2026-15: Temporary Youth Counsellor and Indigenous Support

Fort St. John Association for Community Living•Fort St. John, BC

1d•CA$40 - CA$51•Hybrid

About The Position

The Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL) is seeking a compassionate and skilled Temporary Youth Counsellor and Indigenous Support to join their Saplings mental health team. This role provides inpatient and outpatient services to adolescents aged 12-24 experiencing substance use and mental health issues, with a specific focus on supporting Indigenous youth. The position involves treatment planning, counselling, and connecting clients with necessary resources, including out-of-community programming and virtual telehealth platforms. The role also includes facilitating interdisciplinary care teams, collaborating with various mental health service providers, and supporting parents and community professionals. The goal is to identify and address gaps in substance use services for young people by creating programs and training.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology or a related field.
Registration with a governing board.
Minimum 2 years of clinical experience.
Ability to navigate complex substance use and mental health conditions.
Familiarity with local adolescent and adult mental health and substance use resources.
Knowledge and practical experience in working with the Mental Health Act, Child Protection Act and Infancy Act.
Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check.
Primarily office-based, with occasional travel to off-site locations.
May require evening or weekend availability.

Nice To Haves

Preference will be given to internal applicants.

Responsibilities

Complete strengths and needs assessment, creates service plans and support clients in meeting identified goals. Service plans include presenting issues, possible intervention, identifying length required for treatment, and setting overall goals and objectives to meet those goals.
Support adolescents, young adults and their families by completing and submitting applications, liaising with transportation ahead of departure, frequently checking in throughout treatment, participating in discharge planning, navigating referrals and/or transfers to out-of-community programming e.g., Detox or Nechako treatment centre.
Meet with clients to provide therapeutic counselling and monitor progress and success of treatment.
Locate and complete referrals for mental health services not available in the rural location.
Provide virtual telehealth platforms to support clients in accessing higher level or specialized care.
Provide support for clients and act as case manager for clients who are attending out of community programs.
Facilitate interdisciplinary care teams and provide facilitation of Care Plan meetings.
Collaborate with non-profit, private and government mental health service providers, such as, the Child Protection, Youth Probation, Child and Youth Mental health.
Provide support to parents and other community professionals regarding substance use and best practice for treatment, e.g., harm reduction.
Assess level of risk and readiness for termination and transfer to other programs.
Identify current gaps in substance use for adolescents and young adults and create programs, community training, and client groups to fill service needs.