Traditional Counsellor

About Surrey:

The City of Surrey is one of 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. We are located on the Lower Mainland on the south side of the Fraser River and share a border with the United States of America. Surrey is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Salish Peoples, including the qicəy (Katzie), qʷɑ:nƛən (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) land-based nations.

Position Summary:

The Traditional Counsellor position is jointly funded by two separate funding sources: the Ending Violence Association (EVA) and the MCFD, Akosimsow- Indigenous Violence Prevention Program. Each program will fund 17.5 hours toward the position totaling 35 hours a week. The EVA is a holistic program that provides traditional counselling, crime victim assistance counselling, outreach, and Redpath Traditional Healing and support for Indigenous people who are victims of violence and/or sexual abuse.

Why FRAFCA:

• Opportunity to work alongside cultural knowledge keepers & Elders
• Holistic, culturally safe, approaches to serving our clients and community
• Freedom to share and observe own cultural practices (i.e. smudging in the office)
• Access WorkBC Employers Training grants and other bursaries to fund training & other professional development
• Extended Health Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Travel) and Employee Assistance Plan after 3-months of continuous employment
• 10 annual paid sick/personal leave days
• Paid vacation days (up to 25 days based on years of service)
• Offices located along main transportation routes; main office by the Skytrain station
• Parking available on-site.

Your Duties:

• The Traditional Counsellor is responsible for planning and delivery of psycho-educational programming designed to reduce behaviors and risks to adults and their children in domestic violence situations.
• Working from a decolonizing/trauma informed perspective, the incumbent is skilled at developing respectful and collaborative relationships with women and their families.
• Additional duties include working in collaboration with the DV Community Liaison and Men’s counsellor to implement recommendations in the safety plan;
• Supporting non-offending parents in the development of their own safety plan; and providing 1-1 supportive counselling to women and their partners to address factors underlying domestic violence.
• Collaborating with other direct service staff, external service providers, and family (including spouses where appropriate) to support women to increase their safety and connectedness to community.
• The Traditional Counsellor is expected to become certified in the Redpath Living without Violence model and deliver 2–24 session workshops over the course of the year.
• The traditional counsellor is required to track stats and prepare reports for the 2 respective funding sources.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, family counseling, human services, psychology, or one of the other behavioral sciences.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years (4000 hours) of experience in addressing violence against Indigenous women.
• Completion of Foundations in Domestic Violence Training or other similar entry-level certification preferred.
• Successful candidate will be required to submit a criminal record check and a vulnerable person’s check upon hire.
• Successful candidate will be required to obtain First Aid and CPR certification within 30 days of hire.

Knowledge Areas:

• Knowledge of Indigenous mental health and addictions theories, and approaches.
• Anti-oppressive practice, Indigenous feminist philosophy, and critical race theory beneficial.
• Knowledge of the diversity of Indigenous cultures, identities, and lived history.
• Extensive knowledge of women-serving resources and supports in Surrey and the Fraser Valley.
• In-depth knowledge of the inter-generational impacts of residential school, and colonization on the individual and the family.
• Competently use Microsoft Word & Excel programs for case-management and reporting purposes.

Key Abilities:

• Facilitation – effectively organize and run a psycho-education program for up to 12 women and 12 men.
• Collaborate – establish collaborative relationships with service recipients, working to increase their strengths.
• Respond – safely resolve crisis situations and respond non-judgmentally to problematic behavior.
• Counsel – provide counselling and support to women as they move through the Redpath program.
• Understand – demonstrate understanding of Aboriginal women’s experience in relation to intergenerational trauma and colonization including the way society views, and therefore treats Indigenous women.
• Teamwork – make positive contributions to the team, support and back up your co-workers always.

• Pursuant to S. 41 of the BC Human Rights code, preference may be given to Aboriginal Applicants.

We are committed to the National Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. FRAFCA is engaged primarily in promoting or serving the interests of Indigenous peoples, FRAFCA prioritizes employment to Indigenous peoples. Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants, unless that preference or employment would constitute a discriminatory practice under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $30.00-$32.00 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Dental care
• Flexible schedule
• On-site parking
• Paid time off

Flexible language requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Master’s Degree (preferred)

Work Location: In person