COUNSELLOR/ADVOCATE 

Classification:                           Health and Professional Services Award

Position Fraction:                    Full Time Position (EFT) REFOCUS Service

Location:                                    Based in Bairnsdale, Sale & Headspace

If you would like to make a difference in the lives of children and young people through their development journey, then GCASA would welcome an application for the role as Counsellor Advocate to join our REFOCUS team.  This role would ideally suit someone who has a passion for young people and working with families.

The successful applicant will be offered comprehensive training, professional development and clinical supervision together with a great workplace experience that is thriving on a culture of continuance learning and development.  If this interests you, please contact Kate Neocleous to explore your options.    

Closing Date : 5pm October 21st, 2022

Counsellor/Advocate Refocus 

This role will work with children, young people and their families primarily referred to our Refocus Service and provide Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) as required.

Duties

1. Conduct initial and ongoing risk and safety assessment and management in accordance with MARAM framework.
2. Conduct initial clincial assessments, case formulations, recommendations and intervention planning, case review and closure processes. 
3. Provide evidence based clinical intervention to children and young people and their families who may present with problematic sexualised or harmful sexualised behaviour.
4. Provide evidence based, trauma informed counselling on an individual and group basis to children, young people and adults reporting recent and/or non-recent sexual assault to support their recovery on an outreach basis.
5. Provide secondary consultation to referring agencies.
6. Provide Crisis Care Response for those seeking support during the day as referred by SOCIT and or by self-referral as required.
7. Conduct Care Coordination and advocacy on behalf of clients as appropriate to strengthen community connections and assist with understanding of rights.
8. Maintain confidential accurate and up to date client record keeping in line with GCASA policy and client statistical recording to meet legal, ethical, and organisational expectations.
9. Model positive emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication skills to engage our clients, maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and advocate in the client’s best interests within the service system.
10. With appropriate consent, provide reports regarding client progress as requested by parents/carers, legal personnel, and other stakeholders.
11. Attend internal and external care team meetings to contribute to care coordination and service planning for the client.
12. Participate in regular internal clinical and line management supervision, peer support activities, and attend regular professional development in areas relevant to this role. Where required, seek consultation with specialist services.
13. Contribute to planning of GCASA’s quality improvement work by participating in team meetings, service reviews, evaluations, and projects.
14. Participate in GCASA community development and community education activities as requested by the CEO/Clinical Manager.
15. The Counsellor Advocate may be asked to work from other office based and outreach locations. 
16. The Counsellor Advocate will be expected to outreach to client places of residence.
17. Other duties as requested by the CEO or the CEO’s delegate

Key Selection Criteria

1. Degree level qualification or equivalent certification from a nationally accredited provider in social work, social welfare, counselling, family therapy, psychology, creative arts therapies, or community mental health nursing.
2. A minimum of 2 years recent trauma counselling experience working with children and their families with a comprehensive understanding of child developmental theory and experience counselling within a therapeutic setting, providing short to medium term intervention.
3. Knowledge related to the incidence and impact of sexual assault, as well as an understanding of the gender dynamics that support the occurrence of sexual assault. 
4. Demonstrated understanding and application of theoretical frameworks underpinning trauma – informed counselling for children, young people, and adults, including feminist empowerment philosophy and social inclusion theory.
5. Demonstrated understanding of child development theories (including cognitive, psychological, and relational) and understanding of sexualised behaviour from within a developmental and ecological systemic context. 
6. Possess well-developed client record keeping capacity, including case noting, administrative and time management skills, and the ability to multi-task and use a broad range of computer and IT skills.
7. Knowledge of the legislative requirements governing the collection and storage of personal information; client confidentiality and the protection of all GCASA clients.
8. Willingness to travel across our service areas as and to Melbourne for professional development if relevant.   Staff must hold a current Victorian driver’s licence.

Other – Mandatory

The successful applicant will be appointed for a six-month probationary period during which time, regular clinical and line management supervision is provided.  At the conclusion of this period a performance review will be held with the Clinical Manager and Senior Clinician (Supervisor); after which, a decision will be made to offer ongoing employment or to cease employment with the Agency. Applicants must be able to work on a Wednesday and undertake professional development, staff supervision and team meetings.

Provision of a current Fit4Work, National police check and a Working with Children’s check and Vaccination Status.