• A part-time or full-time (0.8-1.0 EFT), ongoing position in a values-based org
• Based in our Sunshine office, with free onsite parking, close to PT
• Salary of $129,213 (pro-rata if part-time) + super + 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.
As Team Leader you 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. 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.

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.

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, counselling interventions, application of counselling modalities 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.
• 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.

This role is available as an ongoing, part-time or full-time position (0.8-1.0 EFT) and is based in our Sunshine office.

What you’ll need to successfully apply

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

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, counselling, or other related discipline with postgraduate qualifications highly regarded.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, engage, supervise and support a diverse, multidisciplinary team of practitioners.
• Advanced understanding of the impacts of complex trauma, with skills in trauma-informed practice and providing trauma-focused counselling interventions using a range of evidence-based modalities
• Strong skills in undertaking psychosocial assessment, formulation, planning and care coordination for adults and families, including risk assessments with a family lens, and experience supervising and supporting practitioners in the delivery of these services.
• Excellent understanding of how to negotiate and advocate with multiple service systems in Victoria to support the needs of refugee and asylum seeker, adults and families.
• Demonstrated expertise in the provision of culturally responsive and safe mental health and well-being support.

In return

You’ll be rewarded with:

• an attractive remuneration package of $129,213 plus superannuation and annual leave loading (pro rata if part-time)
• 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 position description below for detailed information about the role and for more information about our hiring process, please refer to the Careers with Us page on our website.

Position Description: https://tinyurl.com/254b9ds8 

Copy & paste link to download PDF.

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

For enquiries, please contact Justin Curreen-Harris from our HR Team via [email protected] using the subject line: Team Leader - Counsellor Advocates 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.