POSITION DESCRIPTION STARTTS is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and anti-discrimination policies.

Transcription

1 POSITION DESCRIPTION STARTTS is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and anti-discrimination policies. POSITION NUMBER: 1022 Date reviewed/created: March 2016 POSITION TITLE: School Liaison Counsellor/Project Officer - Maternity Leave Locum TEAM: Clinical Services Team LOCATION: Carramar AGREEMENT: NSW (Non-Declared) Affiliated Health Organisations Professional and Associated Staff Agreement. CLASSIFICATION: Health Education Officer Graduate or other relevant classification A generous salary packaging scheme is also offered. FULL TIME: 38 hours per week PERIOD OF APPRAISAL: Performance will be assessed within 6 months of commencement and a 6 month probationary/qualifying period will also apply. Background to STARTTS STARTTS is a state-wide service funded by the NSW Department of Health and Commonwealth Department of Health to provide high quality assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services to people living in NSW who have experienced organised violence or trauma associated with the refugee experience. STARTTS is an Affiliated Health Organisation (AHO), essentially a Non Government Organization whose services are deemed to be part of the NSW public health system. STARTTS provides a broad range of services including assessment; counselling for all age groups; psychiatric assessment and interventions; family therapy; group interventions; bodywork such as massage, physiotherapy, acupuncture and pain management groups; assistance to overcome vocational and nonvocational barriers to employment; support groups; programs for children and youth; and various strategies to increase the capacity of support networks and refugee communities to sustain their members. The focus of the STARTTS approach is on building capacity and empowering people and communities to take control over their own lives, using a strengths-based approach and building on individual, family, community and cultural strengths. Background to the Program Area of the position Clinical Services Team (CST) consists of a group of expert clinicians who provide direct client service as well as act as a resource for other STARTTS staff. The CST staff include Senior Neurofeedback Counsellor and sub-team, Research Officer, Senior Research Officer, School Liaison Officer, Holroyd High School Liaison Officer, Counsellor/Music Therapist, Graduate Student Clinic Officer, Physiotherapy and Complementary Therapies Sub-Team Leader, Visiting Medical Officer-Psychiatrist and Psychiatry Registrar. ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: 1. Responsible to: Clinical Services Team Leader 2. Responsible for: Holroyd High School Pastoral Care Youth Worker & Granville South High School Pastoral Care Youth Worker Page 1 of 5

2 SELECTION CRITERIA: Essential: 1. Tertiary Qualifications in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work or another relevant Allied Health discipline 2. Demonstrated ability to scope funding options and write funding submissions. 3. Understanding of the impact of refugee experience and trauma in the context of organised violence on children s development, their parents, families and communities 4. Capacity building skills and demonstrated experience in ability to advocate, cooperate, liaise and negotiate with school personnel including counsellors and teachers as well as parents. 5. Ability to develop, implement and evaluate strategies to support children in a group and individual settings and significant experience working with children and youth. 6. Demonstrated ability to provide clinical supervision and training for teachers and counsellors 7. Excellent oral and written communication skills including computer literacy. 8. Thorough understanding of the NSW Public and Private Education systems 9. Current NSW Drivers Licence Desirable: 1. Experience in relationship counselling, sexual assault counselling or creative therapies 2. Bi-lingual in a community language relevant to refugee communities living in NSW 3. Understanding of classroom management issues and ability to implement relevant strategies. *This position is considered child-related employment and will require a Working with Children Background Check as well as a Criminal Record Check. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ROLE The focus of this position is to support relevant personnel in government and non-government schools to plan, implement and evaluate joint projects of benefit to refugee children and young people. The position is also to take lead in ensuring that STARTTS approach to working with schools in consolidated, coherent and well coordinated. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: 1. To liaise and collaborate with relevant school personnel to plan, implement and evaluate joint projects of benefit to refugee children and young people. Particular focus should be placed on projects supporting primary age students as well as those transitioning from IECs into mainstream high schools. 2. To enhance connections between STARTTS and public and private education sector and act as a resource for teachers and school counsellors working with refugee children and youth. 3. To take a lead role in development of a consolidated and coherent approach to STARTTS work with the school systems. This includes seeking further resources for STARTTS school liaison work. 4. To provide supervision, consultancy and training to school counsellors and teachers assisting children and youth from refugee and refugee like backgrounds. 5. To provide limited individual and group assessment and counselling interventions where required. Page 2 of 5

3 1. PRIMARY DUTIES: 1.1. Liaise and collaborate with relevant school personnel to plan, implement and evaluate joint projects of benefit to refugee children and young people. Particular focus should be placed on projects supporting primary age students as well as those transitioning from IECs into mainstream high schools Develop a thorough understanding of the STARTTS past and current engagement with schools Develop a thorough understanding of the current distribution and issues for refugee students in Public and Private education systems In collaboration with relevant STARTTS staff and Education staff, develop an action plan and priorities engagement process with relevant schools Act as the primary contact for schools at STARTTS and follow up on requests for support and joint initiatives where relevant Work on a specified number of projects with strategic value alongside selected schools. 2. Enhance connections between STARTTS and public and private education sector and act as a resource for teachers and school counsellors working with refugee children and youth Ensure relevant public and private education staff are aware of STARTTS services and keep them up to date with new developments at STARTTS Attend relevant meetings, interagencies and forums Provide consultancy to teachers and school counsellors where required Act as a conduit for teachers and school counsellors to access other relevant STARTTS resources 3. Take a lead role in development of a consolidated and coherent approach to STARTTS work with the school systems. This includes seeking further resources for STARTTS school liaison work Facilitate STARTTS Child and Adolescent Working Group and ensure follow up from group meetings Maintain up-to-date knowledge of all STARTTS work with schools 3.3. In collaboration with relevant STARTTS staff and Education staff, develop an action plan and priorities engagement process with relevant schools Oversee the implementation of the action plan to ensure consolidated and coherent approach 3.5. Write funding proposals to enhance STARTTS work with schools in collaboration with Grants Officer and other relevant staff, and follow up on the proposals Where relevant, maintain responsibility for planning, implementation and evaluation of funded projects Identify service gaps and advise STARTTS Management on options to address those gaps. 4. Provide supervision, consultancy and training to school counsellors and teachers assisting children and youth from refugee and refugee like backgrounds Assist school counsellors and teachers to provide relevant services to children and youth from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds Provide clinical and training supervision to school counsellors and teachers; and aim at increasing their understanding of the STARTTS client group issues Implement projects that will increase capacity of school staff to assist students from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds and enhance their educational outcomes Participate in development of resources to assist school staff in their work with refugee children and young people. Page 3 of 5

4 5. Provide limited individual and group assessment and counselling interventions where required Provide counselling to no more than 4 clients at the time 5.2. Work with STARTTS and/or school staff to deliver group counselling interventions where relevant 5.3. Undertake regular case reviews and follow-up of children and youth with relevant staff from STARTTS and schools. 6. Administration 6.1. Comply with STARTTS policies and procedures Adhere to STARTTS procedures and protocols 6.3. Assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of services provided Ensure the efficient recording of client files and program records. 7. Personnel 7.1. Participate in regular staff performance meetings and appraisals Participate in regular staff meetings Participate in relevant clinical team meetings, clinical meetings, staff development, community development meetings and other relevant meetings to the position. 8. Reporting 8.1. Prepare reports on services relating to areas of work bi-monthly or as required Provide statistical information and maintain records of interventions. 9. Quality Assurance 9.1. Actively participate in Quality Assurance activities undertaken by STARTTS. Equal Employment Opportunity and Staff Relationships: STARTTS is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and encompasses its philosophy and practice. STARTTS rejects racism and sexism in all its forms and is committed to the elimination of racial and gender discrimination including direct and indirect racism and sexism, racial vilification, and harassment. STARTTS Workplace Policies You must observe and comply with the provisions set out in any and all written policy, practice or procedure of STARTTS. A breach of STARTTS policies, practices and procedures may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of your employment. Work Health & Safety responsibilities: Comply with STARTTS WHS policies and procedures. Work with due care and consideration to safeguard your own health and safety and the health and safety of others, and to report to your Supervisor any potential hazards, mishaps, incidents or injuries that may occur or become aware of during the course of work. Risk management responsibilities: All staff have a responsibility to identify any risks (ie the chance of something happening that will have an impact on the objectives of the organisation) in the course of their work and to inform their supervisor, as per the STARTTS Risk Management Policy and Program. Page 4 of 5

5 Smoke-free Workplace STARTTS is completely smoke-free. This means that smoking is not allowed in any STARTTS buildings, vehicles or grounds, there are no designated smoking areas. As an employee you are required to comply with the Non-smoking Policy. I have read the School Liaison Counsellor/Project Officer Position Description, understand its contents and agree to work in accordance with the requirements of the position. I understand and accept that I must also comply with STARTTS policies and procedures and can be required to work in any location under the jurisdiction of STARTTS. I also agree to strictly observe STARTTS policy on confidentiality of client information or such other sensitive or confidential information that I may come across in the course of my employment. Employee Name: Please print Employee Signature: Date: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Jorge Aroche Signature: Date: NEXT POSITION DESCRIPTION REVIEW DUE: March 2018 Page 5 of 5