Wellness Worker

Employment Term

This is a fixed‑term position from May 15, 2026 to Mar. 31, 2027, inclusive. The employment relationship will end automatically on the contract end date, with no expectation of renewal unless confirmed in writing. The role is time‑limited and contingent on program funding, and does not constitute ongoing or permanent employment with KFS.

Nature of Position

The Wellness Worker provides culturally safe, trauma‑informed mental‑health and substance‑use support to Indigenous community members in Kelowna. This role combines counselling‑style 1:1 support, crisis response, harm‑reduction services, and system navigation for individuals experiencing concurrent mental‑health and substance‑use challenges, or those impacted by these issues in their families or communities.

Working both onsite and in the community, the Wellness Worker meets people where they are at, offering relationship‑based support, emotional stabilization, and timely intervention during moments of high risk or distress. The position strengthens access to culturally grounded wellness pathways, reduces preventable harms, and helps individuals connect to mental‑health, recovery, and Indigenous‑led healing services.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Support & Counselling

• Provide 1:1 emotional support, stabilization, and culturally grounded wellness conversations with individuals experiencing mental‑health challenges, substance‑use concerns, trauma, grief, or crisis.
• Use trauma‑informed, harm‑reduction, and strengths‑based approaches to support individuals in identifying goals, coping strategies, and wellness pathways.
• Offer ongoing follow‑up, safety planning, and relational support for individuals at risk of overdose, relapse, or emotional distress.

Outreach & Crisis Response

• Receive and respond to internal and external client referrals who would benefit from in‑depth, 1:1 mental‑wellness support. Provide steady, relationship‑based follow‑up to help clients access appropriate services and care.
• If encountered, respond to crisis situations including overdose or toxic drug poisoning risk, emotional distress, or acute mental‑health concerns using de‑escalation and culturally informed crisis‑response techniques.
• Provide post‑crisis follow‑up, wellness checks, and connection to supports.

Harm Reduction & Community Education

• Support clients to adopt safer‑use practices and offer information on the relationship between trauma, mental health, and substance use.
• Present mental‑wellness services to internal teams and community partners, helping build understanding of available supports and acting as a resource.

System Navigation & Advocacy

• Assist individuals in accessing mental‑health assessments, counselling, detox and recovery programs, primary care, cultural supports, and Indigenous‑led wellness services.
• Advocate for equitable, culturally safe access to provincial and community mental‑health systems.
• Coordinate with Indigenous organizations, health services, emergency responders, and community agencies to ensure wraparound support.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate, confidential case notes, crisis reports, and service documentation.
• Track outreach contacts, crisis responses, referrals, and wellness outcomes in alignment with program reporting requirements.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing training

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Diploma or degree in Social Work, Indigenous Wellness, Mental Health & Substance Use, Counselling, Human Services, or a related field; an equivalent combination of training and lived/professional experience will be considered.
• Experience providing frontline support to individuals with concurrent mental health and substance use challenges, ideally in Indigenous, community‑based, or harm‑reduction settings.
• Experience in crisis response, de‑escalation, or supporting individuals during acute distress.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Indigenous‑led wellness programs is an asset.
• Training or certification in harm reduction, overdose response, Mental Health First Aid, suicide prevention, and non-violent crisis intervention (or willingness to obtain).

Knowledge & Abilities

• Strong understanding of Indigenous cultures, teachings, and the impacts of colonization, intergenerational trauma, and systemic inequities on wellness.
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed, harm‑reduction, and strengths‑based approaches to support.
• Ability to build trusting, non‑judgmental relationships with individuals who may be experiencing crisis, grief, substance use challenges, or complex barriers.
• Skilled in safety planning, boundary setting, and maintaining emotional regulation during high‑risk situations.
• Ability to work independently in community settings, including working alone in accordance with WorkSafeBC procedures.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to document case notes and crisis reports clearly, neutrally, and in alignment with program requirements.
• Ability to collaborate with Indigenous organizations, health services, emergency responders, and community partners to support coordinated care.

Work Conditions

• Work takes place in office, community, and outreach settings, including public spaces.
• Regular exposure to individuals experiencing crisis, distress, or substance‑use‑related harms.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required based on program or community needs.
• Local travel within the community required; mileage reimbursed according to policy.
• Must follow all organizational and WorkSafeBC safety procedures, including working‑alone protocols.

Requirements

• Successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check
• Valid BC Class 5 driver’s licence.
• Satisfactory Driver’s Abstract (reviewed for job‑related suitability).
• Valid First Aid with CPR‑C, or willingness to obtain within the first three months of employment.
• Proof of, or willingness to obtain, relevant harm‑reduction or crisis‑response training (e.g., Naloxone, Mental Health First Aid).
• Commitment to practicing cultural humility, maintaining confidentiality, and upholding KFS values and policies.