About the Organisation:

Childhood Cancer Support is a family focused not-for-profit organisation who, since 1975, has been dedicated to providing regional families affected by childhood cancer with a place to live in Brisbane that is a home away from home accommodation community.  Childhood Cancer Support provides support to regional families who find it difficult to access affordable accommodation while their child is undergoing cancer treatment in Brisbane at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. The average stay for our families is a demanding and challenging 6-10 months. All of our services are free-of-charge to our oncology families.

Childhood Cancer Support provides 13 family styled units at our Herston accommodation facilities and 4 units at our South Brisbane accommodation facilities which are suitable for medium-long term stays. Units range in size from 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom.  

During 2023-2024 we will be redeveloping housing in East Brisbane with the aim of providing 15 units which will be closer to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for the convenience of our families.

Our short-term accommodation in Woolloongabba (for overnight medical check-ups) is only a 5-10 minute walk to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Childhood Cancer Support is strongly family-focused, providing support to the affected children, their families and communities throughout each stage of the journey. That’s what makes our organisation so unique! We believe in keeping the family together by providing fully self-contained family accommodation so the whole family can be together to support one another.

Please view our website at www.ccs.org.au to learn more about our amazing organisation.

About the Role:

The primary purpose of this position is to provide psychosocial support and therapeutic counselling services to families of children with a diagnosis of cancer up to 18 years of age who are accommodated and supported by Childhood Cancer Support. This role is also involved in the facilitation of therapeutic group work programs by phone/zoom and face to face in addition to individual counselling services. This role will take a lead in developing and maintaining local relationships with hospitals and other service providers. The position will participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative support programs to improve support for families of children diagnosed with cancer.

This role is structured similarly to a private practice role, whereby you manage your own case load, schedule, supervision and professional development needs. You will work in a team of six but will be the only clinician at our organisation. Your hours of work can be worked flexibly, as required by the case load, but regular set hours will be established.

The role provides family support in-house, referrals to suitable support networks for families affected by childhood cancer and ensures all on-site resources, support services and activities are delivered in a timely manner to support Childhood Cancer Support families.

This is not a job for the faint hearted!! We are looking for that special person to provide support to the families as they progress through the arduous cancer journey with their child.

You will have empathy for those supported by the charity and provide a sense of family and inclusiveness for the families including accommodation support, guidance and information.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced professional with a strong appreciation for not-for-profit organisations. 

This position will be one of the representatives for Childhood Cancer Support at the Queensland Children’s Hospital Social Work and Welfare Departments so a consummate professional is required.

Your skills and experience:.

Essential

• A Tertiary Social Work qualification recognised by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Eligibility for membership of the AASW
• A minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience of providing psychosocial support and therapeutic counselling to children, young people and families.
• Impeccable ethical standards, initiative, judgement and sense of compassion.
• MUST HAVE a reliable car and current drivers’ licence with a clean record.
• MUST HAVE a Blue Card (working with children) or willingness to obtain.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret situations and behaviours & respond appropriately to the needs of families under stress and in trauma.

Desirable

• Post-graduate counselling training/qualification
• Post graduate training or experience in clinical trauma modalities (eg. Trauma focused CBT or EMDR)
• Previous employment in oncology or other health related support areas (including community agencies)
• Experience in providing telephone and email counselling
• Advanced knowledge of strength-based models of practice
• Experience in leading or participating in project work
• Experience within a Not-For-Profit organisation will be highly regarded.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills– ability to engage, empathise and build a sense of confidence.
• Confidence and capabilities in negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated understanding of or ability to research and upgrade knowledge of welfare entitlements and other family support services.
• Experience working with health and community stakeholders and hospital staff.
• Sound computer skills using the Microsoft Office suite of programs including databases.
• Demonstrated understanding of administrative processes, including file management, payment requisitions, petty cash and data entry.
• Understanding of the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) will be highly regarded
• Demonstrated understanding of privacy legislation and the ability to maintain confidentiality with respect to the company and its’ stakeholders.
• Positive, friendly, approachable and team focused.
• Impeccable professional work attire and punctuality.
• Highly motivated, committed and reliable.

What’s on Offer:

• Be part of a socially conscious organisation that is giving back.
• Permanent part-time ongoing role – 20 hours per week (some additional hours will be required for functions & emergency calls from time to time).
• Location primarily at our Herston office with 1-2 days per week at our South Brisbane office.
• Base salary as per Social and Community Services Employee Award  plus super.
• Sacrificing options available which increases take home pay.

Applications:
If this role sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, please submit your application (CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role) now!!

Let us know why YOU are the right person for this role and what you can offer our families and Childhood Cancer Support.

Please note that only applicants meeting the criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the short-listing process.

All applications will be treated as strictly confidential.

To obtain the Position Description please contact Helen Crew, General Manager [email protected]

Applications close 6 January 2023 with a view to commencement in mid-late January 2023. However, we encourage you to apply BEFORE this closing date as we will be short-listing applications as they are received and interviewing ASAP.

No agencies please