About the Program:

Permanency Support Program (PSP) NSW South and ACT, provides Foster Care and Intensive Therapeutic Care including Intensive Therapeutic Transitional Care, Intensive Therapeutic Care Homes, Therapeutic Supported Independent Living, Therapeutic Home-based Care and Therapeutic Sibling Option Placement. The program is based in Queanbeyan and Holt (ACT).

About the role:

The Senior Psychologist role within MacKillop’s Clinical Services and reports through to the NSW Principal Practitioner. The position works closely with the Managers and Staff of the Intensive Therapeutic Transition Care (ITTC), program to deliver clinical and therapeutic services for children, young people, families and carers who are clients of the programs. This new senior position supervises a Multidisciplinary team (Psychologists, Social Workers and counsellors) in the ITTC program and other parts of the Intensive Therapeutic Care program. The position carries a case-load of up to 4 children in the ITTC and 1 other young person. Outreach is also part of the role.

The Senior Psychologist is responsible for guiding and supporting carer and staff interactions with children and young people, conducting assessments, developing therapeutic treatment plans and leading group supervision (reflective practice) to support carers and staff to develop their therapeutic skills. In addition, the Senior Psychologist will provide therapeutic services including Family Therapy directly to the children, young people and families who are clients of our services.

The Senior Psychologist, as part of the Clinical Services team, and as directed by the Principal Practitioner, will work closely with the Managers, program staff and other service partners in the management of complex cases and practice quality issues. This includes the provision of expertise and assistance, case consultancy and review and the promotion of reflective and evidence-based practice.

About you:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology is essential.
• A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their families
• Current registration as a psychologist with AHPRA.
• Post Graduate training in relevant child, adolescent and family clinical practice, family therapy and systemic thinking is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in the field.
• Experience working with children, young people and their families where there has been a history of complex or intergenerational trauma, abuse and neglect including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
• Experience in completing assessments for children and young people and using the findings to complete a comprehensive therapeutic written report/care plan designed to inform staff and child interactions and the Care Team’s planning
• Practice knowledge relevant to working with traumatised and vulnerable children, young people and families such as: child development and the impact of trauma; including the ability to provide therapeutic clinical assessment and trauma informed interventions.
• A well-developed understanding of Attachment and Trauma Theories, their relationship to child abuse and neglect, together with an understanding of social, emotional and cognitive disabilities and an ability to assist others to understand their associated implications.
• Experience in providing supervision, secondary consultation, training and advice to clinicians, other professionals, staff and carers
• Proven highly developed interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and excellent engagement skills, especially in engaging children and young people who have experienced significant trauma, disrupted attachment and demonstrate extreme emotional and behavioural dysregulation.
• A track record of working collaboratively and the demonstrated capacity to negotiate and liaise with internal and external stakeholders including, DCJ, other agencies and the community.
• Demonstrable analytical problem-solving skills, the ability to assess options and identify and implement creative, innovative and flexible solutions.
• Evidence of a holistic understanding of the complexity of the child protection and out-of-home care service system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• Evidence of personal values consistent with the values of MacKillop Family Services including a willingness to embrace the Sanctuary Model and Principles.

The incumbent must possess a:

• Valid and current NSW Driver’s Licence.
• Valid and current NSW Working with Children Check.
• Satisfactory criminal history check conducted by MacKillop Family Services.

For more information, please contact Emma Schubert on [email protected], using the subject line: ITC Therapeutic Specialist enquiry via EthicalJobs.

MacKillop promotes diversity and equal opportunity in employment and is committed to a diverse workforce. We encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. MacKillop Family Services acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Elders in each of the communities where we work.