REPORTS TO: Family Counelling Programs Manager / ACCOUNTABLE TO: Family Counselling Programs Manager
MAXIMUM TERM CONTRACT: Full time until 30th June, 2017
A three month qualifying period applies / REVISED DATE: November, 2016
DIRECT REPORTS: Nil
ORGANISATIONAL VALUES
We will be grounded in culture and community needs and foster the principles and values ofcommunity-controlin everything we do
We will alwaysadvocatefor the health and wellbeing of our community
We are committed to providing evidence-based,high quality service
We will always berespectful, caring, collaborative and inclusive
Our service will beaccessiblefor all members of the community
BACKGROUND
The Partners in Recovery (PIR) Program initiative aims to better support people with severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs, their carers and families by getting services and supports from multiple sectors they may come into contact with (and could benefit from) to work in a more collaborative, coordinated and integrated way. PIR will facilitate better coordination of and more streamlined access to the clinical and other services and support needs of people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs requiring a multi-agency response.
The Northern Melbourne Medicare Local (NMML) is the lead agency for PIR. PIR is steered by a consortium of local clinical and non-government community services whose main business is to work with people with mental illness. A boarder group of service providers are also engaged as stakeholders.
POSITION SCOPE
The role of the Support Facilitator (SF) will be part of the Partners in Recovery Program (PIR). The PIR aims to support consumers with a severe and persistent mental illness, who also have many needs to access services and supports from multiple services. The role of the Support Facilitator is to coordinate, facilitate and maintain access to the required services for identified clients by working collaboratively with a range of Aboriginal and Mainstream organisations, including primary health care providers to ensure provision of multiple services to consumers with complex needs.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Provide a coordinated service to consumers
· Accept referrals and engage with potential PIR consumers and their support networks· Coordinating the administration of each PIR consumer’s program including referral, assessment and evaluation
· Be the link between the consumer, their families and the partner agencies / providers
· Assess individual consumer needs and collaboratively develop a PIR Action Plan that is implemented, monitored and reviewed regularly
· Develop effective partnerships and collaborative working styles with key stakeholders
· Involve carers, family and friends and identified by the consume in the development and implementation of the Action Plan and act as a point of contact when arrangements specified in the Action plan are not working
· Facilitate access to community resources and service and work collaboratively with services to achieve a coordinated response to the client’s needs
· Advocate for the consumer as needed or requested.
· Carries a case load and provides timely and accurate record keeping and provides reports as required for assisting clients
2. Develop and Foster Partnerships
· Where required, represent VAHS and the PIR program on relevant committees, advisory groups and other events as required
· Provide a secondary consult to other PIR Support Facilitators when they are engaged with a consumer from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
· Build awareness of the PIR program’s benefits with key stakeholders
· Develop collaborative working relationships with other VAHS staff, PIR staff and external stakeholders
· Establish and maintain sustainable service pathways, partnerships and support networks to meet consumer needs
· Participate and provide leadership in tasks and activities that build the capacity of FCS to provide better coordinated care to clients
3. General Duties
· Maintain all details of contacts with and about clients including home visits, outreach visits, telephone contacts and appointments for reporting purposes (i.e. progress notes and clinical items on Communicare)
· Conduct off site work as directed i.e. home visits, network liaison etc
· Attend and participate in relevant professional development forums and activities and provide feedback and insight into the implications for the work of the service
· Contribute to mental health promotion activities within VAHS and the community as required
· As appropriate ensure that all information about clients is communicated to relevant staff
· Attend and participate in all team and staff meetings as required.
· Undertake other duties, which are incidental and peripheral to the main tasks, provided that such duties are reasonable within the employee’s competence and training
· Understand and promote the philosophy of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service
· Ensure service delivery is in line with Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation
4. Mandatory Requirements
· Observe safe working practices as far as practicable to protect personal safety and the health and safety of others.· Comply with the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and all the rules, regulations and relevant Codes of Practice.
· All employees are required to participate in the continuous improvement at VAHS and are required to understand and perform their responsibilities in relation to quality in their daily work and to ensure compliance with statutory and quality related requirements
· Participate in on going professional developments and training as required
· Receive fortnightly formal and informal supervision through regular meetings with the Team Leader and at other times as needed including at clinical meetings and peer reflections
· Act at all times in a professional manner in accordance with the policies and practices of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service
· All VAHS employees must comply with the code of conduct as articulated in the VAHS Policies and Procedures
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
Understanding of and commitment to the Aboriginal community.
Experience in:
· A tertiary qualification and / or extensive experience in working with people with complex and enduring mental health illnesses
· Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to develop appropriate care coordination for people with complex needs
· Understanding of mental health issues within the Aboriginal Community and the impacts on families and support networks
· Coordination: abilities to work with multiple, conflicting priorities, communications and interacting with people at all levels of the organization.
· Self-management: Having a personal vision and goals, the ability to evaluate and monitor own performance that contributes to employee satisfaction and growth.
· Planning and Organisation: Managing time and priorities including setting time lines, coordinating tasks for self and with others, adapting resource allocations to cope with contingencies, establishment of clear project goals and deliverables.
· Ability to communicate effectively with people affected by a range of complex needs
· An understanding of services provided by local community mental health networks, mainstream health services and mental health services
· Demonstrated negotiation and conflict resolution skills
· Demonstrated ability to work directly with the VAHS community and relevant service providers
· High level of computer literacy including experience with data base software
· Well-developed skills in maintaining client records relating to referrals and attendance and in liaison with referrers, families and other agencies involved with clients
· Excellent time management skills in relation to managing phone contacts and appointments and to complete statistics information
· The demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a multi skilled team
· Knowledge and commitment to Occupational Health & Safety Legislation
CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
Social Community Home Care and Disability Services Award2010
Salary packaging benefits are available.
Salary packaging benefits are available subject to VAHS’ on-going Fringe Benefits Tax exempt status.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will be set on commencement. A three month probation period applies. Annual performance reviews are undertaken.
VAHS is a Smoke Free Workplace
VAHS staff are required to familiarise themselves with and abide by VAHS Policies, Procedures, including the Code of Conduct.
Successful applicants are required to have a current full Victorian driving license (unless otherwise agreed to), undergo a police check and possess a current working with children check. Relevant convictions will be taken into consideration when considering applicants for this position
The VAHS offer some programs / services outside of normal business hours. Staff across all VAHS sites may be required to work after hours as an operational requirement of the role if the program / service they work in operates outside of normal business hours.
This position is located at the VAHS Preston Office, however the Service reserves the right to vary the location of the position according to the needs of the Service and its clients and any future changes to the Service’s area of operation.
Travel will be required, particularly across the various VAHS sites (Fitzroy, Preston) and to provide outreach
I have read this document and agree to undertake the duties and responsibilities listed above.
I acknowledge that:
· This position description is an indication of the duties and responsibilities that I may be required to undertake. Additional or other duties and responsibilities may be allocated to me after discussion/agreement.
· The Position Description will be reviewed annually in consultation with me.
SIGNED by the EMPLOYEE
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Signature: Name: Date:
SIGNED by the MANAGER
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Signature: Name: Date:
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