We're Hiring: Wellness Counsellor - Nanaimo

Details of the Position:

Grid Level:   34, $26.42 hour

Work Location: AVI Health Centre, 102-55 Victoria Road, Nanaimo

Hours of Work: 9.5 hours per week, days of the week to be determined                    

Start Date: ASAP

To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5:00pm on Monday, December 4, 2021.

 

Job Summary:

The Wellness Counsellor will work in partnership with our interdisciplinary team to provide trauma and violence informed, person-centered support. The Wellness Counsellor works in collaboration with clients to assess and develop client-directed goals and wellness strategies. This position reports to the Manager of AVI Nanaimo Health and Community Services.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

  1. Identifies and organizes counselling plans for clients referred from clinic and all AVI Nanaimo programs.
  2. Provides intake and assessment, capacity building education, motivational interviewing, solution-focused brief counselling, crisis counselling, harm reduction counselling, sexual health counselling.
  3. Advocates for clients, supports access to proper resources, and completes appropriate assessments, and referrals.
  4. Actively engages clients in therapeutic relationships with a strengths-based, trauma and violence informed, and person-centred approach.
  5. Works with Health Promotion Educators and Clinic staff to develop educational materials to meet clients’ needs, as required.
  6. Maintains confidential client files.
  7. Participates in ongoing team based collaborative care.
  8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • University degree in Health or Social Services, Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Two years of relevant counselling experience.
  • Proof of Vaccination Status, as required by the Provincial Health Order for Hospital and Community Health Care Services staff  
  • Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs and related provincial and community support services.
  • Understanding of issues that affect a diverse range of clients, including individuals who are actively using substances, living with significant health challenges, engaging in sex work, affected by colonialism, heterosexism, racism, classism, gender-based discrimination, HIV, HCV, and other co-infections.
  • Knowledge of code of ethical conduct and standards of clinical counselling practice.
  • Knowledge of relevant formal counselling and assessment techniques.
  • Case Management skills including treatment planning, advocacy, and referral.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community, and other service providers.
  • Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.
  • Understanding of health promotion and person-centred, harm reduction models of social support and health care.

Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability to establish rapport with a diversity of people, including vulnerable populations.
  • Ability to work independently and in collaboration with clients and colleagues.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and oral.
  • Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility, and assertiveness in dealing with complex issues.
  • Ability to keep confidential documentation.

We encourage applications from, but not limited to, Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, persons living with disabilities, persons who use/d illicit drugs, persons with experience of sex work, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.