Position Description

Position Title:              AOD Counsellor  / Psychotherapist 

Award:                         Social, Community, Home Care and Disability                                                     Services (SCHADS) Industry Award 2010

Classification:             Social and Community Services Employee Level 5

Hours of work:            Full time / Part time 

Reports to:                      Chief Executive Officer

Essential Criteria:       

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in AOD Counselling or related field such as Social Work or Psychology
• Demonstrated experience in AOD counselling / psychotherapy. 
• Sound knowledge and application of contemporary evidence based therapeutic interventions 
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working with complex comorbid clients
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to constructively work within a team environment
• A current Tasmanian driver’s licence
• Computer literacy, including MS office, internet, and email
• Capacity to maintain file records and data collection processes to a high professional standard

Highly Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working with in mental health industry
• Experience working with criminal justice clients
• Experience working with family violence perpetrators

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Service Delivery           

• Provides  comprehensive AOD assessment and evidence based therapeutic interventions to people presenting with substance use and co-occurring mental ill health issues within a harm minimisation framework
• Demonstrates excellent clinical skills in assessment and therapeutic interventions 
• Conducts initial interviews, assessments, individual and group sessions and follow up contact post exit
• Works with clients to develop, implement and review their individual treatment goals including discharge plans
• Demonstrates an understanding of crisis management and the ability to deal with suicide interventions
• Works competently with highly complex comorbid clients and refers to appropriate external services where required
• Practices in accordance with Holyoake conceptual model and philosophy
• Participates in the analysis, design and review of Holyoake programs and program materials
• Documents client information and maintains client files and statistics

Legislation / Policies / Procedures           

• Practices within Holyoake policies and procedures
• Demonstrates knowledge of and practices within relevant Commonwealth and State legislation
• Participates in policy review and development

Communication

• Demonstrates advanced interpersonal skills including:
• High standard of written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships in a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to address and resolve conflict
• Develops solid communication channels within AOD sector and across other sectors to promote collaborative approaches in the support of co morbid clients
• Provides reports on progress of program activities for:
  • Holyoake Board
  • CEO
  • Funding bodies
• Demonstrates excellent documentation skills in the timely and accurate collection of client related information

Supervision

• Provides clinical supervision  and expert advice for students and staff classified at lower levels
• Provides clinical expertise and expert advice for staff in the management of complex clients
• Assists in the induction of new staff

Professional Development

• Enhances own professional practice through ongoing research and professional development opportunities
• Attends 6-weekly clinical supervision consultations
• Participates in Holyoake staff development program
• Participates in weekly peer supervision program
• Participates in an annual performance review

Quality Improvement

• Participates in Holyoake quality improvement program

Occupational Health and Safety

• Exercises reasonable care in the performance of duties consistent with relevant OHS Legislation
• Identifies and reduces immediate workplace risks and reports all OHS hazards to CEO

Marketing / Networking

• Establishes and maintains local community networks between alcohol, tobacco, and other drug services within and across sectors, such as mental health, employment, and housing, to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to alcohol and drug treatment service delivery, and to promote Holyoake programs
• Participates in activities to promote Holyoake services

Performance Review and Development

• A performance review will be conducted at the completion of a 3-month probation period and annually thereafter