Community Wellness Worker

Government of Northwest Territories; Ulukhaktok; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional government authority in Ulukhaktok is seeking a Community Wellness Worker to deliver mental health and addictions services while ensuring cultural safety. The role requires a diploma in social sciences, alongside strong knowledge of Indigenous values and over a year of relevant experience. Responsibilities include providing education, counseling, and preventive health activities. This position is ideal for candidates actively involved in community and cultural events, promoting wellness based on Indigenous principles.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year experience in mental health or addiction services.
• Lived experience in the NWT for three years is required.
• Active participation in community and cultural activities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver mental health and addiction services to the community.
• Provide education, counseling, and health promotion activities.
• Ensure services are culturally safe and reflective of community values.

Skills

Cultural values understanding

Addictions and mental health knowledge

Risk management application

Inter-generational trauma awareness

Health promotion abilities

NWT Mental Health Act knowledge

Cultural humility

Diversity and inclusion practices

Education

Diploma in Social Sciences

Grade 12 education

Job description

Department: Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

This job opening is limited to residents living within 25 kilometres of Ulukhaktok, NT.

Department Information

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) offers challenging and exciting careers in health and social services delivery and administration in Canada’s North. The Territorial Authority has service locations in communities across the territory and a staff of more than 1,600 serving over 43,000 residents of the NWT and 5,900 residents of the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Challenging work, welcoming communities, and expanded opportunities are some of the benefits offered to employees of the NTHSSA.

Job Information

The Community Wellness Worker plays a key role in ensuring the Community Wellness and Support Services is delivering mental health and addictions services in a manner that is culturally safe and reflective of the values and practices of the community and region. The Community Wellness Worker delivers relevant education, counselling, health promotion and prevention activities to the community, family and individual in the areas of addictions, mental health, family violence and cultural awareness within the scope of community based supportive counselling and service delivery methods.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of cultural values, customs, and ideology of the Indigenous peoples of the NWT.
• Knowledge of physical, psychological, and social effects of addictions, mental health / mental health disorders and family violence in an Indigenous setting.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply current practices in the management of risk factors for addictions, mental health/mental health disorders and family violence in an Indigenous setting.
• Knowledge of mental health and addiction treatment options and Indigenous based programming for people of all ages; knowledge of referral routes and care coordination in a cross-cultural environment.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply awareness of the history of colonization, residential school experiences, inter-generational trauma, and trauma informed care.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply understanding of the culture, traditions, community demographics, and cultural values of the Indigenous peoples in the community.
• Ability to perform health promotion activities in the area of mental health, addictions, and family violence and have knowledge of its impact on physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health.
• Ability to acquire and apply knowledge of NWT Mental Health Act, the Child and Family Services Act and knowledge of other NWT legislations.
• Cultural awareness, trustworthiness, cultural humility, self‑awareness, and the ability to be self‑reflective.
• Ability to commit to actively upholding and consistently practicing personal diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness, as well as safety and sensitivity approaches in the workplace.

Typical Qualifications

• Diploma in the Social Sciences field with a minimum of one (1) year of experience in the delivery of mental health, addictions, and wellness services, and awareness of cultural diversity, specifically, Northern Indigenous values and practices.
• Grade 12 education and lived experience in the Northwest Territories (NWT) for a minimum of three (3) years. Lived experience is defined as:
  • Living in a community within the NWT,
  • Preferably within the Beaufort Delta Region,
  • Active in and supportive of community activities and events,
  • Active in and supportive of cultural activities,
  • Indigenous cultural knowledge and understanding of healing grounded in Indigenous values and practices.

GNWT Inquiries

Inquiries Only:

Inuvik HR Client Service Centre

Department of Finance

Government of the Northwest Territories

1st FLOOR ALEX MOSES GREENLAND BUILDING

BOX 1869

INUVIK, NT X0E 0T0

Tel [phone] Ext 15644

Fax [phone]

[e-mail]

Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.