Male/Female Counsellor

Male / Female Counsellor – Tennant Creek NT ASO Level 8.1 – 8.4 $92,912 - $109,015 –

(Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders are strongly encouraged to apply)

This position has a strong incentive salary packaging, subsided accommodation (applicants outside Barkley region), relocation assistant, 6 weeks annual leave, professional development, remote retention allowance, access to Health Clinic.

Duties

• Ability to demonstrate skill transfer to Aboriginal staff employed in the same work area as the contracted employee
• Work effectively as a member of a culturally responsive multi-disciplinary team.
• Use best practice counselling models, including assessment and brief intervention tools that enhance healthy lifestyle choices and physical as well as mental health and wellbeing.
• Provide comprehensive and flexible counselling and wellbeing services to clients, and where applicable, facilitate referrals for mental health risk assessment and risk management plans.
• Facilitate activities, programs, and supports that enhance the delivery of responsive alcohol and other drugs services in alignment with Board’s Strategic Plan and associated National Standards and Frameworks, for example the Australian National Drug Strategy 2010-2015.
• Work with evaluation frameworks that monitor, assess, and review the implementation and delivery of responsive models of counselling and associated treatment and care for Aboriginal individuals and families.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders and service providers in the Barkly Region with a focus on adopting a holistic approach to ensure agencies are working together to address the key responsibilities of this position.
• Maintain high quality of practice knowledge, skills and expertise through active participation in professional development including current registration with AHPRA, meeting the continuing professional development standards set by AHPRA, and meeting any other Mandatory Registration Standards.
• Participate in supervision, both externally and internally, and performance appraisal and development processes established within the organisation including the development of a personal plan in line with the ‘worry model’.
• Actively contribute to strengthening the level of access to programs and service delivery for individuals and families across the Barkly Region through effective planning, development and implementation of activities, including identifying trends, gaps, needs and issues to support the key statement and key responsibilities of this position.
• Undertake administrative duties as directed in accordance with program and organisational expectations including senior level report writing and the timely management of electronic client data records and registers to ensure compliance against funding obligations.
• Adhere to policies and procedures, particularly as they relate to the safe and secure storage of client information and confidentiality, working within the limits of confidentiality and privacy appropriate to the responsibilities of this position.
• Initiate, coordinate and/or participate in quality improvement activities in collaboration with staff and clients to ensure best practice and the continuous improvement of systems that support culturally safe and responsive service delivery.
• Uphold the vision, mission and priorities of the organisation as determined by the Board of Directors and outlined in its Strategic Plan.
• Identify and manage risk or potential risk to staff and clients in order to reduce immediate concerns.
• Foster a professional and culturally safe work environment.
• Promote an alcohol, tobacco and other drugs free workplace strategies and exemplify aligned behaviours.
• Participate in staff training and development, organisation-wide, site based team meetings, collaborative planning activities and other meetings or activities relevant to this position or as directed by the Section Manager.
• Travel to remote communities.
• Undertake other duties as required.

Decision making

This position reports to the Section Manager, PSF, and will consult with the Executive Manager in undertaking key responsibilities, making recommendation to achieve the objectives of this position as well as achieving the goals of the organisation.

Develop and coordinate external support networks

1. Liaise and develop service referrals and provision with government and non‐government agencies at appropriate levels to holistically support physical health, mental health and wellbeing needs of individual clients.

2. Develop and Network effectively to develop stronger relationships with Indigenous and mainstream service providers within the Barkly Regions. Maintaining partnerships with key agencies to support the delivery of services where appropriate/possible.
3. Support individual clients holistically to access support services e.g. counselling, health support, community activities and educative programs.
4. Work collaboratively with the team to develop and deliver cultural links with community and family connections, which supports the engagement and connection to learning of the wider community.
5. Develop resources and key networks involving Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD), Social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), and individual, family and community safety.

Multidisciplinary Practice

1. Participate in the daily routines and activities of the PSF program that delivers outcomes within a timely manner such as regular meetings, information sharing, project planning to ensure wellbeing in an inclusive learning and supportive environment.
2. Collaborate with the PSF team to support a socially inclusive program that responds to the physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and cultural needs of individual clients in a timely manner.
3. Undertake a direct program provision role with a focus on health, wellbeing and engagement within the PSF and greater communities of the Barkly region.
4. Uphold the vision, mission and priorities of the organisation as determined by the Board of Directors and outlined in the Strategic Plan.
5. Promote and support the positive role modelling of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs free from the workplace and exemplify aligned behaviours within the community at all times.

Administrative Responsibilities and Quality Assurance

1. Maintain appropriate records and prepare reports as required and meeting required timelines.
2. Ensure compliance through maintaining client and staff records, databases and care planning processes.
3. Provide detailed Monthly reporting to the Section Manager.
4. Support the Executive Manager in the development and implementation of individual staff capacity building plans, to ensure PSF staff are meeting case management protocols.
5. Initiate, coordinate and/or participate in quality improvement activities in collaboration with all staff and clients to ensure best practice and the continuous improvement of systems is achieved to meet professional and industry standards and compliance, including work health and safety.
6. Contribute holistically to the maintenance of the accreditation and compliance by conducting regular internal audits and cooperating with external auditors as required.
7. Work within budgets, including expending funding against section allocation while ensuring funds are expended in line with grant terms and conditions.

8. Proactively contribute to addressing WH&S hazards, incidents and injuries and adhere to infection control processes whilst being culturally responsive.
9. Contribute to the regular monitoring and review of practices and the work environment to ensure a healthy and safe workplace in accordance with policies, procedures and legislative requirements.
10. Foster a professional and culturally safe work environment through supportive and effective management of identified issues utilizing ‘Riskman’, recording WHS meeting minutes and implementation of processes discussed within your team.
11. Complete and maintain risk assessing and assessments in all areas such as community risks when performing outreach responsibilities, accessing remote environments and all other possible areas that PSF serves.

Lead and Develop Stronger Families Section

1. Lead and support culturally responsive professional practice and where necessary train and mentor others to achieve a holistic service that creates a wraparound model.
2. Work collaboratively with the team to ensure program provision is culturally responsive and information is streamlined to provide clear outcomes.
3. Provide and support PSF team in the sourcing and provision of activities, which supports cultural links and community engagement through effective Case Management resources
4. Work collaboratively with the team to develop outreach services through community and family connections, which support the engagement and connection of learning to current issues within the community.
5. The Social Worker position is required to spend the time, energy and effort to mentor and facilitate effectively. This includes actively developing the PSF team, ensuring that employees have the opportunity to discuss work and seek assistance, to coach and guide employees in areas of development and to support employee’s individual development and training.
6. Work within limits of confidentiality and privacy as appropriate to this position and undertake other duties as required.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Counselling or related human services discipline.
• Registration with an appropriate authorised practicing governance body in Australia, for example the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and have a current practicing certificate.
• A current Northern Territory Driver’s Licence or ability to obtain one.
• Be in possession of or have the ability to apply for an OCHRE Card.

Experience

• Demonstrated understanding of the philosophy governing independent Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
• Evidenced understanding of the Primary Health Care system and key issues relevant to closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including the ability to support the delivery of culturally responsive programs and services with an understanding of the importance of traditional cultures, values and protocols.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal, to communicate sensitive and complex information while having knowledge of current practice and theories as well as Aboriginal family dynamics and culture, and applying these theories and practices in a remote context.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver a strengths-based service incorporating narrative, cognitive, solution-focused and community development approaches to vulnerable individuals and families, specifically individuals and families who have experienced longstanding and significant trauma, grief and loss, violence, suicide, family separation and breakdown, and substance abuse.
• Demonstrated experience working in a team environment and understanding of human resources management and work health and safety requirements specifically related to remote conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively liaise with key stakeholders and build strong relationships to facilitate the achievement of business objectives, including building Aboriginal staff capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyse and maintain client data, including the use of family gathering tools.
• Demonstrated high level skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including the ability to use client information management systems to support data collection, clinical analysis, report writing and budget activities.

Submit CV and 1 page cover letter outlining the selection criteria, or contact AAR&HR Services 80 8981 7431 – employees must be full vaccinated against COVID-19

Closing 10^th May 2024