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Position Description Counsellor/Caseworker

Position Title: Counsellor/Caseworker Program: Weave Speakout Dual Diagnosis Team Team: Reports to:

Speak Out Speak Out Team Leader

Supervises: None Responsible for: Providing individual counseling, casework, family

counselling and some group work for young people (aged 12-28 years) with complex needs and in particular clients with coexisting mental health and AOD issues.

Location: Cnr Elizabeth and Allen Sts Waterloo 2017 and outreach as required.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS AND REMUNERATION Employer: Weave Youth Family Community Inc Hours per week: 28 (4 days per week). Status: Fixed Term Part Time until June 30th 2017. Award: Social Community Home Care and Disability

Services Award (SCHCADS) Category: Classification for this position is SCHCADS

(SACS) Level 4 Paypoint 1 – 4 Depending on qualifications and experience.

Salary Range: $32.57 - $35.17 per hour. Benefits: Superannuation @ 9.5% and leave loading

@17.5% plus generous wage packaging/salary sacrifice

Funding Body: Department of Health

About Weave Youth and Community Services Weave provides a range of services to socially excluded young people, women and families who live in the City of Sydney Local Government Area as well as the Maroubra/La Perouse and Inner West regions.

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Weave was established in 1976. The team at Weave are dedicated, experienced and are well recognised locally, nationally and internationally for their engaging work with young people, women and families, community development work and pioneering new therapeutic approaches. Please refer to our Vision, Mission, Values and Culture at the end of this document. Our annual report is available as a PDF upon request or on our website: www.weave.org.au SUMMARY OF THE POSITION Working as part of Weave’s Speak Out Dual Diagnosis Team to provide counselling and casework for young people with complex needs, group work and some staff development activities. Providing intensive clinical work, developing long-term, trusting sustainable relationships with clients, families and community including providing holistic counseling and casework support to address the social and emotional wellbeing of young people. Coordinating peer review sessions for Weave caseworkers and counsellors KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide counselling to young people with a range of issues who have been referred to The Weave team and allocated to you. Include their families where appropriate.

• Provide referral, advocacy, information, and casework support services to these clients.

• Work in a highly responsive, proactive and innovative way and engage with all who use the service.

• Work collaboratively under a “shared care” model alongside other Weave staff and external health professionals and service providers.

• Attend monthly clinical supervision. • Identify professional training and development needs in consultation with

the Speak Out Team Leader and undertake training within budget constraints.

• Liaise with relevant networks, agencies, community members and government departments.

• Assist with supervision of student placements as appropriate • Carry out any administrative or clerical tasks as required within the course

of work including upkeep of client files, data base, daily client statistics, organizing logistics for groups, writing reports and support letters etc.

• Supporting Weave staff clinical practice by coordinating regular peer review sessions

• Other duties as required.

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General Accountabilities of all Weave Staff

• To work as part of the wider Weave team displaying effective team membership

• Participate in Weave staff meetings, retreats, planning days, peer development, peer review, training and performance appraisal as required

• Attend regular supervision as arranged with your team leader. • To perform all duties in accordance with the Weave Code of Conduct and

the Weave policies and procedures • A commitment to EEO policy and OH&S safety standards, ethical practice

principles and a commitment to the principles of cultural diversity • Take responsibility to ensure that Weave is a warm, inviting and

hospitable environment for everyone to be. Treat people like you would if they came to your home.

• Notice when things are untidy and make an effort to clean up as needed. • Make sure all visitors to the centre are welcomed and looked after

including offering cups of tea, coffee, water etc. and that they get the assistance they came for or at least information and referral if Weave cannot assist directly. Hospitality is a shared responsibility of the whole of The Weave team and is included in the job descriptions of all staff.

• It is important to take care to listen very carefully to what people are asking for and not make assumptions about their needs, it is equally important to welcome all people to the centre, even those that clearly don’t fit in our target group.

• If someone has made an appointment to see a particular worker you need to make sure that you accompany the person to the worker and ensure they are connected. If the worker is not in the office, call them on their mobile to organize something for the client.

• Whilst it is understood that each worker has specific duties, there is a natural overlap of roles.

• Expectations of workers roles can change according to the needs of the community and available resources.

SELECTION CRITERIA ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

§ Tertiary Counselling qualifications. § At least 3 years experience working in direct service provision in the

community sector, preferably in a counseling/casework role, and preferably with young people.

§ Well-developed counselling skills – demonstrated ability to draw upon a range of therapeutic approaches including trauma-informed practice

§ Understanding of the issues facing Aboriginal people and experience working with communities impacted by these issues.

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§ Well-developed understanding of the context of people’s lives and the impacts that the wider socio-economic and political climate can have on people.

§ Experience providing counseling to disadvantaged young people experiencing a range of complex issues and in particular mental health and AOD issues.

§ Excellent verbal and written communication skills. § Must have current Class C drivers license § Current NSW Working With Children Check clearance § A commitment to EEO policy OH&S safety standards, ethical

practice principles and a commitment to the principles of cultural diversity

§ Sense of humour § Willingness to use own vehicle for work purposes when required.

Generous mileage allowance available. DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Knowledge of service networks in City of Sydney, South Sydney and Sydney’s Inner West areas

Weave Vision, Mission, Culture and Values What we see for the future: Our Vision

§ A strong, connected community that values its members with opportunities and justice for all. What we are here to do: Our Mission Statement

§ To support young people, families and communities to value each other and create opportunities to realise their goals and dreams How we describe ourselves: Our Culture

§ We value and respect the traditional owners of the land and acknowledge their struggle.

§ Our work is underpinned by social justice principles. § We are holistic in our approach § We value genuine, authentic, transparent, client-centred work

practices § We work with passion, energy, creativity and commitment § We highly value and appreciate collaboration and partnerships with

team members and other services § Our work is informed by an understanding of the politics of power

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§ We understand complex social issues and we work in creative and flexible ways to address them

§ We know that practical and timely intervention can have important long-term meaningful value

§ We embrace diversity What is true and important to us: Our Values

§ Integrity – We work ethically at all times and are transparent in our practice

§ Respect –We value and respect our service users, community members, partners and co-workers and treat people as individuals.

§ Good practice – Our work is informed by relevant and current practice models and we review and evaluate constantly.

§ Optimism and a sense of humour § Fairness and Justice – We challenge injustice at every level and

work with others towards a more just society § Sustainability – Sustainable practice underpins our work on an

individual, community and global level

How to Apply

**Applications including a current Resume and a document specifically responding to and outlining how you meet each of the Selection Criteria (List of criteria included in the Job Description Document), should be emailed to Tanya Harvey at tharvey@launchrecruitment.com.au Phone Tanya on 9232 8133 if you need to request the Job Description document. Closing Date for Applications: Midnight on Monday February 1st 2016