INTRODUCTION

At Phoenix House Youth Services we relate our success directly to the strength of our team and the positive contribution we make to our clients.

To continue operating at the highest standard we are seeking a Therapeutic Specialist to join the team. In this role you will support our Social Workers in the delivery of services funded by the Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ).

You will report to the Head of Organisation, and will have interactions with a wide range of clients from diverse backgrounds.

As part of the functioning of the role, the successful applicant would be providing a mixture of professional therapeutic services. This would range from individual formal counselling, participation in our bespoke “Wellbeing Program” (delivered in-schools), and the collaborative facilitation of group programs, such as an on-site delivery of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).

Benefits of working in Phoenix House Youth Services include:

• A small, inclusive and caring culture;
• An attractive renumeration package including superannuation;
• Very flexible working conditions; and
• Personal career satisfaction.

Objectives of the Role

In accordance with the ongoing functioning of Phoenix House Youth Service the position will be required to:

• Deliver on the obligations of our service delivery to the Department of Communities & Justice. This includes:
  • 30 counselling clients p.a. (6 counselling sessions each, with an additional 4 by professional review),
  • 3 in-school deliveries of the Wellbeing Program p.a.,
  • 3 on-site deliveries of DBT group sessions,
  • On-site therapeutic assistance for the delivery of our Living Skills program.
• Pending completion of the above (according to the stipulations of the Phoenix House Annual Business Plan), the role has latitude to pursue the delivery of the above program for other stakeholder groups (eg: corporates, schools, juvenile justice) according to their discretion, and approval of the Board.
• Collaborate with the Head of Organisation and board to continue the delivery of services as part of the DCJ contracts, according to the stipulations of the annual budget, the delivery of set programs included within the Business Plan, and / or overall organisational strategy.
• Assist in the development, and management of programs outside of the annual Business Plan to provide supplementary assistance to groups of clients, acquit new / existing grants, or develop areas identified in the organisational strategy.

Key Responsibilities

As a Therapeutic Specialist, the role will:

• Provide one-to-one counselling services to our cohort of clients (vulnerable 12 – 25 year olds on Sydney’s North Shore).
• Work closely with our on-site Social Workers, for collaboration on the development of care plans, provision of client services, or facilitation of group activities.
• Manage the stakeholder networks that provides participants for the Wellbeing Program, DBT sessions, or individual counselling.
• Maintain established timelines in-relation to client service periods,
• Assist in maintaining the delivery of group service programs,
• Assist in the collaborative growth of Phoenix House programs,
• Provide other assistance where necessary in the delivery of services under the DCJ contracts.
• Provide assistance in ongoing administrative duties relating to managing the general operations of Phoenix House.

Role Capability

The role is expected to:

• Implement transparent and accountable decision making in relation to client needs,
• Maintain a high level of communication and collaboration with staff and others,
• Provide competent and effective care to vulnerable youth on Sydney’s North Shore,
• Maintain a strong oversight and understanding of the DCJ’s contractual requirements for social service.

Criteria

The criteria for the Senior Social Worker role includes:

Essential:

1. Minimum 3 years experience in counselling, psychological practice or psychotherapy.
2. Experience working with young people / mental health & homelessness.
3. An Associate Diploma, Advanced Certificate, or higher equivalent tertiary qualification in a related field that is aligned with one of the 9 pathways under Item 4: Professional Registration (below).
4. Professional Registration (or equivalent):
   1. AHPRA Registration (4 + 1 Pathway)
   2. AHPRA Registration (4 + 2 Pathway)
   3. ARCAP Registration (Division A Clinical: 750 hours + 30 hours p.a.)
   4. ARCAP Registration (Division B Level 3: 750 hours + 75 hours supervision.)
   5. PACFA Registration (Clinical: 750 hours + 75 hours supervision.)
   6. PACFA Registration (Practising Member: 40 hours + 10 hours supervision.)
   7. ACA Registration (Registered Counsellor Level 2)
   8. ACA Registration (Registered Counsellor Level 3)
5. Comfort in using client data reporting systems.
6. Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check required.

Desirable:

1. Credentialing with the Australian DBT Institute (in-Australia, or the International Practitioner Credentialing Committee in DBT), or equivalent accreditation.
2. Comfort using a CRM (Customer-Relationship-Management) system.
3. Experience in social services leadership, finance, HR or operations.
4. Ability to produce, or contribute to annual reporting and planning documents (budget, business plan, etc.)
5. Experience in the delivery of education, special-assistance education or study-support programs
6. Strong relationship management skills.

Duties

Counselling (40%)

• Provide counselling to our cohort of young people (12 – 24) as part of our service delivery for the Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ).
• Data management (regular case notes and reporting to the DCJ).
• Provide counselling to cohorts outside of the DCJ’s service delivery (according to community need and scheduling).

Group Activities (40%)

• Leadership on the delivery, development and continual improvement of group programs delivered as part of our service delivery for the Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ). This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Wellbeing Program,
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy,
  • Emergency-intervention counselling.
• Leadership on the delivery, development and continual improvement of group programs to cohorts outside of the DCJ’s service delivery (according to community need and scheduling).

Operations, Management & Administration (20%)

• Assistance with the development of new programs, or consultation of development of grant applications / acquittals.
• Collaboration with our Social Work team for the provision of wrap-around support of our clients of low-high complexity.
• Assistance with operational tasks related to the ongoing operations of Phoenix House, as-needed.