Clinicians work within the Open Arms division of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), providing counselling services to current and formerly serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, their partners and families. They apply extensive knowledge and experience gained from a relevant background in psychology, social work, counselling, occupational therapy, or nursing to build rapport with clients, understand their unique experiences and work with them to identify goals that will enhance mental health and wellbeing.

Duties

• In accordance with the principles of workplace diversity, Work Health and Safety, participative work practices, APS values and APS Employment Principles:
• Provide high quality clinical services including risk assessment and intervention, referral, evidence based individual, couple and family counselling, and case management to eligible Open Arms clients in order to achieve outcomes identified in care planning. 
• Conduct reviews with clients on counselling progress to determine further approaches and establish additional needs, including extensions to episodes of care.
• Using the Client Management System, maintain confidential files for each client that include session progress notes, care plans, risk assessment, and additional client interactions.
• Schedule and attend Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, including clinical supervision, to maintain professional registration.
• Adhere to relevant legislation, ethical guidelines and policies pertaining to best-practice client care.
• Liaise and attend regular meetings with the Assistant Director and other Clinicians to review client cases, including those that may require extensions to episodes of care.
• Liaise with clients’ family members and additional treatment providers and/or other Open Arms/DVA stakeholders to coordinate care.
• Apply the principles of cooperative and safe working practices consistent with APS Values and the Department’s mission, vision, approach and values.
• Engage in other clinical tasks as directed by the Assistant Director based on organisational need. These may include:
• Co-facilitate treatment and psychoeducation programs on a range of topics alongside other Open Arms staff or external clinicians.
• Participate in community development and service promotion activities.
• Participate in Open Arms program evaluation and research activities, contributing to project management activities that implement strategic directions and quality improvement recommendations, and provide feedback for ongoing development of clinical policies and procedures.
• Facilitate the delivery of Open Arms counselling and other programs to veterans and families by applying quality assurance principles and procedures to ensure the clinical practice, and reporting of Outreach Program Clinicians (OPCs) meet contractual requirements.
• Collaboratively manage the regional allocation queue through liaison and consultation with Open Arms Clinicians, OPCs and administrative staff.
• Conduct regional intake assessments to inform allocation to appropriate services.

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be an Australian citizen to apply. 

Mandatory

• Qualifications as an AHPRA registered Psychologist or Psychologist with Provisional Registration / Mental Health Occupational Therapist / Mental Health Registered Nurse with full AHPRA registration, OR
• Qualification as a Social Worker eligible for membership of the Australian Association Social Workers (AASW) and eligible to apply for Mental Health accreditation, OR
• Qualifications as a Counsellor with a minimum Level 4 Australian Counselling Association registration.

Notes

This recruitment process is being used to fill non-ongoing positions.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for a specified term of up to 18 months. A specified term may be extended up to a maximum period of 3 years.

Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

DVA embraces and fosters a culture that supports diversity, inclusion and respect, where people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. We are dedicated and committed to attracting and recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and encourage applications from people with disability, people that identify as LGBTQIA+ and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Take on a rewarding, varied, and broad career with an Australian Public Service Department that can bring balance and flexibility to your working life, while supporting you to stay connected to your community.

DVA is committed to improving the data skills and capability of our workforce to underpin our goal of becoming a leading data-driven organisation.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

Contact Officer Details:

For any job related information required after reading the selection documentation, please contact Liz Cook on 02 8633 2700

Where to lodge Applications: 

To apply go to https://dvajobs.nga.net.au/cp/index.cfm?event=jobs.home and complete the on-line application by 11.30pm Thursday 14 September 2023. 

For more information: 

Contact [email protected]