• As part of the community-based Palliative Care team you will support clients and carers to focus on psychosocial, emotional and spiritual goals related to end of life matters
• Part time - 4 days per week
• Competitive remuneration package available

About the program

The service is provided to residents of Darebin, Hume, Moreland, and Yarra in accordance with the Palliative Care Australia Standards 2005. Palliative Care operates within the MCM Disability, Early Childhood Intervention and Palliative Care division and implements MCM’s commitment to best practice in palliative care.

Melbourne City Mission’s Palliative Care service (MCMPC), 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. As part of the community-based Palliative Care team you will support clients and carers to focus on psychosocial, emotional and spiritual goals related to end of life matters.

About the role

We require an experienced counsellor, social worker or psychologist to join our counselling team at MCMPC .

This is a 4 day a week position (0.8 EFT, 64 hrs/fortnight) working in a supportive and collaborative team environment with attractive flexible working options and excellent support services including IT, vehicles, administration etc

Skills and experience

The Specialist Counsellor will be responsible for Psychosocial and Holistic care through:

• Providing appropriate assessment, and responsiveness through counselling, psychosocial, support, and welfare needs of clients and carers, friends, and family, including those with complex and high-risk needs. This may also involve appropriate referrals to internal or external stakeholders.
• To provide cover for the wider Allied Care counselling team (Bereavement, Aged Care) in the provision of therapeutic counselling and psychosocial support as needed.
• Organise and facilitate family meetings
• Initiate and participate in ongoing advance care planning and assist clients and carers to resolve issues that arise from these discussions
• Provide appropriate support, information, education and advocacy for clients and carers of diverse ages, cultures, and backgrounds.

Essential:

• Tertiary qualifications in a discipline with an emphasis on psychotherapeutic practice such as Counselling, Social Work, or Psychology
• Eligibility for membership or registration to relevant professional association
• Demonstrated experience in providing assessments, counselling and psychosocial support in a palliative care, community health or related field for people living with a life-limiting condition and their carers
• Understanding of loss and grief across the lifespan
• Demonstrated competence in providing counselling support to people of varied social, cultural, and religious backgrounds
• The ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team setting
• Demonstrated competence in implementing and maintaining self-care routines including reflective practice.
• Competence with electronic client and carer records and computer skills
• Prior experience in providing peer or professional support and debriefing
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Current Victorian driver’s licence
• Current Working with Children Check

Desirable:

• A sound understanding of community-based palliative care service provision
• Capacity to work within an interdisciplinary team with a high degree of autonomy

Please refer to the position description for the full duties and job objectives. 

How to Apply

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

For more details or assistance with application submission please email: [email protected] using the subject line: Specialist Palliative 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, Qualification Verification Check, Employment History 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. MCM employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 consistent with the Victoria public health orders regarding COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Procedures and applicants will be required to present acceptable proof of their vaccination status as part of their application.

Our commitment to diversity
At HHA/MCM, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people. If you require specific support to apply for this position, please advise the recruiting manager whose contact details are listed in the advertisement. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you.

Our commitment to safety
HHA/MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.