About Kindred:

At Kindred, we’re convinced the key to living well is healthy relationships with self, family, and others. But relationships are complicated and sometimes we find ourselves in vulnerable places, disconnected from those who matter most.

Kindred’s purpose is to realize the power of human connection, and it shapes everything we do. Whether biological or chosen, family is the most important relationship in a person’s life. So, we invest in the special bond between children and those that care for them. We provide road maps toward healing when essential relationships are ruptured. And we understand that accessing timely mental health support can inspire confidence with self and others. Healthy human connection is possible, and together we can realize it.

The Position:

Job Title: Counsellor, Refugee & Immigrant Counselling in Schools (NEW INITIATIVE)

Job Type: Permanent, multiple 1.0FTE positions available 

Position Overview:

Kindred is seeking Counsellors to provide single session and ongoing counselling to immigrant and refugee youth in grades 7-12 within the school setting. As part of an exciting new initiative to offer mental health support to youth in schools, Kindred Counsellors will provide responsive and trauma-informed counselling and work to build awareness and capacity in the broader school community. This role is based at a school and works to be part of the school community, understanding that relationship and trust is critical to successful service provision. Alongside delivering direct counselling service the role is responsible for engaging the school community as a whole with initiatives and resources related to mental health awareness and well-being. There is an expectation of flexibility with hours to meet client needs. This position requires a valid driver’s license and use of a vehicle with appropriate insurance. 

Key Accountabilities:

• Engage with immigrant and refugee students and their families through a client-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens; 
• Demonstrate a high standard of performance in provision of individual and at times family counselling to clients, in both single session and ongoing frameworks of counselling, on-site at designated schools; 
• Engage in general assessment and risk management accordance with agency and professional standards; 
• Maintain working knowledge of current community resources that work to support the immigrant and refugee population served by the program; 
• Bring forward existing relevant resources, and create customized resources based on emerging trends observed in the school community that can target staff, students and families; 
• Complete accurate and timely data collection and data entry in client database, maintaining complete client records; 
• Maintain strong working relationships with school leadership and staff, working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary support teams; 
• Participation in supervision and team meetings with the view for improving both clinical capacity and increasing understanding of the population served; 
• Work collaboratively with school administration and supervisor to ensure aligned service delivery. 

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field required; registered and in good standing with professional governing body; 
• Minimum 2 years post-graduate experience in counselling; 
• Single session experience is an asset; 
• Demonstrated ability to work with complex trauma related to immigrant and refugee lived experience, 
• Ability to engage and collaborate with external partners and systems, including school systems, 
• Skills in Microsoft Applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams), as well as video conferencing formats, 
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, 
• Takes a posture of Cultural humility in working with diverse populations, 
• Ability to communicate in multiple languages is an asset; 
• Experience working with interpretation services in a clinical setting is an asset, 
• Ability to work within a natural supports framework, 
• Strongly encouraged to have a current (completed in last 6 months) Police Information Check and Alberta Intervention Check, 
• Expectation of flexibility with hours to meet client needs; some evening work required, 
• Core Brain Story Certification through Alberta Family Wellness Initiative is an asset, 
• Valid driver’s license, clean driver’s abstract and use of a vehicle with appropriate insurance. 

Qualities and Characteristics

• Embodies Kindred’s purpose (to realize the power of human connection) as demonstrated by prioritizing, embracing, and thriving in the work through strong relationships internally and externally;
• Strong personal alignment with the Kindred values: compassion, courage, family, excellence, and humility.

Successful applicants for this Position must complete Police Information Check and Alberta Intervention Record Check.

Kindred offers a competitive benefits package, which includes health, dental, paid sick/personal days, generous vacation time, life insurance, AD&D, supplemental unemployment benefits plan, long-term disability, and group RRSP with employer matched contributions. We also offer on-going learning and development opportunities, and we hold employee appreciation and social events throughout the year.

The need for human connection is universal. At Kindred, we believe that everyone deserves to experience belonging regardless of where you come from, who you love, how much money you have or how you choose to pray. By embracing diversity of culture, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and thought, Kindred is committed to ensuring there is space for you. Kindred approaches its diversity, equity, and inclusion journey with curiosity and humility. We commit to creating a safe and inclusive environment for our staff, clients and anyone we have the privilege of being in connection with.