• CLASSIFICATION: Level 5.1 – 5.3
• AWARD: Social Community, Home Care and Disability
• Services Industry Award 2010
• WORK TYPE: Full time, Fixed term – 6 months
• HOURS OF WORK: 38 hours per week, Mon - Fri
• RATE OF PAY: SAC’s Award Level 5.1 – 5.3

ROLE OF THE POSITION

The Counsellor aims to provide Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) counselling and education to women and children within OVIS or external services of OVIS. They will also be required to develop and deliver programs to women and children who are affected by FDV.

Provide comprehensive person-centred support, assistance and advocacy for individual women or women with children who maybe escaping or experiencing the effects of domestic/family violence. This will be undertaken in collaboration with the OVIS support worker.

OVIS believes that the safety of women and children is paramount and aims to support women and their children to live free from violence and address the emotional and practical needs and issues arising there from.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Pat Thomas Refuge Team Leader
• Operations Manager
• Chief Executive Officer 

Key working relationships:

• OVIS Pat Thomas Refuge
• OVIS external services consisting of PASS, W/L, Outreach, SAH
• Establish and maintain working relationships with other service providers and stakeholders
• Clients of OVIS Community Services

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Client Services

• Support women and children or young people either individually or in a group setting
• Provide a client strength-based support for women and children 
• Apply appropriate methodologies and proven techniques that will assist the client to meet their goals and enhance their likelihood of a positive outcome
• Ability to plan and work independently to develop and deliver programs/workshops/activities as deemed necessary for the identified target group
• Work using early intervention crisis strategies
• Provision for risk assessment using Common Risk Assessment and Management Framework
• Referral and reporting to relevant agencies and Government Departments 
• Maintain a safe and secure environment for clients of the service
• Document objective, information in client files
• Collect data and maintain data systems as required
• Work collaboratively with partnering agencies 
• Respond to telephone enquiries efficiently and effectively as required
• Ensure knowledge of and compliance with all policies and procedures in relation to direct service delivery to clients
• Ensure that day-to-day activities are undertaken in accordance with client focused principles
• Represent OVIS on committees of relevant community groups as required
• Develop and set policy direction, evaluation and research with Executive
• Adhere to privacy and confidentiality policies as outlined in Policies and Procedures
• Promote and maintain safe work practices in accordance with OH&S policies as outlined in Policies and Procedures
• Other duties as directed

Professional Development

• Actively participate in professional development and supervision as directed
• Participation with team leader in regular supervision to discuss service, workload and service issues
• Maintain own professional development through performance management and participation in relevant educational and training programs
• Provide input into workplace strategic development planning for OVIS Services
• Be able to work with clear professional and personal boundaries

Other

Comply with legislative requirements and procedures in relation to:

• Occupational Safety and Health and Risk Management
• Refuge Standards, including Code of Conduct and Philosophy
• Equal Opportunity
• Other legislation/policies relevant to the crisis accommodation and welfare industry and/or position

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential Criteria:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in social work, Psychology or Behavioural Sciences
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with women and children experiencing FDV
• Demonstrated understanding of the dynamics of FDV and the impact on women and children
• Demonstrated ability to undertake individual assessments with the women and children to identify therapeutic and counselling needs
• Able to work with women and children when in crisis either individually or as a group
• Demonstrated understanding of risk and safety as it pertains to Family and Domestic Violence and ability to respond effectively in a crisis
• Demonstrated knowledge and practice of confidentiality
• Demonstrated ability to deal with difficult and challenging behaviours
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and within a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to set program direction, policy, evaluation, and research
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrated understanding of cross-cultural issues, and skills to work with women from all back grounds in a culturally sensitive manner
• Experience in Advocacy and Support
• Understanding of issues for Indigenous people and clients from a CaLD background
• Experience in case management, client support and safety planning.

CERTIFICATION

• Australian Federal Police Clearance
• Australian Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status
• Current WA “C” Class Driver’s License
• Current Senior First Aid Certificate
• Working with Children Check

For further information about the position, please contact the Operations Manager on 9520 8627 or email [email protected], using the subject line: Family and Domestic Violence Counsellor enquiry via EthicalJobs.