Counsellor – Carer Gateway CatholicCare

JOB DESCRIPTION

Due to a growth in our program, we are looking for experienced Counsellors to provide empathic, person-centred telephone counselling to meet the needs of carers who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and low mood.
 
About the Organisation and Culture
 
CatholicCare Sydney is a leading non-for-profit agency supporting people from all walks of life. We are an organisation that promotes diversity and inclusion and commits to the growth and wellbeing of our staff, empowering them to make positive change and influence in the community. CatholicCare Sydney is the official social services agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and a certified Family Friendly Organisation. 
 
CatholicCare Sydney has been contracted to deliver the National Carer Gateway Counselling Service, a component of the integrated support service, the Carer Gateway. The overarching purpose of the Carer Gateway is to support carers earlier in a proactive way, and to build their capacity to sustain their caring role. The Carer Gateway Counselling Service provides a crucial platform for carers across Australia to engage with professional, experienced counsellors and to obtain genuine outcomes to reduce stress and to improve their wellbeing. Carers are unique and valuable members of our community with varying circumstances and needs. The joys and negative impacts of their caring experiences are often very complex and difficult and are often felt very differently and these unique experiences need to be understood and supported.
 
About the Role and Key requirements for success:
 
The counsellor will provide empathic, person-centred counselling over the phone to flexibly meet the needs of carers who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and low mood. The successful applicant will perform assessment and person-centred brief therapy services, in addition to occasional intake.
 
We have full-time and part-time (minimum of 3 days/week and must be available on Thursdays) opportunities available. Hours are undertaken between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday (non- daylight savings) and between 8.00 am and 9.00 pm, Monday to Friday during daylight savings.  All staff are expected to undertake at least one evening shift per week.
 
This is an ideal opportunity to work within a friendly and highly professional team of experienced counsellors and utilise your valuable skills and experience to support carers nationwide.
 
Key Criteria:
 

Critical to this role will be your demonstrated clinical practice and counselling experience using a person-centred approach, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy together with other evidence-based therapeutic modalities. You will also require knowledge of current Child Protection practice, Domestic Violence best practice and Suicide Protocol and other risk identification tool and skills. 

You will be an excellent communicator and team player and be able and willing to work flexibly and adapt to a changing environment. While experience working with individuals caring for people with a disability, dementia and/or mental health concerns is not essential, it will be highly regarded.

Additionally, you will be required to:

  • Demonstrated skills in providing counselling and crisis support to clients, including carers
  • Deliver evidence-based telephone clinical and support services using primarily person centred and third wave Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Solution Focussed Therapy, Complex Grief and Loss Counselling and other therapeutic  approaches
  • Demonstrate authentic, compassionate and empathic responses in front line service delivery/Counselling role
  • Promote the safety and wellbeing for carers and their families which includes knowledge of child protection, mental health and domestic violence evidence based best practice
  • Continue to maintain knowledge and key information that will be relevant to your position as well as relevant to external pathways for carers
  • Manage confidentiality and adhere to the programs privacy policy
  • Undertake risk assessments in line with Best Practice
  • Participate in external Clinical Supervision
  • Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrate capacity to conduct assessments and develop and deliver collaborative treatment and case plans and implement ongoing maintenance plans
  • Demonstrate ability to work within and contribute to a multidisciplinary team
  • Continue to maintain your accreditation and memberships

Requirements for Success: 

  • Relevant work experience as a Qualified Counsellor with a minimum of 3 years counselling experience in Australia 
  • Relevant tertiary qualifications in Counselling or Social Work.  Membership(s) is required with one of the following associations: minimum level 2 membership with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Provisional membership of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation (PACFA) or membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
  • A willingness to learn and develop your skills 
  • Must be able to work on Thursdays and a late shift once a week and be flexible supporting your team
  • Live in or near Sydney and able to attend our Lewisham office during business hours for in person training or other team activities as required and Professional Development, Team Meetings and Supervision (the requirement is a minimum of at least once per week)

What Can We Offer You?

  • Rewarding work, every day you will know you have impacted someone’s life and you are making a difference
  • Access to salary packaging – this allows you to save on tax and increase your overall take home pay
  • Structured induction and training process and ongoing professional development opportunities
  • We support hybrid working arrangements for work-life balance 
    An innovative staff wellbeing program, as well as access to an Employee Assistance Program (free and confidential counselling service)
  • A strong framework of Clinical Supervision within the Service 
  • Enhanced leave conditions including an additional weeks’ leave available after your first year, study leave and celebration leave   
  • We are dedicated to the promotion of a productive workforce, while helping employees maintain a healthy balance in their personal and professional lives 

How to Apply

Click Apply Now to view the Position Description and begin your online application!

To be considered for this role, you will need to attach your resume and a cover letter addressing how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. Applications that do not address the selection criteria or provide a resume only will not be considered.

Applications for this position close on 22 November 2022.  Please submit your application as soon as possible as shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. Unsuccessful applicants may be placed on an eligibility list for future employment. 

For enquiry and additional information please contact Nathalie Brachet Recruitment Co-ordinator at CatholicCare Sydney at [email protected]

At CatholicCare, we believe vaccination to be the best way to keep our people and our communities safe from Covid-19. We require all employees, volunteers and students to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of engagement.

CatholicCare requires the preferred applicant to undertake a National Criminal History Record Check prior to employment and will also require a Working with Children Check.

CatholicCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Employer of Choice for Women. People of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply; people living with a disability are encouraged to apply.

 
 

JOB SUMMARY

Organisation

CatholicCare

Job Salary

$39.26 to $44.25 (depending on experience)