Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS) was established in 1972 and is a non-profit organization with a status free open-door policy. KAFS is dedicated to empowering the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Kamloops and surrounding areas. KAFS provides culturally appropriate programs and inclusive services that meet the needs of urban Indigenous people to become healthier, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS) Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL) is a newly launched program and will provide an alternative to the presence of police personnel at mental health crisis calls in Kamloops. The team will provide crisis support services that will integrate cultural safety protocols and holistic care options.  The mobile team is comprised of a mental health professional and a peer (someone with lived or living experience) will be available during scheduled service hours. This program aims to reduce the harms experienced by people who have mental health and addictions challenges as well as Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ2+ and other marginalized individuals.

The CRCL team will provide acute crisis support and de-escalation services for persons 13 years of age and older experiencing mental health and/or substance use related crises. The Mental Health Crisis Worker will be responsible using clinical judgment to provide rapid point of service mental health crisis management and de-escalation, including crisis and wellness assessment, suicide intervention and safety planning.

*This position operates on an as-needed basis to support the full-time team by covering vacations, sick leave, wellness days, and emergencies. Applicants must be available for at least one of the following shifts: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM or 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM. Shift schedules may be adjusted as the program evolves to meet community needs.

A DAY IN THE LIFE – ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide situational assessment, crisis de-escalation, and point-of-service crisis counseling, maintaining a safe space (‘holding-space’) for individuals or groups experiencing psychological or emotional distress.
• Assess wellness and safety, including triage to emergency services, and co-develop Care Plans and Safety/Wellness Plans that center client agency and support community connection and access to social and healthcare services.
• Maintain confidential case notes, including safety and wellness assessments, client documentation, and release of information.
• Provide outreach care and emergency mental health response in diverse settings, including parks, encampments, shelters, drop-in centers, people’s homes, community centers, and outdoor environments.
• Support immediate access to survival supplies, including food, tents, tarps, blankets, clothing, harm reduction, and safe sex supplies.
• Respond to medical emergencies including first aid, overdose interventions, rescue breathing, oxygen administration, and naloxone use when necessary.
• Conduct clinical case management and supervision, following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents such as overdose or other emergencies.
• Engage in Later Leadership Practices, emphasizing open communication, mutual support, and collective accountability.
• Work outdoors in all types of weather and in all seasons.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or required

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience, including crisis de-escalation, case management, and harm reduction.
• Degree in Mental Health, Counselling, or Social Work.
• Skilled in situational and mental health assessment, including safety and wellness assessments, de-escalation, and crisis intervention; able to assess and triage to emergency services when appropriate.
• Extensive experience providing supportive counselling in the field, including direct service delivery, advocacy, and Clinical Case Management with maintenance of confidential client records.
• Experience and capacity for incident debriefing with service users and teammates.
• Suicide Intervention and Assessment Training, CBT and DBT training, and Mental Health First Aid are assets.
• Effective in establishing working relationships with community care providers, including local non-profits and Health Authority services, and in communicating with Emergency Service Personnel.
• Demonstrated commitment and experience with harm reduction principles and practices; ability to establish respectful rapport, provide support, and advocate for individuals actively using substances and facing significant barriers to health and well-being.
• Empathic observer invested in relationship-building, practicing social justice, cultural humility, trauma-informed, and public health approaches to social support and healthcare.
• Skilled in managing hostile interactions using non-violent communication and de-escalation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and apply innovative, resourceful, and creative problem-solving to meet people where they are, both physically in the community and in their lived experience.
• First Aid and CPR Level C certified.
• Commitment to honor Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, approaching the ongoing impacts of colonial violence with humility.

Benefits

• Hourly wage: $33 - $36/hour, based on skill set and experience.

Preference will be given to applicants of Aboriginal ancestry as per section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code (please self-identity in your cover letter).