Primary Counsellor

• Help lead a transformative addiction recovery program in a beautiful and culturally rich environment
• Earn $80k-100k/yr with competitive benefits while making a real impact
• Join us in shaping a brighter future for our community through innovative and compassionate care

About the Tsakwa’lutan Healing Centre

We, the We Wai Kai Nation, embrace our language and culture to build a proud, healthy, safe, and self-sufficient community. We support and encourage each other to thrive by following the footsteps of our ancestors as stewards of our lands and waters while balancing our role in modern society.

The Tsakwa’lutan Healing Centre, located on beautiful Quadra Island, represents a vision for addiction recovery with the goal of restoring lives and families and empowering communities. Our approach is to destigmatize addiction as an individual issue and to engage, educate, and empower individuals, families, and communities in the recovery process. We achieve this by integrating the best of Western medicine with our traditional healing practices and values.

For more information, please click here to view our program description, or visit our website: wewaikai.com/

About the Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Primary Counsellor based on Quadra Island, B.C. 

Reporting to the Clinical Director, the Primary Counsellor is a therapeutic guide journeying with clients on their road to recovery, from admission to discharge. Counsellors at Tsakwa’lutan Healing Centre provide clinical assessments and contribute insightful, practical, and meaningful information to the development of treatment plans. 

More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Providing leadership, guidance, and direction to a team of counsellors
• Supporting the Clinical Director in managing all clinical services
• Coordinating training sessions and onboarding new counsellors
• Assisting in developing and evaluating all phases of the treatment program, ensuring alignment with best practice standards, quality indicators, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Establishing therapeutic rapport with clients within 24 hours of counsellor assignment
• Completing client orientation, including a biopsychosocial assessment within 72 hours of a client being medically cleared
• Developing the Comprehensive Treatment Plan within one week of client admission
• Identifying and setting weekly individualized client treatment goals
• Providing timely and appropriate referrals to contracted specialty programming with sound clinical rationale
• Conducting private and scheduled individual therapy sessions, at a minimum of one hour per week for each client
• Coordinating family or significant persons conferences at least once during the client's treatment
• Completing client progress forms within the prescribed timeframe
• Interfacing with referral agents, funding sources, and emergency contacts weekly, in person or over the phone
• Maintaining appropriate accessibility and demonstrating healthy boundaries with family members and other involved persons
• Facilitating group therapy, lectures, workshops, and educational groups as directed by the program schedule
• Overseeing the treatment experience of clients

About You

To qualify, you will need a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Counselling, or a related field and appropriate licensure and certifications relevant to the position. A minimum of 3 years working in a substance use disorder treatment setting will also be essential.

Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:

• At least 1 year in acute care or inpatient addiction treatment setting or closely related experience
• Experience in complex case management, working with people who are chemically dependent or people who have other process or concurrent disorders
• Experience facilitating group therapy

As our ideal candidate, you are equipped with excellent facilitation and collaboration skills, demonstrating sensitivity and a people-focused approach. In this role, you will effectively manage day-to-day operations, leading with humility and kindness to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You possess the ability to make tough decisions and handle difficult conversations with both empathy and compassion. Overall, your approach ensures a supportive and nurturing environment for both clients and staff, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

Please note: the successful candidate must provide references and a clear criminal record check, including a vulnerable sectors check, and preference will be given to persons of Indigenous ancestry.

About the Benefits

Compensation based on skills and experience, is a competitive annual salary of $80k-$100k, and a host of excellent benefits including:

• Extended health, dental, and vision coverage 
• Pension with up to 9% employer match 
• Life insurance
• Subsidized on-site housing 
• Pick-up and drop-off available from Campbell River ferry 
• Beautiful facility along the ocean 

Join us at the forefront of change and innovation, shaping the future of the Tsakwa’lutan Healing Centre – apply today!