Transcription

1 Page 1 of 6 Â Financial Counselling & Gamblers Help Position Description Financial Counsellor Stage : Issued Version : Position Overview : Position Title: Program/Service Classification : Financial Counsellor Financial Counselling & Gamblers Help As per Child and Family Services Collective Agreement. Classification CDW 5.1 to CDW 5.3 dependent upon qualifications and skills. Location: Qualifications: Ballarat and Regional Offices Diploma of Community Services - Financial Counselling or working towards a qualification and a commitment to completion within two years. Directly Responsible To: Coordinator Financial Counselling and Gambler's Help Program. Vision : Wellbeing, safety respect and empowerment for all children and families. Our Values : CAFS Values are: Flexible: Being adaptable to changing circumstances in the workplace, prioritising work, addressing what is most important and taking advantage of new and emerging opportunities Resilient: The capacity to recover from setbacks, overcome obstacles and impediments, and the ability to learn from experience and identify areas for selfdevelopment Client/Member focused: Prioritising the needs of clients and members, aiming for best outcomes for clients and members, being focussed on the outcome and following through with commitments Inclusive: Respecting the rights of others, being committed to social justice and social inclusion, making equitable decisions and respecting and valuing difference and diversity in all forms Ethical: High standards of personal integrity, being truthful and reflecting expected standards of behaviour consistent with the CAFS Code of Conduct and professional Codes of Ethics Collaborative: Working with others to achieve common goals, engendering a spirit of team work, listening actively, inspiring confidence and demonstrating empathy

2 Page 2 of 6 when confronted with adversity Terms and Conditions : 1. Conditions of employment as per Child and Family Services Ballarat Collective Agreement. 2. Option of salary packaging is available. 3. The prevailing Superannuation Guarantee Levy amount will be paid to the HESTA Fund or Health Super. Voluntary contributions can also be made. 4. Three month probationary period. 5. A satisfactory criminal records check and Working with Children Check is required. 6. A current driver's licence is required. Organisational Information : Child & Family Services Ballarat (CAFS) is a community service organisation that provides a range of programs and services to children, young people and families who are vulnerable or in need of support. Our goal is to give every individual the optimal opportunity to live in a safe and nurturing family. We are governed by a Board drawn from the communities in which we serve and deliver a range of programs to support children, young people and families. These programs and services range from family counselling to homelessness assistance, men's behavioural changes programs and foster care. With more than 185 staff and 200 volunteers in offices in Ballarat, Ararat, Bacchus Marsh and Daylesford, CAFS provides help and support to more than 5,000 individuals and families each year across the Victorian Central Highlands region. CAFS has a long history supporting families, dating back to 1865 with the Ballarat Orphanage and Ballarat Children's Home. Although our programs and services have changed and expanded significantly since these early days, we are just as committed and passionate to helping children and families in need. Scope of Position: The Financial Counsellor provides information, options, support and advocacy for individuals and families who are experiencing financial hardship and who have unresolved debt issues or are experiencing creditor harassment or are financially affected by gambling. The Counsellor can explore, develop and support eligible clients to implement strategies that address their credit and debt issues. Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Undertake sessional and extended client casework which involves: Assessment of the individual/couple/family's financial position Providing information/options and implications of these to service users Assisting service users to develop skills and strategies to address these issues themselves in future Encouraging service users to advocate and negotiate on their own behalf Become familiar with referral options within the community and make referrals for eligible service users where appropriate Advocate and negotiate on behalf of eligible service users as required.

3 Page 3 of 6 2) Educate workers within other programs/agencies about credit practices, the law and the effects of indebtedness by engaging in speaking engagements and distributing information. 3) Engage in systemic advocacy by providing case studies as required. 4) Undertake Continuous Professional Development to meet FCRC membership eligibility requirements and to remain accredited as a financial counsellor. 5) Engage actively in regular supervision 6) Share in team meetings and case work discussions as required 7) Be accountable for: Recording contemporaneous case notes Prompt and compliant data entry Implementing file keeping practices in accordance with procedures Providing case studies that illustrate leading practice Maintaining confidentiality Delivering financial counselling per program Practice Manual 8) Maintain proficiency in operating computer programs including Microsoft Office suite and data entry programs as required Health, Safety And Environment : 1. Create, maintain and foster a safe work environment at all times. 2. Follow safe work practices, procedures, instructions and rules at all times. 3. Perform all duties in a manner that ensure personal health and safety, and that of others in the workplace and the general public. 4. Regularly inspect own immediate work environment and report all hazards or incidents that can cause harm or that represent a threat to public safety via RiskMan and to the HSE Committee through your Workplace Representative. 5. Ensure compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations at all times. Risk Management : Ensure CAFS' Risk Management policy, program and the application of sound risk management practices within the workplace and community are observed and complied with at all times. Actively champion the organisational reporting system RiskMan by ensuring all risks, accidents, incidents and feedback (complaints and compliments) are reported through RiskMan in a timely, responsive and responsible manner. EEO and Legislative Requirements : Ensure personal compliance with all legislative requirements and lawful management directions. Ensure understanding and commitment to anti-bullying and anti-harassment legislation and CAFS policies, and ensure all personal interactions in the workplace with employees, clients, customers, students and fellow volunteers do not encompass any element that could be considered bullying or harassment. Be aware of and have an appreciation for the affirmative action and equal employment philosophy of CAFS. Quality and Continuous Improvement : All staff at CAFS are required to participate in the Quality and Continuous improvement process. This includes making yourself available for training and information sessions. Participating in feedback on the development of quality documents. Working with clients to provide feedback (positive and negative) on CAFS processes and services.

4 Page 4 of 6 Participating in audits, reviews and quality data collection as required and most importantly providing good ideas and thoughts about improvements and changes we can make to make our service to clients better at CAFS Code of Conduct : Ensure adherence to the CAFS Code of Conduct. Other Requirements : Work within the ethos of CAFS as expressed in its Vision, Code of Conduct and Values and in accordance with legislative requirements, organisational policy/procedures and relevant standards of professional practice. Mandatory requirements before employment and to be maintained during employment are: A cleared National Police check (no disclosable outcomes) An employment status Victorian Working With Children Check A signed International Police Declaration and a cleared International Police Check if necessary A current Victorian Drivers Licence A sign CAFS Code of Conduct. Additional Requirements: Showing commitment to practice supervision by entering into a supervision contract and taking accountability for all actions in the workplace. Competencies: A Financial Counsellor is expected to demonstrate the following role specific capabilities. 1. Demonstrated understanding of the context of Community Sector service delivery. 2. Thorough understanding of financial and paralegal interventions including: credit laws, bankruptcy, industry financial hardship best-practice, Ombudsman schemes, etc 3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a capacity to respectfully and effectively engage and influence third parties 4. A clear understanding of the effects of problem gambling on individuals, families and the community 5. Commitment to empowerment of people on low incomes in relation to assisting them to make an informed choice to resolve their financial issues 6. The ability to engage with people who may be distressed, overwhelmed and/or vulnerable. Key Selection Criteria: 1. Diploma Community Services - Financial Counselling, or working towards this Diploma with a commitment to completion within two years. 2. Demonstrated familiarity and agreement to commit to the Mission and values of the organisation 3. Demonstrated awareness of the issues involved in working in Regional and rural communities within a community sector context 4. Proven understanding of the role of financial counselling in assisting people experiencing financial hardship by providing relevant information and options 5. Proven awareness of issues associated with problem gambling behaviours 6. Demonstrated ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team 7. Demonstrated capacity to effectively advocate for others, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged 8. Demonstrated capacity to promptly and accurately record written case notes and data collection

5 Page 5 of 6 9. Excellent verbal & written communication skills and capacity to manage and prioritise workflow 10. High level interpersonal skills, including capacity to negotiate and influence, to network and develop good working relationships with people from a wide variety of backgrounds including from the community sector; the gaming industry, credit providers, service utilities, the legal system, etc. Further Defined Roles : Other duties as required. References to Standards and Legislation: ABEF Category 4: People 4.1: Involvement and Commitment Quality Document References: , Web Browsing and Use of Social Media: Policy -CAFS Wide , Web Browsing and Use of Social Media: Policy -Corporate Services (Not Issued - In Draft) Equal Opportunity AntiHarassment & Bullying Policy: Policy -Human Resources Health Safety and Environment : Policy -CAFS Wide EqualOpportunity AntiHarassment&Bullying Procedure: Procedure -Human Resources Staff Disciplinary Procedures: Procedure -Human Resources Staff Disciplinary Procedures: Procedure -Human Resources (Not Issued - In Draft) External Files/Links: ALII Legislation Exemption from Credit Licence Live Smart-website for young people Live Smart Budgeting Tool Internal Files/Links: Collective Agreement 2006 Financial Counselling Application Financial A Financial Counselling Application Letter Financial Counselling Budget Income Financial Counselling Letter Bacchus Marsh Financial Counselling Prob Gambling Phone Intake info service user fin couns Receipt of Financial Assistance Staff Induction Summary of Specific Responsibilities Defined in Responsibility Other-ALL Flowchart-CAFS Wide CAFS Induction Manual Note: No specific responsibilities for this position have been defined in Procedures, Work Instructions or Practice Documents. Performance Appraisal: As per Performance Appraisal Procedure policy.

6 Page 6 of 6 Current as at: Tuesday, 26 August :06:36 PM