Job Description

Job Title

/ Children and Family Counsellor/TC Worker
Location / Cyrenian House Therapeutic CommunitySaranna Women and Children's Program
Award Status / Cyrenian House Enterprise Agreement 2012-2016
Classification / Level 4-5
Reporting Relationships

Job Function
The Children and Family Counsellor works in the Saranna Women’s and Children’s program to provide a professional Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Service to women and their dependent children. The Children and Family Counsellor is required to work within the context of Therapeutic Community through counselling, education, mediation and support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Counselling, Mediation and Case Management

  • Provide counselling and information to residents and significant others, providing treatment that is multidimensional involving parenting support, therapy, education, values and skills development; identify a resident’s presenting issues and underlying areas of concern.
  • Provide 1:1 counselling to children whose parents are engaged in drug and/or alcohol treatment including child centered therapies, protective behaviours, education, advocacy, referral and support.
  • Work with a range of developmental stages – children, adolescents, adults and older adults
  • Provide counselling that empowers and enhances the functioning of residents in accordance with program guidelines.
  • Support a staged-approach program for residents with a focus on assessment, treatment, transition and/or re-entry, respectively.
  • Respond appropriately to residents in crisis situations by supporting organisational rules, policies and procedures.
  • Facilitate the referral process of residents to suitable programs/agencies and assist in engagement of the resident where necessary; Follow-up residents to monitor progress and provide further assistance as directed by the Program Coordinator.
  • Mediate between residents and their families to resolve conflict and negotiate agreed goals and actions when required.
  • Supervise urine collection of same sex residents.

Group Work, Education and Training

  • Facilitate established groups to provide information and education that promotes confidence and skills development to support women’s health, lifestyle change and personal growth.
  • Develop appropriate and relevant evidenced - based group material in the areas of parenting, protective behaviours, relationships, trauma and grief and loss, as directed by the Program Coordinator.
  • Manage conflict and respond appropriately to group needs using the Community as Method model; strengthen resident’s involvement and communication skills using the Community as Method model.
  • Provide a safe and supportive group environment for residents to express and respond to their emotions and gain understanding of issues relating to their alcohol and other drug use; encourage therapeutic interactions between resident members that support positive change and personal development.
  • Develop positive co-facilitation relationships with peers through the exchange of feedback, encouraging an open and safe team environment.

Representation and Networking

  • Develop and maintain a working knowledge of AOD, and other relevant agencies/services; represent and advocate on behalf of residents where necessary.
  • Actively liaise with relevant persons and agencies where appropriate; attend interagency networking groups as directed.

Teamwork and Agency Development

Provide handover information to staff coming on duty, highlighting any incidents and/or other matters of concern.

  • Provide peer support and share expertise with other team members and agency staff; support and assist in training new staff and address students and visitors.
  • Actively contribute to staff meetings, clinical supervision, AOD training sessions and ongoing professional development; participate in agency planning and team building workshops.
  • Actively contribute to continuous quality improvement.
  • Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of the Therapeutic Community model and service delivery policies and procedures.
  • Maintain appropriate levels of skills and knowledge of drug trends, through training and research.
  • An understanding of your own personal strengths and weaknesses; the ability to demonstrate self-care in the workplace.
  • Teamwork skills to work cooperatively with other staff members, including a willingness to resolve conflict.

Administration and Supervision

  • Prepare for and actively participate in regular supervision sessions.
  • Assist in supervising students on placement and volunteer workers.
  • Maintain resident files; prepare concise and accurate notes and other resident related administrative duties.
  • Prepare concise and accurate reports for courts and various agencies (e.g. Department of Child Protection, Department of Corrective Services, etc.) as

necessary to support resident progress.

  • Have knowledge of the SIMS database related documentation and its purpose.
  • Undertake other office management procedures as directed by the Program Coordinator.
  • Ensure privacy and confidentiality is maintained in all areas.
  • Provide professional support to on-site child care workers.

Working in a Therapeutic Community

The role of staff in Therapeutic Communities is not the same as that may be expected at other AOD services. Although there is a therapeutic intervention provided by staff through counselling and group facilitation, they (the staff) are not expected to be the major agent for change. This is the responsibility of the whole community. Staff roles are to support the Community as Method process. Staff may involve themselves in activities such as recreation, meal preparation, dining and chores, on an equal footing with residents, as a means of emphasising their membership of the community and their participation as role models.

Staff are expected to:

  • Participate actively in all aspects of the community, ensuring a safe environment and positive functioning of the TC is developed and maintained.
  • Support the integration of residents into the community, encouraging resident participation and interaction in the community.
  • Interact with residents in formal and informal contexts whilst maintaining clear boundaries.
  • Interact with residents informally during daily activities to help establish a relationship that facilitates therapeutic interactions.
  • Relinquish control to support resident empowerment, providing objective facilitation and recognising that the community and not they (the staff member) are the major change factor for residents.
  • Act as role models for residents in the TC, supporting shared community values.
  • Offer personal experience where appropriate whilst maintain professional boundaries.
  • Challenge, and deal well with confrontation, role modelling appropriate responses.

Selection Criteria

Children and Family Counsellor/TC Worker

Essential

A degree in Social, Behavioural, Education, Health Sciences or equivalent experience and training in the AOD area.

  • Experience in working with women and children; asound knowledge of women’s issues and developmental issues for children.
  • Knowledge of the Therapeutic Community treatment model.
  • Experience in and knowledge of working with complex, coerced clients who may have comorbid AOD and mental health issues.
  • The ability to work well with Aboriginal people and their families.
  • Demonstrated counselling, problem solving and group work skills.
  • Good interpersonal, written and communication skills.
  • Good organisational and time management skills; reliable and punctual.
  • Current “C “class drivers license
  • Working with children clearance
  • National Police Certificate.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of services and community resources relevant to the needs of AOD client population.
  • Knowledge of Department for Child Protection and Family Services (DCPFS).
  • An understanding of working within a culturally secure framework.
  • Experience of working in a Therapeutic Community.
  • An experiential knowledge of alcohol and other drug addiction.
  • First Aid Certificate.

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