Canberra Health Services

Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol and Drug Services

WITHDRAWAL SERVICES

Withdrawal Unit Counsellor

Health Professional Level 2

Salary Range: $70,679 – $97,028 (PN: 57833 – 025OX)

Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together

Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community

Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind

POSITION OVERVIEW 

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS website:  https://www.health.act.gov.au/

Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS) is a part of the division of Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS), which is contemporary, evidence-based service providing high quality ADS guided by the principles of harm minimisation.  ADS incorporates 7 areas including the Opioid Treatment Services, Medical Services, Consultation and Liaison Service, 10 bed Inpatient Withdrawal Service, Police and Court Drug Diversion Service, Drug Alcohol Sentencing List and Counselling and Treatment Services. 

ADS provides information, advice, referral, intake, assessment, and support for ACT residents struggling with substance use issues. We offer services for individuals, their family and friends, general practitioners, other health professionals, and business and community groups.

This also includes the provision of high-quality liaison with external stakeholder, consumers and staff of MHJHADS. 

This position is part of ADS Allied Health team, based at Building 7 at the Canberra Hospital. The team provides client services across the Withdrawal Unit and Opioid Treatment Service. 

The role is located within the Withdrawal Unit and part of a multidisciplinary team working collaboratively with individuals to address psychosocial issues which involves direct intervention or counselling, therapeutic group work, advocacy, or referral to other agencies for more specialised support. 

The role is a mandatory qualified position and will require recent demonstrated experience in the provision of comprehensive social work assessments, ability to provide a wide range of psychological/counselling treatments and group work to adults. Experience of alcohol and other drug assessment skills are desirable but not mandatory.

All team members are required to undertake professional development and supervision, provide supervision, participate in quality initiatives and contribute to the multidisciplinary team processes.

DUTIES

Under limited direction of the ADS Allied Health Manager you will perform psychosocial assessments, brief interventions, facilitate group therapy and counselling to clients in the Withdrawal Unit. You will:

1. Provide clinical services based on best practice models to people in the Withdrawal Unit. This includes clinical assessments and treatments across a range of clinical issues for people engaging in treatment for substance use. 
2. Effectively communicate with clients, their nominated support networks, and other services needed to address identified client psychosocial needs and recovery planning.
3. Consult and liaise with external community agencies/groups to develop partnerships for service delivery and health promotion activities identified in the business plan. 
4. Participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance management. Complete clinical and administrative processes for data collection, reporting and evaluation.
5. Initiate, coordinate and/or contribute to quality improvement activities in relation to client programs, services, policies and procedures applicable to professional and organisational practice.  May include a supervised research project.
6. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification, within the approved scope of clinical practice ensuring the delivery of high-quality person and family centred, safe and high-quality patient care

ABOUT YOU

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, or Questioning (LGBTIQ) are particularly encouraged to apply.

Behavioural Capabilities

1. Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team, be flexible, adaptable, and comfortable with a changing working environment.
2. Strong organisational skills including excellent written and oral communication
3. Ability to analyse information and make decisions to complete tasks with minimal supervision
4. Ability to consider the broader bio psychosocial components to clinical presentations and their interaction or influence on the presenting problem. 
5. Ability to uphold access and equity for clients with diverse needs through advocacy and liaison.
6. The ability to provide a range of psychological/counselling treatments.

Position Requirements/Qualifications:

Mandatory

• Degree in Social Work
• Professional membership or eligibility for professional membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Applicants must have a minimum of 1 years (ideal 2 years) post-qualification experience.
• CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates and contingencies. 

Desirable

• Experience of alcohol and other drug assessment skills are desirable but not mandatory.
• 4 Core Competencies from the Certificate IV in AOD Work, or higher (if not training will be provided for the successful candidate)
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering With Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.

Note: This is a temporary position available for 11 months with the possibility of extension and/ or permanency.

Prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to: 

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Prior to commencing this role, a current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for medical professionals.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

For further information, please visit www.jobs.act.gov.au 

Contact Officer: Michael Haines 0251242591 [email protected] 

Applications Close: 30 September 2022