• Make a difference in the lives of children
• Competitive salary and excellent benefits package including, phone, tablet and salary packaging
• Burnie location – full time position

The Australian Childhood Foundation has a strong reputation for delivery of therapeutic services, professional training and secondary consultation built upon up-to-date evidence based theoretical frameworks including the neurobiology of trauma, attachment and relational theories and child development. This theoretical framework provides the foundation upon which all elements of care and intervention are provided by the Foundations Therapeutic Services Program.

The Foundation currently provides a statewide therapeutic out of home care service program to carers and children/young people in foster care, kinship or family group home care and specialised packages of support to children and young people in out of home care with complex needs. The Foundation has secured the statewide contract to deliver counselling services to children and young people affected by family violence.

The aims of these therapeutic services are:

• To collaborate with Child Safety Service (CSS), out of home care providers and carers in the creation of holistic, dependable, and predictable therapeutic environments for children and young people who have experienced abuse and trauma in their lives within which they can recover from the bio-psycho-social-cultural effects of their experiences.
• To deliver an effective counselling service which offers evidence based interventions that promote safety, empowerment and healing for children and young people affected by abuse, trauma and family violence.

The Therapeutic Specialist position will carry a varied caseload across the range of therapeutic programs offered by the Foundation. As such the role will provide counselling to children, young people and their carers, clinical leadership with regard to the development and implementation of appropriate therapeutic support for children and young people in out of home care and training for professionals and carers in trauma-informed therapeutic approaches to out of home care.

Your primary responsibilities:

• Promote the ability of children and young people to recover from the effects of abuse, family violence, trauma and loss;
• Ensure that risk and safety concerns are the subject of a continuous cycle of assessment and review for children and young people;
• Resource parents/carers and others to provide nurturing, therapeutic, reparative care for children and young people who present with complex needs and challenging behaviours using a trauma framework;
• Ensure that children and young people are provided with opportunities and assistance to participate in decisions that affect their lives;
• Ensure a multi-systemic, integrated, coordinated, consistent and holistic response to the needs of children, young people and parents/carers;
• Promote relationship and placement stability, and improve opportunities for children and young people to successfully transition from more intensive to less intensive placement options, to reunify with family, or have a robust leaving care plan;
• Work with families a supportive, inclusive and respectful way; and,
• Ensure that meaningful planning occurs in regard to the cultural needs of Aboriginal and other culturally diverse children and young people.
• Promote their recovery from the effects of their abuse or experiences of family violence.

About you - Key Selection Criteria:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline.
• Eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and direct service in the clinical assessment and treatment of children, young people and families.
• Highly developed ability to provide secondary consultation and advice to clinicians and other professionals.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage in an area of challenging and complex practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma, attachment and neurobiology frameworks and theories.
• Substantial experience in the area of child abuse and/or in working with traumatised children.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and the capacity to negotiate and liaise with volunteers, including carers, government departments, other agencies and the community.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively and positively within a team environment.
• A sophisticated understanding of the complexity of the service system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• A current Tasmanian driver's licence or equivalent.
• A current Working with Children check or equivalent

Remuneration & Benefits:

This position attracts a competitive base salary + phone + tablet + superannuation + salary packaging. The salary is determined on the basis of the employee’s experience and qualifications. In joining a strong, values based organisation, you will also have access to:

• Professional Development (up to $1000 (pro-rata) per year)
• Employee Assistance Program

For more information about the role or to request a copy of the position description, please email [email protected], using the subject line: Therapeutic Specialist - Burnie enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

ACF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.