Employment Opportunity: Diamond Bailey Mental Wellness and Addictions Coordinator
Location: Halifax, NS
Salary Range: $60,000.00+ per year based off skills and experience
Employment Term: Contract Hire Date – March 31, 2026 (possibility of annual renewal), Full time hours (35 hours/ week) (Days, evenings, weekends or Holidays as required)
Reports To: Diamond Bailey Healing Centre Manager
General Description:
The Diamond Bailey Healing Centre (DBHC) is a new facility developed and operated by the MNFC and is a response to the need within the Urban Indigenous Community for an Indigenous-led, trauma-informed and culturally appropriate facility where members of the urban Indigenous community can receive healing programming in addition to stable housing that is imbedded in Indigenous tradition and culture in all aspects of program delivery. The DBHC will provide clients with teachings and resources necessary to heal, live a balanced lifestyle - according to the principals of the medicine wheel, and to ultimately gain housing stability.
DBHC is looking for (1) Mental Wellness and Addictions Coordinator
The Mental Wellness and Addictions Coordinator (DBMWAC) will provide culturally-based mental health and addictions support to urban Indigenous clients to ensure that all clients are receiving individualized wholistic care and support. The DBMWAC will be responsible for completing needs assessments with each client, and developing and implementing a Wellness Wheel plan using a two-eyed seeing (Etuaptmumk) approach. It is extremely important that the DBMWAC provide support in a decolonized, trauma-informed approach, as the urban Indigenous community is still experiencing the effects of intergenerational trauma. This position works collaboratively with all MNFC interdepartmental programs and services to ensure DBHC clients' needs are identified and addressed accordingly. The DBMWAC will work in coordination with all other Diamond Bailey Coordinators to ensure clients receive a customized plan of action that addresses their needs all based on the medicine wheel simultaneously.
Key Accountabilities:
Administrative
- Maintain the use of supplies, equipment and order new office supplies as needed
- Keep up to date client files, records and documents
- Enter data in the MNFCs data base system, daily and ensure that the database and all client files are up-to-date.
- Ensure confidentially of all records and files, unless release of specific information is authorized by the Diamond Bailey Manager
- Manage inventory of cultural supplies and resources for community members as needed
- Use an intake form for clients accessing cultural mental health supports and track client progress.
- Maintain accurate, comprehensive documentation regarding all interactions with clients. Documentation must be maintained in accordance with agency standards and adhere to funder requirements.
- Prepare assessment, progress, follow-up and reports as needed
- May provide witness testimony in court proceedings
Client Support
- Ensure the program delivery is congruent with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre’s mission, vision and philosophy.
- Interview clients, prepare case histories and assess client barriers
- Develop and implement client-based counselling and intervention programs to assist clients in determining goals and means of attaining them.
- Provide mental health & wellness support from a culturally informed background, and embody the principles of Two-Eyed Seeing/Etuaptmumk.
- Counsel clients, provide therapy and mediation services, and facilitate group sessions.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and interventions, and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and movement toward defined objectives.
- Work in collaboration with the Diamond Bailey Manager and Coordinators to ensure that every client is receiving an abundance of support in balancing their personal wellness wheel, based off the medicine wheel teachings and having all of their needs met.
- Practice applied behavior, psychology, community health, human development, substance abuse/ addiction counseling to ensure the best care and ethical standards are met.
- Display a positive, enthusiastic attitude with clients to promote client participation and engagement.
- Establish working relationships and collaborative arrangements with the MNFC and DBHC department coordinators to meet the wholistic needs of Indigenous clients, in accordance with the teachings of the medicine wheel.
- Work collaboratively with interdepartmental staff to ensure equitable and timely access to current resources and services, such as; (housing, harm reduction services, justice, family resources, education/ training, employment, social supports, and cultural/ traditional supports (elders, ceremony)
- Connect clients to Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers for guidance and healing when necessary.
Communications
- Connect clients to community cultural resources, supports and meaningful activities as required.
- Complete training/ research to ensure that appropriate cultural and traditional therapeutic practices are offered to Indigenous clients
Other Duties
- Maintain a workplace environment and approach that meets the cultural and wholistic needs of Indigenous clients.
- Practice and maintain a positive leadership role; lead by example with trauma-informed, non-judgemental support.
- Assist in defusing situations, when necessary, by using conflict resolution and Non-violent intervention skills
- Have foundational knowledge of all MNFC resources & support programs.
- Commit to the development of the DBHC programming and participate in internal committees, projects and activities.
- Attend and participate in professional development opportunities as required.
- Adhere to all policies governing the MNFC and the DBHC
- May preform other related duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Diploma / certification in community social services; psychology or education in mental health, addictions, concurrent disorders/ co-occurring disorders and social work is considered an asset
- Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
- Comprehensive understanding of Indigenous, women’s, trans gender issues, poverty, homelessness and their root causes.
- Demonstrated understanding of Corrections, Housing First and Harm Reduction principles and approach.
- Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Varied shifts depending on the need of community members
- Reliable means of transportation (must own a working vehicle)
- Experience using Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook, access, power point)
- Core Competency Training: Mental Health First Aid, ASIST and NVCI.
- Required Vulnerable Sector Check & Child Abuse Registrar must be provided prior to start of position
- Indigenous ancestry considered an asset, must self identify
- Must be well versed in traditional knowledge and wholistic healing practices
Application Deadline: Open until June 19th 2025
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel working within this job title.
The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre is an equal opportunity employer; and complies with all fair employment practices laws. We are committed to providing a workplace free form unlawful discrimination and harassment and prohibit the same against employees, applicants or other covered persons by co-workers, supervisors, managers, or third parties based on a person’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veterans status, disability unrelated to job requirements, ethnicity, genetic information, military service, political affiliation, marital status and pregnancy or other protected status.
Qualified Indigenous applicants will be given priority in accordance with the Aboriginal Employment Preference Policy of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) reserves the right to refuse all applications for employment. The MNFC will not assume any expenses related to this or any job application process included and not limited to travel, relocation, and application development.
Covid-19 potential impact- This position is requiring the incumbent to work onsite as the program is deemed an essential service. There are current COVID -19 restrictions in place, use of PPE as well as social distancing for safety of staff and community.
*Only those applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- For this position being indigenous is an asset, do you self identify as indigenous? If so, what can you share with us about your connection to community?
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2025-06-19