Mental Health Therapist - Indigenous Listener Health Support Line

This position will be part of Primary Care Alberta effective November 18, 2024. By applying on this posting, if you are the successful candidate, you agree to and will become an employee of Primary Care Alberta. Position can be out of Calgary or Edmonton. Our team is seeking an Indigenous listener (mental health therapist) to support the Indigenous Support Line, which is a provincial telephone support service available to Indigenous peoples in Alberta. In this role, you will support Indigenous peoples including those in Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8 and Metis Nations of Alberta and Metis Settlements. To be successful in this role, you will use your knowledge of Indigenous communities through the province and resources available to respond to callers needs using culturally safe, strength-based approaches. The selected candidate will be expected to work on-site to facilitate effective team collaboration and deliver optimal health link services. You will support system navigation, facilitate connections to cultural supports, provide supportive listening and referrals, and determine when it would be appropriate to connect callers to urgent/emergency services (teletriage). You will also support and work closely with patient relations, to help connect our callers to support during the patient relations process. Listeners provide brief support and advice over the phone. Required competencies include cultural safety and anti-racist practices, knowledge of Indigenous histories (e.g., intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, 60’s scoop), trauma-informed practice, and clinical skills (e.g., engagement/relationship skills, active listening, clinical judgment). Strong technical skills are required (e.g., typing while being spoken to) and comfort using multiple electronic platforms. This position collaborates with the Indigenous Wellness Core team.

As the Mental Health Therapist, you will be required to use a variety of treatment modalities (individual, family, and group) to persons experiencing significant mental health difficulties. Working both independently and as a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary team, you will provide evidence informed and best practices in crisis intervention, assessment, consultation, referral, case management and treatment.

Master's degree in Psychology; or master's degree in Social Work (clinical specialization) including education in mental health assessment and psychotherapy; or master's or bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy including training and experience in mental health assessment and provision of psychotherapy; or master's degree in Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing including training and experience in mental health assessment and provision of psychotherapy. Active or eligible for registration with the applicable Alberta regulatory college.

As a bona fide occupational requirement, and under Section 11 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, only Indigenous applicants will be considered. We encourage Indigenous candidates to self- identify. Knowledge of Alberta Indigenous communities and experience in local Indigenous culture. Good understanding of the geographical challenges in accessing certain services such mental health resources, internet and phone. Broad knowledge of Indigenous history and cultures within Alberta. High degree of cultural competence as it relates to working with Indigenous people. Understand the politically sensitive nature of working with multiple culturally diverse individuals and groups. Advanced computer skills essential, including working knowledge of the following: Office 365 applications; Genesys (computer-based phone software); EchoAccess (teletriage clinical assessment software and protocols). Ability to learn and utilize multiple electronic platforms concurrently. Equivalencies considered: Completion of one of the following programs: Bachelor's Degree in Psychology or Social Work (Clinical Specialization) including education in mental health assessment and psychotherapy, Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing including training and experience in mental health assessment or provision of psychotherapy and 5 years of related experience.

Ability to speak or understand any of the Indigenous languages spoken within the territories of Treaty 6, Treaty 7, Treaty 8 or the Metis Settlements of Alberta.