• A full-time, ongoing position within a values-based organisation
• Based in our Broadmeadows (Dallas) office, with free onsite parking
• Salary of $129,210 + Super + NFP Salary Packaging + Leave Loading

Rebuilding Shattered Lives – Supporting people of refugee background to recover from torture and other traumatic events.

Your Impact

The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, also known as Foundation House, is a leader in delivering specialist trauma-focused services that work with the strengths and resilience of refugees, their families, and communities to rebuild lives shattered by torture and other traumatic events.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Area delivers evidence-based best practice interventions that are safe, person-centred, effective and connected, and are trauma-informed and trauma-focused. Services are culturally safe and responsive to individuals and their families. All services are delivered according to the Foundation House Integrated Trauma Recovery Service Model, Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Integrated Trauma Recovery for People of Refugee Background (2nd edition), Community Capacity Building Framework, and international best practices.

The Adult and Family (A&F) Team Leader will lead a team of skilled Counsellor Advocates (CAs) and Senior Practitioners (SPs) delivering counselling and advocacy support to meet the needs of adults and families from refugee backgrounds who are survivors of torture and trauma, with a particular focus on work with young people aged 15-25 years. As Team Leader, you will achieve this by leading and supporting team members to utilise a diverse range of developmentally appropriate psychosocial therapeutic interventions that are accessible, trauma-informed, culturally safe and appropriate. The Adult and Family (A&F) Team Leader will also be responsible for providing operational and practice supervision to Counsellor Advocates.

The Role

Reporting to the Regional Manager, this role forms part of the Regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Team responsible for the oversight of all aspects of regional service delivery to ensure services are responsive, timely and delivered to the highest standards.

The Adult and Family (A&F) Team Leader will also actively engage in, and contribute to, the continuous improvement of systems and initiatives in collaboration with other regions and the Practice Excellence Area. All Team Leaders within the Mental Health and Wellbeing Area will be required to carry a small caseload of clients to ensure the maintenance of their currency of practice in undertaking assessments and delivering interventions for Foundation House clients.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the management of Mental Health and Wellbeing Area Counsellor Advocates to ensure high-quality counselling and advocacy services to people from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds.
• Lead the practice and operational supervision of Counsellor Advocates within the Region including guidance for the provision of clear and well-articulated assessments, case formulations, interventions and reports to support the recovery of clients and families.
• Ensure the application of a family-centred approach across all services to adults, children, youth, and families, with a particular focus on services for young people aged 15-25 years.
• Oversight and ensure appropriate identification, response and review of client and service delivery risks.
• Oversight service delivery against organisational and funding service delivery targets including waitlists.
• Undertake comprehensive psychosocial assessments and risk assessments for complex cases.
• Build strong ongoing relationships with the Practice Excellence team including identifying training needs, supervision and practice support and improvement.

The role is available as an ongoing, full-time position and will be based in our Broadmeadows (Dallas) office.

What you’ll need to successfully apply

To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria:

• Approved tertiary qualification in quality improvement and/or allied health discipline, including nursing, social work, psychology, or occupational therapy
• Advanced understanding of the impacts of complex trauma, with advanced skills in trauma-informed practice and providing trauma-focussed counselling interventions using a range of evidence-based modalities
• Advanced skills in undertaking psychosocial assessment, formulation, planning and care coordination for children, youth and adults, including risk assessments with a family lens, and experience supervising and supporting practitioners in the delivery of these services.
• Demonstrated expertise in the provision of culturally responsive and safe mental health and well-being support.
• An understanding of or experience in supporting people from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds will be highly regarded.
• A background in working with CALD young people aged 15-25 and their parents/carers will be advantageous.

In return

You’ll be rewarded with:

• an attractive remuneration package of $129,210 plus superannuation and annual leave loading
• salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options
• a role with true purpose to make a difference in people’s lives
• a welcoming, highly diverse and supportive team environment
• access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.

About Foundation House

We are:

• a state-wide agency offering services throughout Victoria. We currently have approximately 250 staff across our six offices in Brunswick, Dallas, Dandenong, Ringwood, Sunshine and Werribee, and we also provide services in partnership with other agencies in regional and rural Victoria
• values driven and committed to improving the life outcomes refugee background survivors
• an inclusive and equal opportunity employer
• a Child Safe organisation committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We also actively play a part in combating family violence, as reflected in our organisational policies, protocols and staff development.

How to Apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter (maximum one to two pages) outlining why you are suitable for this role and how you meet the selection criteria as described above.

Refer to the attached position description for detailed information about the role and more information about our hiring process.

Please note, applications may be considered as they are received, and job ads may close early.

For enquiries, please contact Justin Curreen-Harris – HR & Recruitment Specialist via [email protected] using the subject line: Team Leader - Counsellor Advocate enquiry via EthicalJobs or by phone on 03 9389 8985.

Appointment to the position is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, Working with Children Check and Reference Check process. If you have lived for a continuous period of 12 months or more in another country within the last 10 years, an International Police Check from that country will also be required.

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate proof of the Right to Work in Australia.