Family Support Worker jobs in Nova Scotia

Job Summary

Strengthen Community Healing, Wellness, and Crisis Readiness

• Are you passionate about supporting Mi’kmaw communities through culturally safe, trauma-informed, and community-led approaches to grief, loss, crisis, and healing?
• Do you have experience building trusted relationships with community leadership, Health Directors, wellness teams, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, front-line workers, and service partners?
• Are you skilled at coordinating resources, facilitating engagement, strengthening community capacity, and supporting the wellness and resilience of front-line teams?

Glooscap First Nation Health and Healing Centre is seeking a Community Healing Coordinator to support Mi’kmaw communities in strengthening crisis response, healing through loss, and proactive wellness planning.

This is a community-focused opportunity to help coordinate culturally grounded supports, strengthen community capacity, advance the Healing Through Loss Framework, and support front-line workers responding to grief, loss, trauma, crisis, and wellness needs. The role also contributes to shared learning, resource coordination, community support mapping, workforce wellness, and a Community of Practice across Mi’kmaw communities.

Duties

Community Crisis Response and Coordination:

• Coordinate community capacity information, resources, and culturally safe supports that will be accessible during crisis situations.
• Act as a primary point of contact for community front line workers requesting support related to crisis, grief, loss, trauma, and wellness concerns.
• Support communities in identifying immediate needs and short-, medium-, and long-term wellness and crisis response goals for healing.

Healing Through Loss Framework Implementation:

• Work with the Healing Through Loss Tajikeimik Lead to support community engagement, implementation, and developmental evaluation through shared creation of the Healing Through Loss Framework.
• Facilitate engagement sessions, plan meetings, follow-up activities, and local implementation plans that reflect community priorities.
• Promote culturally grounded approaches to support front line teams in grief, loss, traditional healing, resilience, and shared access to Mi’kmaw resources.

Partnerships and Community Engagement:

• Build relationships with Health Directors, wellness teams, community organizations, service providers, and external partners.
• Serve as a liaison between communities, Tajikeimɨk, and regional service providers.
• Support knowledge sharing, collaboration, and ongoing Community of Practice meetings focused on crisis response, healing, and mental wellness.

Capacity Building and Education:

• Work with community, and other Community Healing Coordinators in the development of community support mapping work.
• Identify training, education, coaching, mentorship, and resource-sharing opportunities that strengthen community wellness and crisis response.
• Assist in co-developing culturally relevant tools, resources, and educational materials.
• Promote trauma-informed, culturally safe, and community-led practices for loss, grief, crisis, and healing to support front line teams in their wellness

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Maintain records of engagement activities, implementation progress, outcomes, and identifying emerging community needs.
• Collect feedback to support continuous improvement and identify service gaps.
• Prepare reports, briefing materials, recommendations, and updates for leadership and partners.

Workforce Wellness and Community of Practice Leadership:

• Work with the Tajikeimɨk Mental Wellness Team to plan, implement, and evaluate workforce wellness initiatives.
• Support and attend a Community of Practice for wellness staff, crisis workers, and frontline helpers across Mi’kmaw communities.
• Foster peer learning, mentorship, collaboration, and strategies to address vicarious trauma impacts, compassion fatigue, psychological safety and workplace stress.
• Work with community partners, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers to strengthen staff wellness, self-care, reflective practice, resilience, and crisis preparedness.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Community Development, Indigenous Studies, Mental Health and Addictions, or a related field. Master’s degree in social work or MSN will be an asset.
• Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in community mental wellness, crisis response, Indigenous health, or community development.
• Experience working respectfully with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community members, and partners.

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of mental wellness, grief, loss, trauma-informed care, suicide intervention principles, crisis response, and community healing practices.
• Knowledge of L’nu culture, traditions, healing practices, and culturally safe service delivery.
• Knowledge of the Mi’kmaw language is an asset.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with communities, health teams, educators, service providers, and external partners.
• Ability to evaluate programs and activities and adjust approaches to support positive outcomes.
• Ability to travel throughout Nova Scotia as needed; valid driver’s licence required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of Indigenous-led research methodologies, Indigenous data sovereignty, and the L’nu’k Mental Wellness and Healing Framework.
• Wholistic approach to integrating Mi’kmaw cultural practices, traditional activities, and healing methods into wellness supports.
• Commitment to cultural integrity and community empowerment.

Additional Requirements:

• Up-to-date criminal record check (including vulnerable sector check if required).
• Salary: to be negotiated based on experience.
• Please email your resume and cover letter in confidence to recruitment@glooscapfirstnation.com, citing “Community Healing Coordinator” in the subject line.

We appreciate all expressed interest; however, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted

Who Will Succeed in This Role?

You will thrive in this role if you are a compassionate and collaborative professional who builds trust through listening, respect, and meaningful relationships. You are comfortable working alongside Mi’kmaw communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, front-line workers, and service partners while recognizing that each community has its own strengths, priorities, and ways of healing.

You bring sound judgment and sensitivity to difficult situations involving grief, loss, trauma, and crisis. You can bring people together, coordinate supports, and move initiatives forward while remaining flexible, culturally respectful, and responsive to community needs.

Why Work with Us?

At the Glooscap First Nation Health and Healing Centre, your work contributes directly to community wellness and healing.

This role provides a meaningful opportunity to help strengthen crisis readiness, healing through loss, and supports for the people who serve Mi’kmaw communities. You will contribute to initiatives that bring together cultural knowledge, community strengths, shared learning, and practical wellness supports.

You will also have the opportunity to build connections across Mi’kmaw communities, learn alongside Elders, Knowledge Keepers, wellness professionals, and community partners, and contribute to work that creates lasting capacity and stronger networks of support.

We Also Value Time Away from Work

Glooscap offers a generous paid holiday calendar that extends beyond many traditional workplace schedules. In addition to statutory holidays, Glooscap recognizes additional approved days that reflect the importance of community, culture, Indigenous observances, family, and meaningful time away from work.

Depending on the annual holiday calendar, paid days may include occasions such as National Indigenous Peoples Day, St. Anne’s Day, Treaty Day, Easter Monday, Natal Day, and other Glooscap-approved holidays and closures.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods
• Ability to perform repetitive office tasks such as typing and filing
• Occasional lifting of office supplies or materials

Working Conditions

• Term, full-time salaried position
• Standard business hours, Monday to Friday (Friday’s Remote)
• Regular interaction with management and staff.
• Exposure to confidential and sensitive employee information
• Structured office environment requiring accuracy, professionalism, and discretion

Work Schedule: 37.5 hours per week, primarily Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Some flexibility required to meet operational demands.

Ready to Join Glooscap?

If you are passionate about community wellness, relationship building, and supporting culturally grounded approaches to healing, we would be pleased to hear from you.

At the Glooscap First Nation Health and Healing Centre, we value the knowledge, experiences, and perspectives that individuals bring to their work and their communities.

Bring your compassion, collaborative spirit, and commitment to culturally safe, community-led healing, and contribute to work that strengthens wellness and resilience across Mi’kmaw communities.

To Apply:

Please apply online at https://www.gfn-gvcareerpage.ca/jobs or submit your resume by email to Recruitment@glooscapfirstnation.com.

We want to thank all candidates for their application; however, only those invited for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to Indigenous candidates where all other things are equal.

Pay: $75,000.00-$94,600.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Work Location: In person