Counsellor Couple, Family and Child Job Description

Transcription

1 Counsellor Couple, Family and Child Job Description Position Title: Location: Salary: Tenure: Counsellor Couple, Family and Child Ringwood $58,507 - $60, % Superannuation (Pro-rata) Part Time 0.20 EFT (Ongoing) OUR ORGANISATION Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) is a leading provider of relationship support services. Our aim is to help Victorians achieve positive and respectful relationships. As a community-based not-forprofit organisation, we have no religious affiliations, and aim to help all members of the community, regardless of their religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances. RAV provides client services from 12 locations in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. We employ about 250 professional and support staff who are focused on meeting our clients needs. POSITION SUMMARY This position is a one day a week position (Preferably Thursday evening although the day is negotiable) which is out posted at the Ringwood Family Relationships Centre (FRC) located at 68 Charter Street Ringwood. This position sees both men and women, although it is predominantly a service for men. The focus of the role is to assist clients who are struggling with the outcomes from the mediation service in terms of its content or more broadly any identified, ongoing support needs. The interventive model is short term (approximately 5 sessions) although there is limited scope for further work. The role will require the worker to receive referrals from a range of FRC staff in order to develop an effective interface between workers, including profiling the service and developing good referral pathways based on trust. The hours of operation are from 12:00-8:00 o clock and the expectation is that the counsellor will schedule five clients with the target of seeing four clients per session. The worker is expected to attend training sessions periodically with FRC staff in order to keep abreast of current developments in the field. RAV s family counsellors are responsible for the provision of effective, high quality, culturally sensitive relationship counselling/therapy to individuals, couples and families under the Commonwealth Family Law Act through the Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP). They are also responsible for dealing with family violence within a risk assessment framework privileging the safety of women and children. RAV s counsellors work with a diverse range of clients and issues: including violence and abuse; poor conflict management; intimacy issues; affairs; parenting concerns; the effects of mental health problems and addictions on relationships; sexual difficulties; managing stress; separation and divorce; role conflict, re-partnering; and preparation for marriage.

2 RAV s counsellors need to work systemically with relationships and be able to work effectively with two or more people at the one time. Counsellors need to be guided by good theory and research, and are able to choose interventions that are most likely to bring about sustained positive change. Where children are involved, counselling should also maintain a child-focus approach. Complex cases may require some case management. Counsellors in RAV operate within a framework of: valuing and measuring client outcomes, client satisfaction and counselling effectiveness; openness and accountability for one s counselling practice; a teamwork approach to service delivery with the necessity of providing support and expertise to team members to enhance each other s clinical practice and deal with the stresses that accompany the work; active participation in clinical supervision, professional development and performance management; and good relationship practices and the organisation s values in the work place. It is required that counsellors will work under the discipline and ethics of their professional association. REPORTING Reports to: Manages: Key internal liaison: External Liaison: Centre Manager Nil Senior Clinician, Centre Manager, other counsellors, administrative staff. Clients, external service providers in the region, and community leaders and elders where these are important to the communities being serviced. FOCUS ON VALUES Relationships Australia is a voice for relationships in the community. We believe that relationships can grow and change. We promote the ideal of equitable, safe, cooperative and nurturing relationships in families, workplaces and social organisations. As a values driven organisation, RAV aims to have organisational values embedded in the functions and systems of the organisation. All RAV employees are required to understand these organisational values, integrate the values into their work and demonstrate behaviours, which reflect the values. At RAV the following values inform the work we do: Respect We respect diversity in its various personal, cultural and gender expressions. We advocate relationships free from judgement, blame and abuse. Integrity We promote justice and equity; endeavour to live our ethical standards consistently within our practice; and make our services as accessible as possible without discrimination or judgement. Transparency We promote open, safe, effective and honest communication at organisational and client levels.

3 Responsibility We value the responsible use of resources people, money, time and technology. All individuals and the organisation have rights, responsibilities and authority, which need to be clearly articulated and respected. High Quality We aim to provide high quality service and maintain the highest professional standards in all aspects of our work. As a part of this process, we foster self-reflection, creativity, innovation and improvement. Keeping an eye on the future, we energetically embrace positive change. Enrichment and Celebration We seek to enrich our lives and the lives of our clients. We celebrate contributions, achievements and courageous acts of change in relationships. KEY RESULT AREAS RAV values Respect, Integrity, Transparency, Responsibility, High quality, Enrichment and Celebration. All RAV employees are required to understand these organisational values, integrate the values into their work and demonstrate behaviours, which reflect the values. 1. To model the organisation s values and play a role in raising the profile of these values and associated behaviours across the organisation. This includes a positive contribution to workplace harmony displaying cooperative team behaviour 1. Provide ethical and professional counselling/therapy services and psycho-educational group work (supplemented by specific family violence work, and parenting and relationships skills training) to individuals, couples and families in order to stabilise and improve their relationships and ameliorate the long term negative effects of family conflict and abuse. This will include the following: Delivering the agreed number of sessions at the times negotiated; Ensuring case load and case mix are following agreed guidelines; Maintaining accurate records of client attendance, appropriate case notes and necessary forms; Ensuring that service delivery complies with the appropriate policies and procedures as set out in the Policy and Procedures Manual and legislative requirements such as mandatory reporting, Intervention Orders and Parenting Orders; Consistently and effectively engaging clients, maintaining good working alliances with consistently positive evaluations from clients; Consistent participation in team meetings, session observations, research projects, and practice quality processes as required; Effective management of an appointments diary 2. Follow reasonable instructions and requests in accordance with RAV s values. 3. Receive regular evaluations from clients on their counselling and group work and use them to improve practice and achieve better outcomes. 4. Increase one s professional competence and skills in the relevant field of work through active participation in supervision, professional development, and clinical review. 5. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of RAV s services and other associated services and relevant legislative changes affecting couple and family relationships and counselling practice. 2. To maintain respectful, professional and supportive relations with centre managers, colleagues and administrative staff; following reasonable instructions and requests given by managers and senior clinical staff in accordance with RAV s values.

4 3. To demonstrate a skilled approach to working with a range of community clients, including CALD, indigenous community, mental health issues, family violence issues and individuals at risk. 6. Participation in community development/seminars as appropriate. 7. Involvement and contribution in counselling team and centre team meetings, peer supervision etc KEY SELECTION CRITERIA The recruiting panel will need to feel confident that the successful candidate will understand the organisational values, integrate the values into their work and demonstrate behaviours that reflect the values. In addition, candidates are asked to respond to the following key selection criteria, preferably offering examples from previous roles. Visibly ethical - acts in accordance with professional ethics and the organisation s stated values. Professional expertise able to demonstrate a capacity to help clients change problematic relationship interactions, including where violence and abuse are present, using good assessment and case conceptualisation, clear contracting, and appropriate evidence-based or professionally acceptable interventions. These should be supported with appropriate case notes and records, and compliant with contractual obligations and organisational requirements. Communication - able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people, to develop and maintain professional relationships, and share ideas successfully, including reporting succinctly and accurately. Able also to de-escalate strong negative emotion when necessary. Self awareness- able to understand self, to appreciate difference, to be culturally sensitive and to build sustainable professional relationships with stakeholders at various levels, encouraging and supporting workplace harmony. Organisational awareness Able to understand the sector, funding bodies, contractual obligations and the organisational strategic direction, and contribute to linking professional practice with organisational outcomes and client satisfaction. Client Service having an ethic of equitable, responsive and appropriate professional service to all clients. Flexibility able to continuously develop and work successfully in a changing environment, accept new challenges and continually strive for improvement. Cultural awareness having a considered appreciation of differences in culture, religion, and sexual orientation and a willingness to work respectfully and flexibly with such differences. Also having an egalitarian approach to male /female relationships as reflected in Australian law. Mandatory KSC: Appropriate tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Family Therapy, Counselling or related discipline. Counselling skills training which includes some training in relationship counselling and family violence. The equivalent of two years full time supervised experience in counselling; Eligibility for membership of a professional body (e.g. the APS, AASW, or an appropriate PACFA organisation). Successful completion of police check and a current Working with Children Check Card.

5 Highly desired KSC: Specialised training in relationship counselling or family therapy which includes counselling skills practice with dyads and/or family groups; Excellent self awareness and interpersonal and self management skills. 100 hours of supervised practice in delivering relationship counselling/couples/family therapy to clients; Familiarity with the legal context of marriage and family life, including recent changes to the Family Law Act Candidates will be provided case examples as part of the recruitment selection process and will be required to discuss and outline their approach and apply their skills to the case examples to the interviewing panel. If candidates do not have the training and experience in couple and family work, or their demonstrated competencies do not meet the minimum standard set by the organisation, the recruiting panel will need to feel confident that the successful candidate will commit to gaining the necessary competencies within 6 months by successfully engaging in an agreed training program and supervised practice. Candidates will need to ensure one of their referees is a recent supervisor or a person familiar with their counselling and team work from their last place of employment.