POSITION DESCRIPTION

Early Intervention Therapist - Key Worker

Organisational Context

Gateways mission is to empower and support children and adults with a disability / additional need and their families to maximise their:

  • Quality and enjoyment of life
  • Potential
  • Positive relationships within the community

Core Values

The following organisational values apply equally to relationships with children / adults with a disability / additional need, their families, staff, volunteers and other organisations and the broader community.

Commitment and Cooperation

Opportunity and Openness

Respect and Reliability

Excellence and Empathy

Gateways Therapy & Inclusion Support Objectives

1.To provide responsive, individualised services and support which promote each child and family’s
Quality and enjoyment of life.
  • Potential.
  • Positive experiences within the community.
  1. To promote community understanding, support and positive interactions with children with a disability/additional need and their families.
  1. To promote a learning focused, valuing and cooperative organisation that promotes the development and wellbeing of staff and volunteers.

Reporting Arrangements and Accountability

The Gateways Board of Management is responsible to families with children with a disability/additional need, funding bodies and the community for all aspects of service provision and management of the organisation.The Early Intervention Key Worker will report directly to the Therapy & Inclusion Manager. This responsibility is delegated through the Chief Executive Officer to staff. The accountability structure is as follows:

Autism Assessment Team / Gateways Early Learning Program / Barwon PSFOs
Kindergarten Inclusion Support Convenor/Coordinator / Kindergarten Inclusion Support Specialist Consultant / Glenelg /Southern Grampians PSFOs

Duties and Responsibilities

As a member of the early intervention therapy team:

  • Working within a trans disciplinary team in the key worker role to provide an early intervention service specific to the goals of the individual child.
  • Using a strength based approach, develop an individual family service and support plan that promotes positive outcomes for the child and family.
  • Act as the key worker for allocated families, coordinating the development and regular review of their family service and support plan, and as the key contact for information provision and follow up of relevant resources and services.
  • Provide advice, consultancy and support to parents regarding their individual child’s needs.
  • Provide discipline specific assessments as required.
  • Provide advice, consultancy and support to Therapy & Inclusion Support staff.
  • Provide advice and consultancy to other specialist and generic service staff.
  • Provide consultancy to universal services to enhance their capacity to cater for the developmental needs of children with additional needs.
  • Establish networks and liaise with other generic and specialist early childhood services as required.
  • Provide services and maintain written program documentation as outlined in service policy and standards guidelines.
  • Provide information, advice, support or training to parents and relevant staff/ professionals.
  • Provide high quality written reports of assessments and programs.
  • Review client goals and outcomes.
  • Participate in the development of transition plans and preparing reports as necessary.
  • Ensure confidentiality of client records and information.

Other

  • Participate in relevant team meetings, committees, reference groups etc as required.
  • Provide regular program data as required.
  • Other duties as directed by or negotiated with the Therapy & Inclusion Manager.
  • Report to the Therapy & Inclusion Manager on any risks that may arise in program provision that may potentially impact on the organisation.
  • Ensure confidentiality of client records and information is maintained at all times.
  • Ensure adherence to the OH&S Policies and report any concerns to the Therapy & Inclusion Manager.

Further Role Development

The role, specific tasks and responsibilities of the speech pathologist may alter over time to meet changing client or agency needs.

Key Functions
  • To provide discipline specific consultancy to families, staff and generic services in line with the key worker model.
  • To maintain a case load of clients reflective of your level of experience and provide services to reflect the monthly case load target.

Selection Criteria

  1. Successful experience in providing key worker support within a team environment.
  2. Demonstrated discipline specific knowledge and skills in providing therapy, assessment and consultation to early intervention clients.
  3. Extensive knowledge of autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities.
  4. Demonstrated skill in building rapport and engaging and supporting families
  5. A commitment to family centred practice and maximising the opportunities and support of children with disabilities and their families within their local communities.
  1. Demonstrated commitment to implementing Gateways policies and programs under the direction of the Therapy & Inclusion Manager and a high level of accountability.
  2. Demonstrated commitment to promoting a cooperative and cohesive team.
  3. Demonstrated skill in researching information and developing effective and innovative support options.
  4. Demonstrated capacity to work efficiently and to complete administrative tasks.
  5. Demonstrated commitment to liaising effectively and working in partnership with all stakeholders.
  6. Positive communication and negotiation skills.
  7. High standards of ethical and professional behaviour.
  8. Demonstrated skills in working with information technology, including experience and knowledge in Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Outlook, maintaining and using client databases including recording case notes, performing online training, accessing the staff intranet, using technology to claim work and record client hours and access payroll and human resource information.
Additional Requirements

Current drivers licence - essential.

Capacity to work outside normal hours if required.

An Employee Working With Children Card

Successful CrimCheck

Terms and Conditions of Employment

  • Conditions of employment as per Gateways Support Services and Health Services Union of Australia Disability Services Sector Certified Agreement 2005 in line with qualifications and experience.
  • Salary packaging is offered in accordance with the organisation’s salary packaging policy.

Preferred Qualification

Speech Therapy - It is mandatory for an approved qualification in Speech Pathology. A minimum 2 years of experience as a Speech Pathologist is preferred.

Occupational Therapy - It is mandatory for an approved qualification in Occupational Therapy. A minimum 2 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist is preferred. APHRA registration is mandatory.

Psychology - It is mandatory to be fully registered as a Psychologist. A minimum 2 years of experience as a Psychologist is preferred. APHRA registration is mandatory.

Position Description –WesternMelbourne– Key Worker Therapist

January 2018

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