Job Description

Applications will be received by Six Nations of the Grand River and Grand River Employment & Training (GREAT) up until 4:00 p.m. EST, Wednesday

, October 15, 2025,

for the

Grief and Bereavement Counsellor

with

Home and Community Care, Wellbeing.

The Six Nations of the Grand River Application for Employment Form, Job Posting and are available for printing from the www.greatsn.com website. Online applications accepted through My Job Search.

NO LATE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED.

Applicants from Six Nations and other First Nations will be given preference to deliver programs and services in a First Nations community.

JOB

SUMMARY:

The

Grief and Bereavement Counsellor

reports to and works under the direction and supervision of the Manager of the Home & Community Care Program. Works collaboratively with the hospice and palliative care programs within the Department of Wellbeing.



To conduct a multi-systemic inter-generational assessment of individuals and families and implement ways of knowing how to deal with grief and bereavement with attention to multiple variables such as age, gender, cultural and spiritual/religious considerations. To provide individual, partner, family and group psychoeducation as deemed appropriate.

Type

Full-Time

Closing Date

October 15, 2025

Hours of Work

35hrs/week

Wage

Min $70,400 - $88,000/yr





A competitive compensation package will be offered commensurate with qualifications.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Education or Counselling Psychology, Nursing, or equivalent. At least 5 years experience in Hospice Palliative Care. Certificate in Grief and Bereavement Studies.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE: (Choose one method ONLY):

Method #1: Online

Please visit: My Job Search to access our job board and follow the directions to apply.

Please ensure all required documents are provided/uploaded with your application package, which include:
+ Cover letter including your band name and number (if applicable). Please indicate in your letter how your education and experience qualifies you for this position.

+ Recent resume clearly identifying that you meet the Basic Qualifications of this position as stipulated above.

+ Copy of your education diploma/degree/certificate and transcript.
If you have any questions or need assistance please reach out to Eniola Owoso, HR Business Partner at 519-445-2223 ext. 5716 or via email at HRBP3@sixnations.ca.

Method #2: GREAT

- Applications must include all of the following:

Printed, filled in and authorized Six Nations of the Grand River Application for Employment Form.

Cover letter including your band name and number (if applicable). Please indicate in your letter how your education and experience qualifies you for this position.

Recent resume clearly identifying that you meet the Basic Qualifications of this position as stipulated above.

Photocopy of your education diploma/degree/certificate and transcript.

Place all documents listed above in a sealed envelope and mail to or drop off at:

Grief and Bereavement Counsellor - Full-Time - 087R2-25-3

c/o Reception Desk



Grand River Employment & Training (GREAT)



P.O. Box 69, 16 Sunrise Court



Ohsweken, Ontario N0A 1M0

POSITION TITLE: Grief and Bereavement Counsellor

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

Reports to and works under the direction and supervision of the Manager of the Home & Community Care Program. Works collaboratively with the hospice and palliative care programs within the department of Wellbeing.

PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE POSITION:

To conduct a multi-systemic inter-generational assessment of individuals and families and implement ways of knowing how to deal with grief and bereavement with attention to multiple variables such as age, gender, cultural and spiritual/religious considerations. To provide individual, partner, family and group psychoeducation as deemed appropriate.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Functions:

+ Receives referrals from a central intake for palliative and hospice care. + Ability to provide trauma informed culturally appropriate supports
+ Assists patients, partners and families with a wide range of psychological, social and practical services to help meet individual and/or familial psychological and emotional needs, financial, legal, healthcare and funeral planning, and advocacy issues.
+ Identify the appropriate application of bereavement theories and the implications on the grieving process. Such theories include family systems and their dynamics; the many secondary losses that will accompany the primary loss; factors that will affect bereavement such as age, gender, culture, financial situation; religion; psycho/social roles and relationships; and the nature and type of loss.
+ Provide education as it relates to the grieving process and bereavement support; explain the process of normal grief and the multidimensional aspects and domains of grief (emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and spiritual).
+ Identify the need for further in-depth counselling and arrange the appropriate referrals.
+ Provides individual, partner, family and group psycho-education to persons who are dying and their emotionally significant others, so that all involved are as fully informed

as he/she chooses to be about the ensuing course of events. Encourages family participation in consensus building and care delivery.


Provides individual, partner, family and group support therapies as is necessary and required. This will require a diverse familiarity with grief and bereavement, crisis and trauma theory, mindfulness meditations, mind-body medicine, complementary medicines, palliative pain and symptom management, community resources, as well as related fields of oncology, emergency medicine and hospice care. Refers persons who are dying, partners, families and team members to resources available through the community, internet, library, private practice, etc. Keeps accurate documentation Keeps accurate statistics All bereavement files remain open for a period of 13 months after the death. During that time the bereaved receive the following: + Initial bereavement package specific to death i.e. loss of spouse, sibling, parent etc.
+ Invitation to attend the celebration of life/memorial services.

o First Christmas after death bereavement package.


First year Anniversary note. After the 13 month mark a file will be closed unless a bereavement risk assessment has indicated lack of support in one or more areas that could prolong or impede the grieving process and that risk assessment should include basic assessment in the following areas: emotional, physical, cognitive, relational, social, and financial.

Communications Functions:

+ Support the therapeutic benefits of assisting the bereaved to reframe the story of their loss through storytelling and reminiscing. + Maintaining a good working relationship with family doctors and area mental health professionals is very important.
+ Be familiar with the bereavement resources (services and personnel) within the area, both local and regional, so that effective referrals may be made, i.e. specific children and teen bereavement support groups, school youth counsellors etc.
+ Meet with patients, partners and families in a setting that is most appropriate i.e. home, office, other. Many will require regular meetings and support for a number of months.
+ Consults and collaborates with inter-professional team members, providing education, mentorship, as well as asking for the same when needed.

Administrative Functions

:


+ Acts as an ad hoc resource and support for the primary care team and the consult team with their own self-care and needs, as Hospice Palliative Care providers. + Adheres to all standards, practices, policies and procedures regarding privacy and confidentiality of information, and ethical practice as set forth by employer.
+ Conducts a multi-systemic inter-generational assessment of families in their home, work and play environments over the trajectory of the pre-mortem time frame, with attention to multiple variables such as age, gender, cultural and spiritual/religious considerations.
+ Identifies work stressors on the teams, as well as those stressors present on cases or in the work environment in order to collaborate with management on the development of coping strategies through education, debriefing, processing, self-care and workload management.
+ Provides on-going palliative care education, as required, to various organizations and in the community, in order to support the psychosocial care of persons who are dying, their partners and families and to enhance the relations between the consult team and the community.
+ Participates with the Hospice Palliative Care Network, community colleges and universities in the development of Hospice Palliative Care inter-professional educational programming and supports mentoring and learner placements.

Other Functions

:


+ Perform other related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor + Perform projects as assigned
+ Provides support to the Six Nations Emergency Measures Plan by ensuring awareness of the Emergency Measures Plan and assistance as instructed by the Director of Well-Being
+ It is the responsibility of the employee to be aware of and adhere to all policies and procedures, including those that relate to client safety, staff safety and risk management.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Working as a high public profile, extensive public contact and is subject to deadlines and interruptions. Working with considerable out-of-office contact. Working may at times be subject to unscheduled hours and on-call.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

With the Manager of the Home & Community Care Program

Receiving direction, guidance, and encouragement; discusses plans and priorities.

With Department Staff

Liaising, cooperating and providing encouragement; maintaining control through teamwork and direction.

With Other Staff

Maintaining cooperation and consideration with all staff members.

With External Agencies

Representing and promoting Six Nations interests relative to Well-Being; seeks to develop close working relationships.

With the Public

Representing and promoting the health service interests of Six Nations; works in a courteous, cooperative, positive and proactive manner; provides information as requested.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Minimum Requirements:


Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Education or Counselling Psychology, Nursing, or equivalent. At least 5 years experience in Hospice Palliative Care. Certificate in Grief and Bereavement Studies
Other Related Skills:


Affiliation with related organizations is preferred e.g. local Bereavement Council, Bereavement Ontario Network, Bereaved Families of Ontario, and Hospice Palliative Care Network. Proven history of working well within an interdisciplinary team with excellent interpersonal skills. Proven leadership abilities with effective skills in verbal and written communication, problem solving and team building. Demonstrates compassion, empathy and integrity Computer proficiency

IMPACT OF ERROR:

Errors in judgement and in the conduct of duties could lead to loss credibility, poor public relation, confusion, duplication of effort and misinformation being given to the Director of Well-Being, Human Services Committee, Six Nations Elected Council, Government Agencies and the public.

CONTROL:

Guiding principles set by Wellbeing Department and Six Nations Elected Council. Works within the administrative policies and procedures established by the Six Nations Elected Council for the Wellbeing Department and other legislation provided by the respective governments.