Clinical Counsellor
Top Benefits
About the role
Employment Opportunity
Young Bears Lodge Clinical Counsellor (Full-Time)
_ Term Contract Until November 2026_
Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 5pm
Who we are?
UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.
At Urban Native Youth Association UNYA we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth’s needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:
-
Trauma-Informed Practice
-
Two-Eyed Seeing
-
Harm Reduction Practice
-
Youth/Person Centered Practice
-
Culture as Therapy
Highlights of this opportunity:
Are you passionate about empowering Indigenous youth? Do you have a knack for building positive relationships?
Are you strategic, creative, and dynamic in your approach to youth work? Does working within a fast-paced environment energize you?
If you said yes, then this is the opportunity for you!
-
Contribute to a team focused on increasing stabilization, belonging, and empowerment for youth.
-
Be a positive role model for youth, working in cooperation with others, and positively leading and implementing clinical programming component and therapeutic models.
-
Be a member of the leadership team at Young Bears Lodge to provide mentorship, direction and ensure quality of care in all aspects of the program. On-call responsibilities are apart of this position.
-
Work in a variety of trauma-informed healing modalities.
-
Provide holistic individual case management support to youth: overseeing clinical care plans, facilitating workshops, group counselling, communicating with support teams, making referrals, follow ups, and after-care planning.
-
Participate in Indigenous protocols, ceremonies, and other cultural practices.
-
Support and act as a resource, coach, and mentor to staff regarding strategies and approaches for working with our youth.
-
Provide Leadership in clinical care and respond to critical incidents and care needs for the youth accessing our service.
-
Support and co-facilitate workshops.
-
Lead in the development and implementation of outcome-oriented and client-directed treatment and transition plans.
-
Share responsibility for the daily operations of Young Bears Lodge including: meal planning and preparation, maintaining timely accurate logs, case files, and reports.
-
Be the representative of Young Bears Lodge in the community; build and maintain diverse partnerships to maximize programming opportunities and supports available to youth.
Qualifications and Conditions:
-
Educational experience required (Master’s Degree in Clinical Counselling or Social Work, 5 years of recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience)
-
Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.
-
Knowledge and understanding of the family and social issues that Indigenous youth face today, including the generational impacts of the residential school system on families and communities.
-
Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies and procedures of the organization.
-
Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.
-
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination will be required
-
Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.
-
Vehicle/driving abstract/first aid requirements
What we offer:
· Salary Range $34.44- $37.37
· 40 hours a week
· Comprehensive Benefits package
· Vacation, Sick, and Wellness days
· Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which consists of no-cost counselling services to UNYA staff
· Support from UNYA’s Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings
· Monthly Staff development
How to apply:
If you would like to become a part of this tremendous team, send a cover letter and resume indicating the position you are applying to the attention of the Hiring Manager at ybl.manager@unya.bc.ca *Posting will close when position is filled.*Only those shortlisted will be contacted.
***We are an Indigenous youth organization whose mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth. We encourage qualified Indigenous - First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, applicants to apply. If you identify as Indigenous, please let us know in your application! Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
UNYA acknowledges that we are gathered on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and selílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured and grateful to be able to do our work on this land.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 21 months
Pay: $34.44-$37.37 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Discounted or free food
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Wellness program
Flexible language requirement:
- French not required
Schedule:
- Day shift
- On call
- Weekends as needed
Education:
- Master's Degree (preferred)
Experience:
- Youth: 5 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- First Aid Certification (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 2025-07-11
About Urban Native Youth Association
UNYA was founded in 1988 to address Indigenous youth issues at a time growing numbers of young people began leaving reserves for the city. Today, 60% of Indigenous people live in cities, and youth make up approximately 60% of the overall Indigenous population. Many youth continue to arrive in Vancouver with few job skills, minimal training or education, and not knowing where to go for help. The need for Indigenous youth services in Vancouver has never been greater.
UNYA has a proven model that works, playing a transformational role in the lives of Indigenous youth. We are training the Indigenous leaders of tomorrow, delivering 20+ programs, together with our 175+ volunteers, 100 staff, and more than 300 community partners. Our strengths-based programming includes education and training, health, wellness, and counselling services, outreach, housing and transition support, drug and alcohol counselling and recovery, arts and culture, leadership training, sports and recreation, and more. Throughout our programs, we create space for youth to experience and explore a range of traditional practices and teachings, as well as to share their own cultural knowledge with their peers and UNYA staff.
We believe that strengthening our community as a whole has a tremendous positive impact on the lives of Indigenous youth, and continue to focus efforts on community development initiatives. We contribute to positive community development by creating and distributing resource materials, hosting community meetings and forums, offering training on youth issues, serving on community steering committees, conducting research, developing innovative programs, hiring and training youth, participating on the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council, and creating partnerships that expand services for Indigenous youth.
UNYA is a registered not-for-profit society with the Province of BC and a federally registered charitable organization.
Clinical Counsellor
Top Benefits
About the role
Employment Opportunity
Young Bears Lodge Clinical Counsellor (Full-Time)
_ Term Contract Until November 2026_
Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 5pm
Who we are?
UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.
At Urban Native Youth Association UNYA we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth’s needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:
-
Trauma-Informed Practice
-
Two-Eyed Seeing
-
Harm Reduction Practice
-
Youth/Person Centered Practice
-
Culture as Therapy
Highlights of this opportunity:
Are you passionate about empowering Indigenous youth? Do you have a knack for building positive relationships?
Are you strategic, creative, and dynamic in your approach to youth work? Does working within a fast-paced environment energize you?
If you said yes, then this is the opportunity for you!
-
Contribute to a team focused on increasing stabilization, belonging, and empowerment for youth.
-
Be a positive role model for youth, working in cooperation with others, and positively leading and implementing clinical programming component and therapeutic models.
-
Be a member of the leadership team at Young Bears Lodge to provide mentorship, direction and ensure quality of care in all aspects of the program. On-call responsibilities are apart of this position.
-
Work in a variety of trauma-informed healing modalities.
-
Provide holistic individual case management support to youth: overseeing clinical care plans, facilitating workshops, group counselling, communicating with support teams, making referrals, follow ups, and after-care planning.
-
Participate in Indigenous protocols, ceremonies, and other cultural practices.
-
Support and act as a resource, coach, and mentor to staff regarding strategies and approaches for working with our youth.
-
Provide Leadership in clinical care and respond to critical incidents and care needs for the youth accessing our service.
-
Support and co-facilitate workshops.
-
Lead in the development and implementation of outcome-oriented and client-directed treatment and transition plans.
-
Share responsibility for the daily operations of Young Bears Lodge including: meal planning and preparation, maintaining timely accurate logs, case files, and reports.
-
Be the representative of Young Bears Lodge in the community; build and maintain diverse partnerships to maximize programming opportunities and supports available to youth.
Qualifications and Conditions:
-
Educational experience required (Master’s Degree in Clinical Counselling or Social Work, 5 years of recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience)
-
Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.
-
Knowledge and understanding of the family and social issues that Indigenous youth face today, including the generational impacts of the residential school system on families and communities.
-
Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies and procedures of the organization.
-
Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.
-
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination will be required
-
Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.
-
Vehicle/driving abstract/first aid requirements
What we offer:
· Salary Range $34.44- $37.37
· 40 hours a week
· Comprehensive Benefits package
· Vacation, Sick, and Wellness days
· Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which consists of no-cost counselling services to UNYA staff
· Support from UNYA’s Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings
· Monthly Staff development
How to apply:
If you would like to become a part of this tremendous team, send a cover letter and resume indicating the position you are applying to the attention of the Hiring Manager at ybl.manager@unya.bc.ca *Posting will close when position is filled.*Only those shortlisted will be contacted.
***We are an Indigenous youth organization whose mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth. We encourage qualified Indigenous - First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, applicants to apply. If you identify as Indigenous, please let us know in your application! Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
UNYA acknowledges that we are gathered on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and selílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured and grateful to be able to do our work on this land.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 21 months
Pay: $34.44-$37.37 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Discounted or free food
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Wellness program
Flexible language requirement:
- French not required
Schedule:
- Day shift
- On call
- Weekends as needed
Education:
- Master's Degree (preferred)
Experience:
- Youth: 5 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- First Aid Certification (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 2025-07-11
About Urban Native Youth Association
UNYA was founded in 1988 to address Indigenous youth issues at a time growing numbers of young people began leaving reserves for the city. Today, 60% of Indigenous people live in cities, and youth make up approximately 60% of the overall Indigenous population. Many youth continue to arrive in Vancouver with few job skills, minimal training or education, and not knowing where to go for help. The need for Indigenous youth services in Vancouver has never been greater.
UNYA has a proven model that works, playing a transformational role in the lives of Indigenous youth. We are training the Indigenous leaders of tomorrow, delivering 20+ programs, together with our 175+ volunteers, 100 staff, and more than 300 community partners. Our strengths-based programming includes education and training, health, wellness, and counselling services, outreach, housing and transition support, drug and alcohol counselling and recovery, arts and culture, leadership training, sports and recreation, and more. Throughout our programs, we create space for youth to experience and explore a range of traditional practices and teachings, as well as to share their own cultural knowledge with their peers and UNYA staff.
We believe that strengthening our community as a whole has a tremendous positive impact on the lives of Indigenous youth, and continue to focus efforts on community development initiatives. We contribute to positive community development by creating and distributing resource materials, hosting community meetings and forums, offering training on youth issues, serving on community steering committees, conducting research, developing innovative programs, hiring and training youth, participating on the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council, and creating partnerships that expand services for Indigenous youth.
UNYA is a registered not-for-profit society with the Province of BC and a federally registered charitable organization.