Internal/External Posting
This posting is to fill a current vacancy
Reference Number: COUNS If applying by email, indicate the reference number in the subject line

Job Type: Full Time position Location: Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Rate of Pay: Annual : $88,049 – $113,338/ Hourly $48.379 – $62.274.
Hours of Work: 35 hours per week
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Position Summary

The School-Based Counsellor provides direct mental health support to First Nations students who relocate from remote northern communities to attend Sioux North High School (SNHS) in Sioux Lookout during the school year.

This full-time, year-round position is based on-site at SNHS, with the counsellor available to students throughout the entire school day, five days a week. With a dedicated office in the school, the counsellor offers a visible and accessible presence, supporting students as they navigate the emotional, social, and cultural challenges of living away from home, family, and community.

The School-Based Counsellor plays a vital role in helping students adjust to their current environment, strengthen resilience, and maintain mental wellness throughout the academic year. This role is embedded within a broader, integrated care model that ensures students receive consistent, culturally safe, and wholistic support without having to navigate the health system alone.

During school breaks (e.g., March Break and summer break), the School-Based Counsellor continues to provide services to students who request support. During these periods, the counsellor is also expected to meet with clients attending Nodin’s Outpatient Mental Health Services (OMHS).

Accountability





The School-Based Counsellor is accountable to the Clinical Supervisor – Nodin .

Qualifications

Education & Professional Requirements

- Diploma in mental health, social services, or a closely related field from a recognized institution (degree preferred).
- Current registration in good standing with a regulated professional body authorized to practice psychotherapy in Ontario (e.g., OCSWSSW, CRPO, CPA).
- Training in suicide risk assessment and prevention, trauma-informed care, substance use and addictions, intergenerational trauma, grief and loss, and self-harm intervention.

Experience

- Minimum of one (1) year of direct clinical experience providing mental health counselling, preferably with youth.
- Experience working with First Nations communities, with demonstrated application of culturally grounded practices, is an asset.
- Experience responding to high-risk situations and applying crisis response protocols.

Knowledge & Skills

- Skilled in clinical counselling, risk assessment, and youth centered care planning.
- Knowledge of the impacts of colonialism, systemic inequities, and historical trauma on Indigenous youth mental health.
- Knowledge of the people, cultures, and mental health realities of First Nations communities in Sioux Lookout and surrounding Northwestern Ontario.




- Understanding of social determinants of health and the challenges youth face when living away from home.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, including Duty to Report, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, and the Mental Health Act.

Professional Practice & Ethical Standards

- Demonstrated professional integrity, with the ability to maintain confidentiality, ethical boundaries, and strong therapeutic rapport.
- Commitment to organizational policies, procedures, and mission, delivering strengths-based and client-centred care.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in clinical documentation.

Communication, Collaboration & Organizational Skills

- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with school staff, families, and external service providers.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Effective problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, particularly in high-pressure or emotionally charged situations.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills to manage a full and flexible caseload.
- Proficiency with electronic health records, scheduling software, and Microsoft Office applications.

Additional Requirements

- Valid driver’s licence and access to reliable transportation for daily travel to the school.
- Willingness and ability to travel by air to First Nations communities as required.
- Ability to communicate in one or more First Nations dialects of the Sioux Lookout region is an asset.
- Ability to perform the requirements of the position on a regular basis.

Roles & Responsibilities

Direct Clinical Services

📌 Counsellor II – School-Based (Sioux Lookout)
🏢 Northwest Employment Works
📍 Sioux Lookout