Employment Opportunity – Family Mediation Counsellor
June 29, 2022
Who we are?
UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.
At Urban Native Youth Association UNYA we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth’s needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Two-Eyed Seeing
- Harm Reduction Practice
- Youth/Person Centered Practice
- Culture as Therapy
Highlights of this opportunity:
The Family Mediation Counsellor is a part of an amazing Counselling team at UNYA’s head office. The Mediation Program’s goal is to help empower Indigenous youth aged 12-18 and their family members to make positive change in their lives by offering them the support, care and resources to do so. The Family Mediation Counsellor utilizes many therapeutic approaches to meet the presenting needs of each individual youth and family in a client-directed, culturally based approach to healing. The Clinical Counsellor helps families and youth safely identify the emotional impacts of the situation for all family members, identify their strengths and challenges, establish individual and family goals, and address these challenges and goals through a series of insightful & supportive counselling sessions.
The position provides 1:1 & group therapy sessions in an in-house & outreach capacity. The Counsellor also provides weekly support at our Young Bears Lodge; a Tier 4 Addictions Facility (Healing Lodge) in South Vancouver. The Counsellor is responsible for responding to the needs/requests of the youth in the house by creating relevant Psycho-educational support groups/circles in partnership with the other Counsellors. The Family Mediation Counsellor reports directly to the Director of Clinical Programs. This position maintains a Mon-Fri 9-5 schedule.
The Mediation Program’s goal is to help empower Indigenous youth aged 12-18 and their family members to make positive change in their lives by offering them the support, care and resources to do so.
The Mediation Program’s goal is to help empower Indigenous youth aged 12-18 and their family members to make positive change in their lives by offering them the support, care and resources to do so.
Qualifications and Conditions:
- Educational experience required Master’s Degree in Counselling or Social Work or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
- Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.
- Knowledge and understanding of the family and social issues that Indigenous youth face today, including the generational impacts of the residential school system on families and communities.
- Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies and procedures of the organization.
- Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.
- Proof of Covid19 vaccination will be required
- Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.
What we offer:
- Salary range $56,412.20 to $65,788.74
- 40 hours a week
- Comprehensive Benefits package
- Vacation, Sick, and Wellness days
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which consists of no-cost counselling services to UNYA staff
- Support from UNYA’s Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings
- Monthly Staff development
How to apply:
If you would like to become a part of this tremendous team, send a cover letter and resume indicating the position you are applying to the attention of the Hiring Manager at [email protected] Posting will close when position is filled. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.
***We are an Indigenous youth organization whose mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth. We encourage qualified Indigenous – First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, applicants to apply. If you identify as Indigenous, please let us know in your application! Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.