Cultural Staff Support Counsellor

Position: Cultural Staff Support Counsellor

Salary: $46.85 to $53.46 hour  

Status: Permanent part time (0.6 FTE), Excluded

Department: Infrastructure

Location: 745 Clark Drive, 2020 Yukon Street or 3284 East Broadway  

At VACFSS, we ensure that the rights, safety, well-being and spirit of Indigenous children and families are upheld, honored and protected. We strive to eliminate oppression, discrimination and marginalization within our community. We acknowledge and honor the inherent wisdom, capacity and resourcefulness of our community in designing programs and services to care for our own children and families. Accordingly, we are dedicated to planning, developing, and implementing creative and innovative Indigenous programs and services in collaboration with members of our community and other agencies.

• Engage in restorative child welfare practice with Vancouver's Indigenous community!
• Receive a competitive salary of $46.85 to $53.46 per hour plus a comprehensive benefits package!
• Take on a challenging role that provides membership in the Public Service Pension Plan!

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources & Information Technology, this position provides cultural support and guidance to staff in the areas of emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical well-being. In doing so, the Cultural Staff Support Counsellor (CSSC) utilizes a blend of traditional Indigenous healing practices and teachings along with mainstream wellness practices.  

The CSSC is grounded in Indigenous ways of cultural knowing and being and is acknowledged by their community/Nation as a knowledge keeper and/or elder. This role shares and facilitates cultural wellness practices with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and assists them with their self-care plans. The CSSC must be able to navigate with individuals and teams how one might achieve work/life balance. This will include recommending several wellness activities through the Living A Healthy Aboriginal Lifestyle (LAHAL) program, co-facilitate Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.  Must be skilled in providing orientation and training to staff as it relates to workplace wellness and interpersonal communication within the context of the Indigenous Core Cultural Competencies (ICCC’s). The CSSC will also guide staff in their participation for the cultural immersion training which involves specific protocols for ceremony or cultural events with children, youth, and families. They will be available for agency specific events.  

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The CSSC will ensure the cultural supports and programs are inclusive of all staff while acknowledging and meeting the diversity of staff. The CSSC will provide cultural care facilitation and support on-site to staff at three separate office sites following a schedule approved by the HR Director & IT. The CSSC is responsible for: 

• Providing one-to-one support to staff members who have experienced stressful situations, potentially traumatic events and who are experiencing cumulative stress from work.
• Utilizes traditional Indigenous and mainstream wellness practices to support staff. 
• Promotes the development of Indigenous wellness practices and those ways of knowing that will assist all VACFSS staff in dealing with working with children, youth and families as well as their team.
• Develops and coordinates groups in various ceremonies involving VACFSS during significant crisis events related to wellness such as CISM, grief loss group etc. 
• Provides orientation and training to VACFSS employees in a number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous emotional, physical and spiritual healing practices.  Promotes VACFSS values and increases staff awareness about the Indigenous Core Cultural Competencies and that we always are on safe ground.
• Works closely with the CISM Team in providing emotional support to VACFSS staff involved in critical incidents.
• Facilitate Meeting Protocols.

A complete position profile will be made available upon request as well as at the time of the interview. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Health or Social Sciences or related field.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered where incumbent has experience as a cultural coordinator with facilitation and cultural programming experience.    

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years working with Indigenous clients and communities in a client focused environment.
• Recognized as a knowledge keeper in their community of practice.
• Experience in supervision and/or coordination and/delivery of training.
• Comfortable with public speaking and hosting meetings.
• Willing to learn other cultural practices within a diverse Indigenous clientele.
• Proficiency in the use of a computer and applicable office software applications as effective tools to achieve results.
• Experience promoting related work affirmation which can help staff handle stressful situations more securely and in a more balanced way.

Skills and Abilities:

• Trained and holds cultural practices for convening safe and trauma informed meetings and collaborative practice.
• Familiar in Critical Incident Stress Management (Post Traumatic Stress).
• Understands and acknowledges the child welfare mandate held by VACFSS through its agreement with CFCSA director and protocols with First Nations and other delegated agencies.
• Demonstrates practical knowledge of traditional Indigenous and mainstream wellness practices relating to emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual wellness.
• Demonstrates practical knowledge of workplace wellness. Has a theoretical and historical knowledge of concepts of child welfare history and VACFSS Restorative Practices.
• Demonstrates the ability to deliver effective presentations to small, moderate, or large groups using the principles of adult education/training.
• Demonstrates the ability to respectfully communicate, facilitate, and present, on behalf of VACFSS.
• Ability to maintain and develop reports regarding program statistics as needed.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates an ability to develop and maintain effective and respectful working relationships with others both within and outside of the organization.

Key Competencies:

• Relational Engagement
• Leadership
• Collaborative Planning and Decision Making
• Emotional Competency
• Resilience
• Cultural, Spiritual Expression

Note:

• A valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle with business class insurance are required to perform the duties of this position.
• This position requires the incumbent to be available in the office and travel to the 3 office sites.
• Applications will only be accepted from qualified Indigenous Candidates as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code. 

ABOUT THE BENEFITS:

In exchange for your contributions to VACFSS, you will receive a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, extended health, and dental
• Group life and AD&D
• 100% employer-paid premiums
• Employee Family Assistance Program
• 3 weeks of vacation (prorated)
• Paid sick leave (prorated)
• Membership in the Public Service Pension Plan
• Access to Indigenous Cultural Teachings as coordinated by the Agency

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applications will be accepted from candidates with the above qualifications or from candidates that have delegated experience with MCFD or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency. An eligibility list may be created. Applications will only be accepted from qualified Indigenous Candidates as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.

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