Social Worker Counsellor (Melbourne)

Psychology, Counselling & Social Work (Healthcare & Medical) knowmore legal service is currently seeking an experienced Social Worker Counsellor to join our organisation within the community legal sector. This is an opportunity for the right candidates to be part of an organisation with fantastic career progression and professional development prospects. We particularly encourage applications from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background to apply. Full or Part time hours, attractive remuneration package and access to salary packaging.
About knowmore knowmore is a nation-wide independent community legal centre providing free legal information, advice, representation and referrals, education and systemic advocacy for victims and survivors of child abuse.
knowmore uses a multidisciplinary model bringing together lawyers, intake officers, social workers and counsellors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement advisors and financial counsellors to provide trauma-informed, client-centred and culturally safe legal assistance to clients. Services are provided through a national phone line and face-to-face services in key locations, supported by a comprehensive program of outreach and community engagement across Australia.
About the Role This role delivers frontline trauma-informed, person-centered and culturally safe services to clients working within the knowmore multidisciplinary model. The key function of this role is to support clients in a trauma-informed way that minimises impacts of the legal process and helps them to understand the information, advice and options provided to them and in turn provide instructions to their lawyers.
The role works at a local multidisciplinary office level and is also part of knowmore's national Support Services Team.
Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Providing crisis and short-term counselling and support for clients of knowmore through telephone and face-to-face services, responding to a high level of client requests in a timely and effective manner.Supporting clients within knowmore's multidisciplinary teams and service delivery model, including working alongside lawyers, intake staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Advisors and administration staff.Providing information and supported referral assistance to clients to access other services that can assist them.Providing discipline-specific case consultation and support to co-workers within and external to knowmore for the purposes of supporting the well-being of clients and minimising the impacts of engagement with the service.Delivering outreach services where required which may include home visits and legal advice clinics. Outreach may involve intra and interstate travel and involves travelling with members of the multidisciplinary team, including at times to remote and regional communities.Delivering presentations including community education sessions about knowmore, information about the knowmore model and others as required.Representing knowmore at key external meetings and interagency and service coordination forums.Providing informal debriefing and situational support to co-workers as required to enhance awareness of wellbeing within a trauma-informed organisational framework.Co-working with colleagues in the local office, the Support Services Team and across other offices and teams of the organisation.Contributing to the development of practice knowledge and service responses including policy and procedure and best practice responses to working with the client group.Working within the management structure of knowmore including working effectively with the Manager of Support Services, and the Regional Client Services Manager.Accurately recording client activity and administrative information according to organisational and discipline requirements and standards.Contributing to knowmore's law and policy reform work, including written submissions.Contributing to and participating in all internal meetings including office meetings, discipline-specific team meetings, knowmore all-of-staff meetings and others as identified.Ensuring work practices are ethical and comply with organisational and professional requirements.Monitoring own self-care and engage with knowmore in supporting and enhancing wellbeing and resilience.Actively participating in team/group supervision and other forums where multidisciplinary practice reflection occurs.Qualifications, Experience and Key Selection Criteria Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or Counselling including current membership with a relevant professional body.Five years or more relevant work experience, with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in counselling service provision.A well-developed understanding of institutional child sexual abuse, its impacts and current best practice approaches to working effectively with survivors.Experience working in trauma-informed, multidisciplinary services and teams.First Nations cultural competency – to work in ways that recognise and counteract privilege and bias, and appreciate the values, traditions, belief systems, and experience of First Nations People.Highly developed teamwork and stakeholder engagement skills including building successful referral relationships with other services.Experience in and willingness to work at a variety of off-site locations including external agencies, correctional centres, client home visits and outreach to other services.A high level of commitment to self-care, reflective practice and supervision.Organisational Obligations Share our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, courage and innovation and have a strong commitment to improving the lives of survivors of child abuse.Commitment to working within and supporting knowmore's practice framework (trauma-informed culturally safe, person-centred).The role will involve intrastate and interstate travel to deliver services to clients on an outreach basis, and to undertake community engagement activities. A current driver's license is desirable.Hold a satisfactory National Police Records Check and a Working with Children Check.Demonstrate an active and dedicated commitment to knowmore's Purpose, Vision and Values.Comply with knowmore's Policies and Procedures.Observe all legal and legislative requirements.Ensure a high level of confidentiality and integrity.Cultivate productive and collaborative working relationships and outcomes through open and inclusive planning, continuous improvement and transparent work practices.Liaise with others in a professional, respectful and constructive manner.Take reasonable care to protect their health and safety and the health and safety of others.Engage in professional supervision and other reflective practice opportunities as required.A competitive salary commensurate with the not-for-profit sector is offered together with the availability of salary packaging to achieve a tax effective total salary package. In addition to being a flexible workplace, knowmore offers 12% superannuation (0.5% above the SGC), a 37.5 hour working week and 4 weeks annual leave, including annual leave loading.
Employees have access to training and development opportunities as well as our Employee Assistance Program.
Additionally, knowmore offers the ability to partially work from home to facilitate a balanced work life.
How to apply Further Information about knowmore is available at www.knowmore.org.au
If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested in, please click 'apply now'.
Your application must include:
A cover letter outlining why you are applying for this position and your preferred location and employment type.A resume with your skills, experience and qualifications.Please note we will be assessing applications as they are submitted so the closing date is indicative.
Agencies please note: This recruitment assignment is being managed directly by knowmore. We do not require extra assistance at this time.
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