For over 60 years, our programs have addressed crime & its causes in our Kawartha and Peterborough area communities. We practice diverse approaches to violence prevention, intervention, diversion, & response. We work from a trauma and resilience informed, anti-oppressive, restorative lens.

As the Native Inmate Liaison Officer (NILO), you will play a crucial role in assisting Indigenous adult clients at Central East Correctional Centre (CECC) in their successful reintegration into the community. By providing culturally relevant programs, services, and activities aimed at promoting Indigenous healing and wellness, the NILO addresses the unique needs of Indigenous clients while on a healing path.

This position serves as a vital bridge between the institution and the community, fostering opportunities for inmates to reconnect with their Indigenous identity, culture, and traditions in a meaningful and respectful way.

Through culturally grounded support, the NILO facilitates access to Elders, traditional teachings, ceremonies, circles, and feasts, helping to create space for healing, reflection, and personal growth. By promoting cultural safety and strengthening connections to community resources, the NILO supports individuals on their journey toward self-understanding, resilience, and successful reintegration. This role is essential in ensuring Indigenous inmates have opportunities to engage in culturally relevant programming that honours their heritage and supports their wellbeing.

This role is pivotal in supporting Indigenous individuals in a custodial setting. If this sounds like an environment you are comfortable working in, we are seeking a passionate and dedicated person to join our team. If you have a commitment to Indigenous teachings and practices and a desire to make a positive impact, we encourage you to apply.

The successful candidate must be available to work days and some evenings when required.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate Indigenous status.

Duties and Responsibilities

Daily Tasks/Expectations

- Maintain an inventory and supply traditional ceremonial medicines. Oversee and maintain sacred garden on property of CECC and oversee Indigenous clients maintaining the garden on site.
- Provide support, assistance, and rehabilitative care to Indigenous clients through cultural practices, follow-up services, and community resource information.
- Offer cultural and spiritual resources required for healing and wellness activities such as sweat lodge ceremonies, healing circles, smudging, and drumming, including engaging Elders and other resource people.
- Facilitate liaison services between Indigenous clients and the community to ensure access to resources for educational, employment, housing, health, and other identified needs.
- Plan, organize, and facilitate Indigenous Programs and activities regularly, providing an itinerary of events as requested by the institution.
- Attend and participate in meetings at the institution such as Staff meetings, Interdisciplinary Case Conferences, and others as requested.




- Interview all Indigenous clients upon admission to inform them of available programs and services.
- Develop, coordinate, and maintain regular cultural programs and activities focusing on positive personal growth.
- Prepare and submit regular reports and statistics pertaining to programs, activities, and clients to the Superintendent or designate and agency Program Director as required.
- Support Indigenous clients who wish to practice traditional ways and coordinate activities with Chaplain Services.
- Complete agency training and professional development as assigned.

Administration Tasks

- Track & maintain all client-related data and activities.
- Maintain records including the completion of intake forms, recording client contract information and submitting monthly statistics.

Best Practices and Accountability

- Stay informed of issues, information, & best practices re: Indigenous cultural practices, mental health and addictions, justice involvement.
- Foster a warm, welcoming, restorative, anti-oppressive, trauma/resilience informed space for individuals.
- Take a strength-based approach when addressing individual needs.
- When providing information, do so in a way that reflects the racial, cultural, linguistic and gender-specific needs of the person being served.
- Attend relevant staff meetings and training sessions.
- Adhere to standard professional guidelines and agency protocols on confidentiality and ethics.
- Maintain solid professional boundaries.
- Follow all Health and Safety guidelines.
- Engage in ongoing collaboration with teammates.
- Report any issues relating to safety and risk to Director or agency CEO.
- Consult regularly with the program Director.
- Undertake other duties as assigned by management to improve or enhance the delivery of services, and to meet operational needs.

NOTE: This is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Job Specifications

Education, Training, and Professional Experience

- Post–secondary education in social services, criminology, community and justice services, psychology, or related field.
- relevant to social and/or justice services, preferably working with individuals experiencing precarious housing, homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, incarceration and/or conflict with the law.
- Relevant training certificates an asset (i.e. Motivational Interviewing, Anti-Racism and Decolonization, Trauma-Informed Care, Positive Space, Brave Space, Restorative Conference Training).
- Thorough knowledge of local community resources and partner agencies.
- Certification in at least one of the following: NVCI, Nonviolent Communication training, or De-escalation Training or demonstrated relevent expereince.




- Certification in at least one of the following: Mental Health First Aid Training, ASIST Training or equivalent.
- Standard First-Aid and CPR Level C.
- Harm Reduction and Naloxone Training.

Skills & Attributes

- Excellent observational and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent oral, listening, written, interpersonal, & conflict resolution skills.
- Self-starter and highly motivated.
- Professional co-operative attitude and behaviour.
- Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
- Ability to think quickly and use Nonviolent Communication techniques to diffuse conflict and high-risk situations.
- Self-awareness and ability to continuously evaluate biases, in order to work with a diverse range of clients.
- Strong computer skills, incl.: Microsoft Office, Teams, Excel, etc.
- A deep understanding of the value of relationship-building.
- Actively seeks constructive feedback from colleagues, supervisors, volunteers, & others.
- Ability to work with diverse staff, client community, & a wide range of constituencies.
- Ability to work independently & take initiative.
- Strong ethics, integrity, & confidentiality consistent with the position.

Physical Abilities

- Ability to exert up to 30 lbs. of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
- Ability to engage in sitting, standing, and walking or a mix of all three for long periods of time.
- Ability to drive for short to medium periods of time to perform duties of the job, e.g. attend community events, program supply shopping, and occasional travel to other JHSK office locations.

Other Requirements & Working Conditions

- It is expected that the successful candidate provide and maintain a clear Criminal Record Check with vulnerable sector screening as a condition of employment
- Must have Valid Ontario Driver’s License (G-class) and reliable access to a car to preform duties of this job
- This position is an on site position, in Lindsay, based out of Central East Correctional Centre.
- Must be able to work days and occassional evenings.
- Must be comfortable working alone.
- Regular exposure to secondary traumatic stress (STS), which may contribute to the experience of compassion fatigue.
- There may be exposure to hazards from time to time, e.g. violence, bodily fluids and waste, communicable diseases, working alone, slips trips and falls, and other exposures.

JHS Kawarthas is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to organizational equity & diversity. We actively seek staff who are members of groups designated by federal/provincial legislation as under-represented. These groups include women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, racialized people, & LGBTQ2I* persons. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

JHS Kawarthas does not use Artificial Intelligence, automated screening or algorithmic decision making in its recruitment and selection process.

Pay: $29.99 per hour

Expected hours: 35.0 per week

Work Location: In person

📌 Native Inmate Liaison Officer (Lindsay)
🏢 John Howard Society of the Kawarthas
📍 Lindsay