POSITION DESCRIPTION COUNSELLING TEAM LEADER

Transcription

1 POSITION DESCRIPTION COUNSELLING TEAM LEADER Refugee Centre (MRC) provides counseling and early settlement support services to people of refugee background and we facilitate community development programs in the areas of cultural transition, strengthening families and peace leadership. This range of services and programs is a uniquely integrated approach to supporting people from refugee backgrounds. MRC is the lead provider of services to people from refugee backgrounds in the NT and is the Northern Territory member of the National Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT). The agency is led by the Director, supported by the leadership team, and governed by a Committee of Management who is responsible for organisational governance; strategic policy and planning. THE ROLE The Counselling Team Leader will provide leadership, coordination and supervision to staff in the counselling and youth team delivering MRC s range of counselling and advocacy programs to support survivors of torture and trauma. The Counselling Team Leader will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the impact of torture and trauma and familiarity with theories underpinning trauma and recovery. The role is accountable to the Committee of Management through the Director and is an active participant in the Management team. The Team Leader will manage service level agreements with a number of government departments and is responsible for supporting members of the counselling team to implement work plans in accordance with contracts and meet reporting requirements. In addition to managing a small caseload, the Counselling Team Leader will provide: Supervision and support to members of the counselling team Training to teams services on the effects of torture and trauma Advice on the development of policies and procedures Liaison with the Forum for the Assistance of the Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) on clinical and database issues. The Team Leader will support staff to deliver: Short term torture and trauma counselling and advocacy funded by Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), to clients in immigration detention in the NT supporting the reduction of the debilitating effects of traumatic experiences. General counselling and advocacy under the Program for the Assistance of Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) funded by Department of Health and Ageing, to work with survivors of torture and trauma who have been in Australia for longer periods, providing counselling and advocacy with a range of services.

2 2 Youth work under the Newly Arrived Youth Support Service (NAYSS) funded by Department of Families Housing Children s Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHSCIA); and Intensive family counselling funded by the NT Department of Health and Families, delivered in cooperation with other staff. The program work with survivors of torture and trauma is imbedded in the national framework and standards agreed to by all members of the FASSTT network. The Team Leader has budget accountability and has the following staff reporting directly to the position: Counsellor/Advocate/s Intensive Family Counsellor Child Focussed Counsellor Youth support worker/s KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Position Key Responsibilities: (listed with equal priority) Program leadership and coordination To develop and deliver high quality services relevant to the client needs, and directed by evidence, learning and best practice Exercise managerial control to plan and deliver efficient and effective counselling and support services to survivors of torture & trauma Provide input to budgets preparation, collect and interpret service usage data, develop reports and submissions, in conjunction with the Director on behalf of the organisation Meet regularly with other Team Leaders and promote whole of agency Work to provide assistance where required to ensure that clients of the Service are provided with therapeutic interventions including but not limited to; counselling, group programs, natural therapies, community development activities, advocacy and referrals Participate in the evaluation of models of intervention and contribute to research into the ongoing needs of survivors of torture and trauma Team Leadership Provide leadership, coordination and supervision to a culturally diverse multidisciplinary team Oversee operation of the Counselling Team including workloads and waiting lists and monitor caseloads of all Counsellor/Advocates Actively work to facilitate a team approach regarding priority, coordination and management of case loads and waiting lists Maintain a working environment which facilitates clear and open communication, developing and maintaining between the Counselling Team and staff in other functional/organisational teams and develop and maintain relationships with community networks and organisations across the Northern Territory Staff Support and Supervision Provide clinical and operational supervision to members of the counselling team

3 3 Provide induction and orientation of new workers and students and manage probation reviews and annual performance appraisals Provide informed advice on clinical and other issues as required Support staff to deal with difficult or crisis situations either directly or in collaboration with other professionals and/or the Director Identify professional development needs of staff and opportunities for relevant learning Direct Client Work Carry a small Counsellor/Advocate caseload Prepare appropriate documents and reports for relevant parties such as government departments and medical practitioners in relation to the needs of service-users of Network Development and Training with Key Service Providers Establish protocols for working with key service providers within a counselling model Participate in the development and maintenance of a local network of health and welfare providers which is sensitive to the needs of the target groups Design and deliver training to health and other service providers on the impacts of torture and trauma; Develop the capacity of key service providers to work appropriately with refugee survivors of torture and trauma through the provision of consultancy and training Liaise and collaborate with other FASSTT member agencies and their staff Organisational Maintenance Actively participate in the Refugee Centre management team Supervise students from relevant professional courses as appropriate Contribute to the development of policy and protocols and adhere to the policies of Maintain files and records and fulfil data collection and recording requirements of Attend staff-related meetings, training, team building and other forums where relevant Attend training courses and conferences as required Undertake other duties as required SELECTION CRITERIA: SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR TRAINING Essential: Relevant tertiary qualifications in counselling or psychology, or a related discipline, and a minimum of three years related experience. Psychologists must be eligible for registration with the Health Board Experience in the supervision and management of staff Demonstrated, well-developed, flexible counselling skills and experience in group work Experience in working with people from refugee background or other cross cultural experience and sensitivity to cultural diversity

4 4 Demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting refugees, the impact of torture and trauma on individuals, families and communities and knowledge of the situations in countries from which refugees come (or ability to acquire) High level of written, oral and interpersonal communication skills Highly developed negotiating and advocacy skills. Experience in developing training programs and conducting training. Computer literate and able to use Microsoft Office programs, including word processing and data management programs. Good organisational skills, including workflow planning coordination and supervision, preparing reports and submissions and maintaining resource information. Desirable: Knowledge of the Australian Government s Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) and immigration processes. Licenses and clearances Current Australian driver s license A satisfactory national criminal history report Current NT Ochre Card CONDITIONS Accountability The Counselling Team Leader will be accountable to the Director. Ultimate accountability will be to the Committee of Management through the Director. Contract period This position is subject to funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy. There will be a probationary period of three months, on satisfactory completion of which there will be formal confirmation of the position. Hours of work The position is currently full time, 38 hours per week. At times there will be out of hours work required, for which there is a time-in-lieu arrangement. offers a TOIL (time off in lieu) arrangement and five weeks annual leave, increasing to 6 weeks after 3 years continuous service. Salary Salary is negotiable depending on qualifications, experience and demonstrated ability according to the Refugee Centre Enterprise Agreement 2011, and is in the range of Level 6. A salary sacrifice arrangement is available.

5 5 HOW TO APPLY Applications must be in writing and must address the selection criteria. Your Curriculum Vitae should be no more than two pages and your response to selection criteria no more than 4 pages. Please include details of at least two referees. Enquiries regarding this position can be directed to Caz Coleman on Applications should be addressed to: The Manager Operations Refugee Centre PO Box 1930 DARWIN NT 0801 and ed to admin@melaleuca.org.au. Applications close COB Monday 30 Sept 2013