child or youth exceed the available supports within the Tla’amin Education Team. Deliver workshops and classroom-based interventions to promote mental wellness when able. Contribute to community events, cultural programming and wellness initiatives for children and youth. Integrate Tla’amin teachings, language and traditions into service delivery in a respectful manner. Seek guidance and collaborate with Elders and knowledge holders when requested by clients or deemed clinically appropriate. Support youth in developing a strong sense of identity, belonging and connection to culture and community. Maintain accurate clinical records and comply with privacy, documentation and ethical standards as required by regulation. Participate in clinical supervision and ongoing professional development. Other related duties as required. Qualifications Individuals with Indigenous ancestry preferred. Training, Education, Experience Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology, Clinical Social Work, or a related discipline – member in good standing of the BCACC, CCPA or BCCSW – combined with 5+ years of direct, relevant work experience Registration (or eligibility for registration) with a professional regulatory body Specialized training in child and youth mental health, play therapy, trauma or Indigenous focused counselling is an asset Experience working with Indigenous children, youth families and communities Experience with school-based mental health systems and collaborative case management Experience providing supervision or mentorship to support staff is an asset · Acceptable Police Information Check, including vulnerable sector check · Valid Class 5 BC driver’s license an acceptable Driver’s Abstract Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Strong understanding of intergenerational trauma, colonization and the impact of residential schools and systemic racism Ability to build trusting relationships with children and youth Skilled in de-escalation, safety planning and crisis response Comfortable working in school and community settings, including outreach and home visits Ability to facilitate debriefings or wellness check-ins for teams Demonstrated ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality within a small community Strong knowledge of Tla’amin culture, community, and language Knowledge of the guiding strategic plans; Comprehensive Nation Plan and Health and Wellness Plan Intermediate computer skills especially Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint Excellent written and verbal communication skills Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary service partners and stakeholders Working Conditions Work is performed primarily in an office environment and occasionally off site. Occasional travel to attend meetings or training is required. The nature of this position may require Child & Youth Counsellor to work outside regular business hours to accommodate service delivery needs. How to Apply Please apply by uploading your resume and cover letter to: https://tlaaminfirst.bamboohr.com/careers/251

Or Drop-off/mail Attention: Human Resources Department, Tla’amin Nation, 4779 Klahanie Road, qathet, BC, V8A 0C4

This posting will close on August 25, 2025 We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.