Job opening: Indigenous System Negotiator
Organization name: Watari Counselling & Support Services
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Working hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Pay: $30.00 per hour + extended health benefits after successfully completing a 3-month probation period
Internal-external posting
About Watari Counselling & Support Services
Watari was developed in 1986 as a response to the lack of services and programs for high-risk street-involved youth in Vancouver. Since then, Watari has helped thousands of people in the Downtown Eastside and the surrounding communities, through several youth and community programs as well as through our counselling team. Over the years, Watari has developed important programs not only for youth but for everyone needing support here in the community, including Indigenous people and migrant workers. Our Latin American Group and Vietnamese Community Kitchen have become important staples in the community as well. Although much has changed over the years, Watari continues to be a safe and supportive place for the people in the community. Today, Watari has 13 essential programs made possible by the dedicated staff, and amazing volunteers and community partners!
Watari’s mission statement
Our mission is to facilitate meaningful change and provide a bridge to healthier possibilities through innovative, community-driven, and supportive programming.
Benefits of working with Watari
- Start with 2 weeks paid vacation (receive 1 day of additional vacation time for every year you work at Watari, up to 11 years)
- Receive additional paid time off (up to 126 hours of additional paid time off per year for full-time employees)
- Become eligible to receive comprehensive extended health benefits after successfully completing a 3-month probationary period.
- Become eligible to receive RRSPs after completing 1 year of work at Watari. (3%)
- Access to training and professional development opportunities which are paid for by Watari.
- Access to free counselling services with certified and experienced counsellors.
- Have the ability to work in a multicultural and engaging work environment.
Job description
Watari Counselling & Support Services is looking for a full-time Indigenous System Negotiator. This requires working with Indigenous clients connected with the Downtown Community Courts in the Downtown Eastside. The position requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work with deadlines, knowledge of community service systems and awareness of the Indigenous population connected with the Downtown Community Courts. This position also liaises with Dr’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, jail staff, lawyers, community, and tenancy support workers. The Indigenous System Negotiator approaches the work from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and cultural perspective while following the traditional and local protocols of the coastal host nations.
The successful applicant will be familiar with the Constitution, Code of Ethics, and Oath of Confidentiality of Watari Counselling & Support Services thereby subscribing to its philosophies, standards, and objectives. Also, the successful applicant shall maintain a working knowledge of the Watari Policy and Procedures Manual.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Provide honest, respectful client-centered care and develop trusting alliances with Indigenous clients connected with Downtown Community Courts.
- Provide one-on-one support to Indigenous clients to assist in identifying, accessing and navigating systems in appropriate community resources, especially with medical services, where barriers are encountered. Such barriers may include mental health, substance misuse, homelessness, poverty, racial inequality, discrimination, etc.
- Support will include a depiction to the culture and traditional knowledge of where the client comes from; which could facilitate a more meaningful and positive outlook for their life and future life goals and plans.
- Will communicate and collaborate with all teams at DCC and VISU (Vancouver Integrated Supervision Unit), COMET (Chronic Offender Management Enforcement Team) to ensure that all Indigenous clients are connected and can have an opportunity to traditional healing, culture, and connections.
- Provide community outreach services and advocates as well as support the Indigenous client in connecting with opportunities to participate in talking circles, smudge ceremonies, sweat lodges, drumming circles, and other cultural practices pertinent to their Indigenous community/nation, as identified by the client.
- Able to participate in, and have a practical understanding of, integrated case planning when required.
- Maintain accurate petty cash receipts, time sheets, records, reports and statistics – including a written progress report for each reporting period. Document daily activity.
- Participate in regular agency and training meetings as required.
- Provide crisis intervention as needed.
- Attend clinical individual supervision sessions at least every 2 weeks.
- Provide the supervisor with verbal updates on progress, developments and unusual occurrences on a timely basis.
Requirements and qualifications for applicants:
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field or a minimum of three (3) years of experience.
- Knowledge of the social network of services in Vancouver for Indigenous peoples.
- Knowledge of the issues the Indigenous peoples face in the Downtown Eastside.
- Extensive knowledge of Indigenous cultural practices, histories, and needs.
- Experience working with residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and extensive knowledge of the issues and needs of the residents in this community.
- Competence with computers and the ability to produce timely and accurate reports.
- Proven strengths in communication, mediation, and conflict resolution.
- An ability to build trusting relationships with clients and other stakeholders
- Driver’s license and the use of personal vehicle an asset.
- Successful criminal record check.
Watari’s statement of diversity & inclusion
Watari embraces diversity as an integral part of being a caring community. We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse, accessible, civil, and supportive environment by including diversity of religion, gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, disability, age, and socioeconomic class.
To this end, we will make positive efforts to reach out to groups that have traditionally been under-represented and who can enrich and be enriched by their experience at Watari. At Watari, we encourage behaviours that enhance the freedom and respect that every individual deserves.
This position requires a person who can provide honest, respectful care, community outreach, and advocate for participants. If you believe that you have the above-named skills and abilities, please forward your resume and cover letter to:
Closing date: May 20, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
Watari is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous applicants, people of colour, all genders, LGBTQ2S+, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Thank you to all applicants in advance, only those who are short-listed will be contacted.
Facilitating positive change in our community