ABOUT US

We are a leading community support organisation working alongside people to live the life they aspire to, their way, providing a broad range of support in Homelessness, Justice, Disability, Palliative Care, Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS), and Early Years and Education service areas. A career with us means you are part of an organisation making a real difference.

Our ECIS team is growing, with proven results delivering high quality services. Our dynamic team thrives on innovation and our collaborative approach means you are always well supported. We are dedicated to developing the knowledge and expertise of our employees. We know their accomplishments are the key to our success.

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About the program

MCM’s Palliative Care service was established in 1981 as the first community-based palliative care service in Victoria. The service aims to enhance quality of life by providing specialist, interdisciplinary palliative care and practical support for people living with a terminal condition. Support is also offered to families and carers. Support includes the management of complex symptoms, loss, grief and bereavement.

About the role

Working within the Bereavement Program, the appointee will ensure that all clients and carers assessed as benefiting will have access to the Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care Bereavement Program. The appointee will provide direct client care as well as support to the interdisciplinary team in its provision of loss and grief care.

• Provide assessment of the support and counselling needs of bereaved carers, friends and family.
• Provide therapeutic counselling support for clients and carers, particularly those assessed as being at medium to high risk for complex grief and bereavement.
• Provide counselling and assessment to relevant palliative care clients as directed by the Coordinator of Allied Care.
• As part of the Bereavement team work collaboratively to ensure a well coordinated Bereavement Program is available to carers for 12 months following a client’s death.
• Maintain client records and meet statistical and other reporting requirements.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Tertiary qualifications in a discipline with an emphasis on psychotherapeutic practice such as Social Work, Counselling, Psychology
• Eligibility for membership or registration to relevant professional association
• Demonstrated experience in providing bereavement counselling for adults and children, including those affected by complex loss and grief
• Training and experience in managing suicide risk

Desirable:

• Understanding and competence in trauma informed practice
• A sound understanding of community-based palliative care service provision
• Demonstrated awareness of delivering culturally appropriate bereavement support for CALD clients

For more information, including a position description, closing date and how to apply, please click “Apply Now” to be redirected to our website.

For more details or assistance with application submission please email: [email protected] using the subject line: Bereavement Counsellor enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment safety screening process as part of the MCM selection process. Appointments to MCM roles will be subject to the following safety screening checks (as applicable to the role): National (and International if applicable) Police Check (which includes Proof of Identity Check), Victorian Employee Working with Children Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check, Right to Work in Australia and current and valid driver licence. All costs associated with safety checks (except National Police Check) will be at applicants’ expense.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

At MCM, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion helps us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people. If you require specific support to apply for this position, please email [email protected].

A position description is attached.