City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

Unit/Project Description:

        The Indigenous Student Services team is a dynamic group of passionate and dedicated Indigenous professionals committed to fostering the success of Indigenous learners at McMaster University. Our department champions McMaster as the preferred university for Indigenous students, offering culturally relevant programs and services, including: 

•    Recruitment and Community Outreach
•    Admissions and Transition support for students new to McMaster 
•    Academic support and advocacy for Indigenous learners
•    Financial Literacy and support, including access to Scholarships/Bursaries/Awards
•    Wellness Counselling
•    Elders in Residence/Traditional Knowledge Keepers programming 
•    Social and Cultural activities, including Welcome Week and the Indigenous Grad Celebration

       Reporting to the Director of Indigenous Student Services under Student Affairs, the Indigenous Wellness Counsellor provides holistic, culturally appropriate services to support the well-being of Indigenous learners. 

Responsibilities include: 
•    Holistic Counselling: offer individual mental health counselling and crisis support tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous students
•    Group Programming: develop and facilitate group sessions and workshops focused on mental health, wellness, and cultural teachings
•    Elders in Residence/Traditional Knowledge Keepers program: coordinate activities to foster cultural engagement 
•    Collaborative support: develop relationships with university and community partners including Student Accessibility Services, Student Case Management, the Student Wellness Centre, and the Sexual Violence and Prevention Response Office

          The Indigenous Wellness Counsellor is expected to provide 5 scheduled clinical hours per 7-hour workday from September to April; clinical hours will include a combination of one-on-one counselling, wellness check-ins, group workshops, and other programming to support the needs of the department. From May to August, the Indigenous Wellness Counsellor is expected to provide clinical hours based on student demand, participate in program planning for the upcoming academic year, facilitate training for university partners, and support Summer Transition/Welcome Week programming. Some evening work is required to support department activites and the needs of our students.

Job Summary:
The Counsellor is responsible for promoting student development, student success, and student retention by designing, and providing a comprehensive range of psychological and educational services to aid students in achieving improved academic performance, enhanced personal and social effectiveness, and appropriate educational and career plans.

Purpose and Key Functions:
* Identify, assess, develop, and implement effective treatment plans.
* Conduct in-depth counselling and therapy interviews and utilize existing theoretical models to interpret information.
* Provide assessments of mental health and risk factors and coordinate referrals with professionals within the Student Wellness Centre and the community.
* Aid clients in identifying and solving emotional and interpersonal problems that may be affecting their academic success, well-being, and bio-psycho-social development. 
* Provide psychological counselling services such as personal counselling, group counselling, and crisis counselling. 
* Interact and assess the level of risk when students present with indications of harm to self or others, or suicidality.
* Consult with others regarding how to manage difficult or disruptive behaviours.
* Respond and field inquiries from new and existing students by email and phone.
* Engage in problem solving to work through ethical dilemmas.
* Facilitate conflict resolution sessions.
* Provide debriefing to clients after a trauma has occurred.
* Advocate on behalf of students for special academic consideration.  
* Nurture and support clients and encourage them to develop self care while finding a balance between multiple demands.
* Persuade clients to seek appropriate professional help and to attend appointments.
* Develop and deliver presentations, information, and training sessions to others.
* Develop and deliver group counselling and psychotherapy materials.
* Write case notes including client’s history and treatment plans.
* Write referral reports to other health professionals including general practitioners, psychiatrists, and other specialists.
* Plan and coordinate a variety of events and activities.
* Review, assess, and recommend changes to enhance the effectiveness of service delivery models.
* Maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of client records.
* Participate in professional development activities and remain current with frequent developments in a specialized field of study.

Supervision:
* Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers.
* Provide orientation and show procedures to others.

Requirements:
Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, or a related field of study.
Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

Assets:
•    Understanding of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and holistic wellness practices
•    Connections to local Indigenous communities and experience working with Indigenous Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers 
•    Understanding of the unique experiences and challenges faced by Indigenous students, including the effects of intergenerational and colonial trauma 
•    Experience in mental health counselling, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution
•    Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
•    Proven ability to work collaboratively and independently, demonstrating initiative
•    Master’s level education and/or registration with a regulatory body in Ontario; consideration will be given to recent graduates who may have a combination of post-secondary education and experience working with Indigenous communities

Additional Information:
To fulfill McMaster’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity and pursuant to Section 24 of the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code), this position is restricted to applicants who identify as a member of an Indigenous community (First Nations, Métis and Inuit). Candidates from this designated group are invited to self-identify in their cover letter, including details relevant to their community and lived experience, as part of the application process. Successful candidates will also be required to submit documentation to support their Indigenous ancestry in alignment with McMaster University’s Indigenous Ancestry Verification Guidelines as part of the hiring process.