Mental Health Addictions Social Worker

Who We Are

The Mikisew Cree First Nation (Mikisew) has lived on the ancestral lands of the Athabasca Delta and Wood Buffalo National Park in northeastern Alberta since time immemorial. The lives of our members are linked to the land and to a close understanding of traditions, history and a natural way of life. Many of our members live in the hamlet of Fort Chipewyan, and our traditional lands range over a large portion of Athabasca oil sands deposits. For nearly 30 years, Mikisew Group, our wholly owned business arm, has worked toward the long-term, sustainable economic progress of our Nation and its members through employment and significant investments in education, training, social programs and infrastructure.

Who You Are

The Mental Health & Addictions Social Worker (Trauma and Treatment Support) is responsible for providing specialized, culturally grounded mental health and addictions support to members of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and their families, both on and off reserve. This position is not a general social services role; it is a clinically focused role centered on addictions, trauma, crisis response, treatment navigation, and aftercare support.

The role prioritizes urgent and complex mental health and addictions needs, including crisis situations, substance use disorders, trauma-related conditions, and treatment transitions. Services are delivered in a respectful, trauma-informed, culturally safe, and client-centered manner that reflects Mikisew Cree First Nation values and ways of knowing.

Roles & Responsibilities

Provide culturally safe, trauma-informed mental health and addictions support with a focus on substance use, recovery, and treatment navigation.

Conduct mental health, addictions, and suicide risk assessments, and respond to urgent or high-risk situations in collaboration with appropriate partners.

Support members before, during, and after detox or treatment, including but not limited to referrals, advocacy, discharge planning, and aftercare follow-up.

Develop safety plans, relapse prevention plans, and other necessary assessments and risk-management tools to support client stability and well-being.

Advocate for timely access to treatment, counselling, aftercare, and culturally appropriate supports.

Build and maintain collaborative relationships with treatment centres, health professionals, counsellors, and community-based supports.

Provide education to clients, families, and the community on treatment processes, recovery supports, trauma, addictions, and wellness.

Address system barriers and challenges to accessing care to ensure the effective delivery of inclusive, compassionate, culturally safe, trauma-informed and client-centred care. 

Maintain accurate documentation, statistics, and reports, including urgent incident and monthly activity reporting.

Identify emerging community needs and provide recommendations to the Health Director to support program development.

Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, policies, and privacy requirements.

Maintain professionalism, ethical practice, confidentiality, and appropriate boundaries at all times.

Participate in ongoing professional development related to addictions, trauma, and mental health care.

Perform other related duties as required to support mental health and addictions programming.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in social work from a recognized post-secondary institution.  A master’s degree in social work is an asset.

Must be a Registered Social Worker in Alberta, be in good standing with the accredited professional body, and be able to provide proof of certification. 

A minimum of five (5) years of career experience providing counselling services or clinical support in addictions, trauma, and/or mental health treatment settings.

Demonstrated experience supporting individuals through detox, treatment, recovery, and aftercare

Progressive management and staff supervisory experience are assets.

Additional training in non-violent crisis intervention, conflict management, trauma-informed care, grief and loss therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and resolution practices is an asset.

Current Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and valid First Aid and CPR certification.

Experience working with youth, young adults and families in mental health settings (clinical or other), including experience working with Indigenous populations and in First Nations communities.

Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Experience working with Indigenous people who have been incarcerated and transitioning back into the community.

Knowledge of crisis assessments, concurrent disorders, homelessness, crisis intervention strategies, trauma-informed practice, strengths-based models, and client-centered and recovery-oriented approaches.

Knowledge of federal and provincial government health programs and services, community services, specialty programs, resources, health care delivery system and the Non-Insured Health Benefits program.

Knowledge of Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency program.

Knowledge of the people, history, culture, and trauma relevant to the community’s health and wellness challenges and the members’ strengths and resiliency.

Comprehensive understanding of the history and cultural practices of the First Nations/Indigenous population, Indigenous health approaches, protocols and cultural issues.

Strong knowledge of anti-Indigenous racism initiatives (Joyce’s Principle), Indigenous Cultural Safety, legislative commitments (Truth and Reconciliation and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People) and provincial commitments (MMIWG).

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong presentation skills.

Excellent analytical skills and strong attention to details.

Strong Microsoft computer skills (MSWord, Excel, and Outlook)

Other Requirements

Possess a valid Class 5 AB driver’s license and own or access to a vehicle.

Willingness and ability to reside in Fort Chipewyan and also to travel as required by business needs.

Willingness and ability to work after hours and/or weekends when required.

Willingness to submit to an Oath of Confidentiality.

Willing to work flexible schedule. Combination of working remotely, in-office, and at community locations.

Must provide and possess a clear criminal record vulnerable sector check.

Ability to speak and/or understand the Cree language (or another applicable First Nation language) would be an asset but not required

Position is open until a suitable candidate is found. All applications will be reviewed, although only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Mikisew Cree First Nation is committed to equal opportunity employment and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. Final candidates for this position will be required to complete a security screening, which includes a criminal background check.

Kinanâskomitin (Thank you) for your interest.