Indigenous Addictions Counsellor
The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEH) is seeking an Indigenous Addictions Counsellor to join our culturally supportive wraparound care team. This role will support one or both of the following program areas:
- Sacred Cradle House (Xexe Pahlatsis Lelum): A culturally supportive program for Indigenous perinatal women and new mothers who are also navigating substance use challenges. The Counsellor will provide one-on-one addictions counselling, group support, and harm reduction education to women with newborns.
- Culturally Aligned Integrated Support (CAIS) Team: An outreach and support program serving a cohort of approximately 50 Indigenous individuals who are at risk of homelessness, living independently in the community, and requiring additional support while navigating substance use, housing precarity, and wellness planning.
The role may be full-time or part-time, with the option of focusing on one program area or dividing time between both.
JOB DETAILS:
Start Date: Immediately
Position Type: Part-time (16 hours per week) or Full-time (40 hours per week)
Wage: $47 to $55 per hour.
Location: All ACEH sites as required.
Application Submission: You are required to submit a resume and cover letter that highlights Indigenous community/organization involvements, education, certification, demonstrated contract experience, Indigenous ancestry, and how your knowledge, skills, and abilities will support and contribute to the ACEH and our community through a cultural lens. In your cover letter, please also indicate whether you are interested in working in a full-time or part-time capacity and specify which cohort (or both) you would like to work with.
Applications missing a cover letter will be automatically screened out of the selection process.
Key Responsibilities
Sacred Cradle House (Perinatal Women & New Mothers):
- Provide individualized, trauma-informed counselling to perinatal women and new mothers living in culturally supportive housing who are struggling with substance use.
- Support Family Members with harm reduction education, withdrawal management, and referrals to detox, treatment, prenatal, and postnatal health supports.
- Co-facilitate healing circles, parenting workshops, and group counselling with Elders and Cultural Mentors.
- Collaborate with maternal health providers and culturally aligned supports to strengthen wraparound care.
Culturally Aligned Integrated Support Team (Community Cohort):
- Provide addictions counselling and wellness planning to Indigenous individuals living independently in low-income housing who are at risk of homelessness.
- Conduct outreach visits, home visits, and community-based counselling sessions.
- Facilitate harm reduction education, group sessions, and peer support gatherings in partnership with Elders and Cultural Mentors.
- Assist Family Members with referrals to housing supports, treatment programs, health and wellness services, and cultural healing opportunities.
Shared Responsibilities Across Both Programs:
- Build strong, trusting relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Family Members grounded in cultural safety, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.
- Conduct safety and risk assessments and respond appropriately to crises, including de-escalation and intervention.
- Maintain documentation in ACEH’s Case Administration and Management System (CAMS).
- Participate in case management and team meetings, contributing to integrated and culturally aligned support planning.
- Model recovery-oriented behaviours, coping skills, and life skills that empower Family Members.
- Provide monthly reports summarizing interactions, referrals, group sessions, and outcomes.
- Collaborate with internal staff and external partners (mental health, treatment centres, health services, housing supports) to ensure holistic care.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in addictions counselling, social work, psychology, Indigenous studies, or a related human services discipline.
- Certification or eligibility for certification as an Addictions Counsellor (e.g., CCAC through CACCF) is an asset.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with Indigenous peoples in the context of addictions, harm reduction, or recovery-oriented services.
- Experience providing group facilitation, harm reduction education, crisis intervention, or supportive counselling to individuals impacted by substance use.
- Preference is given to applicants who have experience working with people who are unhoused.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, well-being, spirit, and quality of life.
- Ability to work in a relational, professional, and non-judgmental manner as you are working with a broad range of personalities, needs, cultures, lived experiences and abilities.
- Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess high-risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner.
- Ability to work independently and effectively respond to and manage competing demands while adhering to deadlines.
- Effective written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to facilitate interprofessional collaborative practice, healthy and culturally safe environments, and a respectful workplace for community members, staff, guests, and volunteers.
- Understanding of the intergenerational trauma that occurs because of colonization, Residential Schools, Sixties Scoop, and other oppressive systems as well as the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
- Knowledge of local resources for addictions treatment, withdrawal management, housing supports, and culturally grounded healing services.
Required:
- Criminal Record Check through the Ministry of Justice for working with vulnerable adults.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification.
- Naloxone administration training.
- Two professional references.
- Valid BC Driver's License.
Preference will be given to qualified candidates with First Nations, Inuit, or Metis ancestry. The ACEH values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its employees, we encourage members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.