POSITION DESCRIPTION COUNSELLING TEAM LEADER Refugee Centre (MRC) provides counseling and early settlement support services to people of refugee background and facilitates community development programs in the areas of cultural transition, strengthening families and peace leadership. Thus takes 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. The Committee of Management 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 services team delivering MRC s 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, as well as familiarity with theories pertaining to recovery from trauma. The Team Leader is accountable to the Committee of Management through the Director and is a participant in the Management team. The Team Leader will manage service level agreements with a number of government departments. S\he is responsible for supporting members of the counselling team to implement work plans in accordance with contracts, and to 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: Torture and trauma counselling funded by Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), to clients in immigration detention in the NT General counselling and advocacy under the Program for the Assistance of Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) funded by Department of Health and Ageing. This work entails engaging with survivors of torture and trauma who are settled in Australia and are already recognised as refugees with permanent protection visas. Support to youth, under the Newly Arrived Youth Support Service (NAYSS) funded by Department of Families Housing Children s Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHSCIA); and
2 Intensive family counselling funded by the NT Department of Health, Children and Families, delivered in cooperation with other staff. The work with survivors of torture and trauma is informed by the national framework and standards to which all members of the FASSTT network have agreed. The Team Leader has budget accountability and has the following staff reporting directly to the position: Counsellors Intensive Family Counsellor Child Focussed Counsellor Youth support worker/s KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Position Key Responsibilities: (listed with equal priority) Program leadership and coordination Develop and deliver high quality services relevant to the client needs, guided by theory, evidence and learning in practice. Therapeutic interventions include but are not limited to: individual counselling, group programs, advocacy and referrals 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 a cohesive agency Provide assistance where required to ensure that clients of the agency are provided with Participate in the evaluation and development of models of intervention Contribute to research pertaining to survivors of torture and trauma and their support 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 Manage coordinate case loads, referrals, and waiting lists Foster clear and open communication within the team, within the agency and between the agency and external organisations in the Northern Territory Staff Support and Supervision Provide clinical and operational supervision to members of the counselling team 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
3 Direct Client Work Carry a small Counsellor 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 Psychology Board of Australia. 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 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 High level of written, oral and interpersonal communication skills Highly developed negotiating and advocacy skills. Computer literacy and able to use Microsoft Office programs, including word processing and data management programs.
4 Good organisational skills, including workflow planning coordination and supervision, preparing reports and submissions and maintaining resource information. Desirable: Experience in developing training programs and conducting training. 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 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 7-8. A generous salary sacrifice arrangement is available.
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 8985 3311. Applications should be emailed to admin@melaleuca.org.au. Applications close COB Monday 4 August 2014.