Corporation for Health Services

GOONDIR ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS

CORPORATION FOR HEALTH SERVICES

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION:COUNSELLOR(SPECIALISING IN BRINGING

THEM HOME) - (CBTH)

RESPONSIBLETO:CLINIC MANAGER, ST. GEORGE(CM) AND

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR (MHC)

LOCATION:ST GEORGE (and co-ordinate services across the Goondir Region)

RESPONSIBLE FOR:DUTIES LISTED BELOW

ORGANISATION OVERVIEW

Goondir Health Services is a Community Controlled health service with itscentral office located in Dalby, 225 kms south west of Brisbane. Goondir employsup to 45Staff and covers a service area of approximately 160,000 square kilometers. Additionally, Goondir provides services from the Oakey Hospitaland to the remote communities of Miles and St George. The Service providesholisticprimaryhealth care that is culturally sensitive and specific to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Counsellor (specialising in Bringing Them Home)reports as per the Organisation Structure and is responsible forfacilitating healing and improvement of wellbeing to Clients, especially those who have been affected by the Government forced removal policies or by intergenerational effects of forced removal. The CBTH will provideculturally appropriate intake, assessment, crisis intervention, casemanagement, counselling, education and support services to all Clients. The CBTHmust always demonstrate high levels of professionalism and integrity, be an innovative thinker and apply high moral and ethical standards to ensure confidentiality is maintained.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS (Duties, Responsibilities and Work Behaviours)

Goondir Health Services is committed to achieving its mission to improve the health and well-being of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. To sustain the trust of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in fulfilling this mission, and for Staff to achieve their full potential, core values are shared across this organisation. These are quality and recognition, professionalism, teamwork and performance accountability. Implementation of these values in the workplace requires the commitment of Management and Staff. The primary duties and assessment criteria outlined in this job description reflect the commitment to core values which is required by this position.

DUTIES

The following key responsibilities may be modified from time to time to ensure the expected outcomes of this position contribute to the goals and objectives of the organisation.

Bringing Them Home Program:

Provide counselling and support for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people;
Offer a broad range of counselling services which includes intergenerational grief, trauma and family relationship counselling;
Provide culturally appropriate intake, assessment, crisis intervention and case management service;
Provide adequate social and emotional support and advocacy to ATSI Clients;
Ensure priority is given to Clients who are First Generation, elderly, and/or requiring urgent assistance due to health concerns;

Responsible for the implementation of treatment and rehabilitation programs on a specific needs basis;
Provide management of a caseload with a team approach to intervention;

Offer to refer clients to Link-Up services for family tracing and reunion services;
Participate and assist in the full reunion process at the request of a Link Up service;
Attend regular case discussion meetings with the social health team to ensure cultural sensitivity and safety in clinical practice;
Work with established peer support groups and other Stolen Generations groups to either conduct or support healing programs and related activities;
Participate in outreach service delivery and in the delivery of community education plans;
Participate in national networks, conferences and other relevant taskforces;
Establish a referral network of, and offer to refer clients to, professional counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, traditional healers and other services as required, including mainstream mental health services, non-government organisations, and alternative services such as drug and alcohol services;

Provide local, regional, state and national promotion and education on the Stolen Generation;
Develop networks and maintain communication with relevant agencies and organisations essential to the provision of effective programs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
Promote the counselling service to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, other Aboriginal organisations and other Health Services delivery agencies in the region;
Provide advice to other Staff in the Health Service about emotional and social well being issues, impacting on other programs provided by the Health Service;
Provide community education and awareness sessions;

Health Promotion:

Promote and evaluate better health and well being to clients and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community;
Focus on Prevention, Intervention and Educational Strategies;
Responsible for operating health programs in the community as required and participate in community health programs;
Participate in health promotion/education programs and activities as scheduled in the operational plans for the clinic or as deemed necessary by Program Managers/Supervisor;
Carry out Home Visits as scheduled;
Ensure a high standard of records management is maintained at all times relevant to the organisations requirements with all data entry on PIRS;
Liaise with Medical Staff of the service and other health professionals (internal or external) on specific cases;
Assist in the production of health promotion literature for special groups in the community;
Participate in school visits carrying out health promotion programs;

Reporting:

Monitor and report on service delivery activities within your scope of work by providing progress or status reports to your Supervisor according to requirements and timelines set by Management;
Participate in the development of relevantService Plans/Program Plans and undertake regular monitoring and evaluation against these Plans;
Monitor the integrity and accuracy of all data inputted into the PIRS system;
Ensure quality improvement initiatives identified by you are reported to the Officer responsible for Accreditation and Quality Improvement;
Ensure a high standard of records management is maintained at all times relevant to the organisations requirements with all data entry on PIRS and reporting requirements as stipulated by the Funding Body;

Relationships:

Develop and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally;
Communicate with other Line Managers where overlap of operational, program or reporting requirements are required;
Provide leadership and direction to Staff within the area of specialty and within the team;
Facilitate linkages with other organisations and services, including Divisions of General Practice, allied health providers and other primary health care services providing culturally appropriate services to Clients;

Compliance:

Ensure the services Compliance Register for your area of responsibility is monitored, updated, maintained by continually promoting its requirement to Staff;
Ensure activities meet relevant accreditation standards;
Comply with the Policies and Procedures of the Organisation;

Ensure confidentiality of Client information;
Participate in planning and implementing service improvements according to accreditation standards, Policy and Procedures and Legislative requirements;
Undertake duties in accordance with Legislative and Regulatory Requirements and all other legal compliance including applicable standards;
Ability to undertake work in an ethical, professional and sensitive manner maintaining privacy and confidentiality at all times;

Provision of After Hours Care:

It is a service requirement to make yourself available for on call/after hours provision of services as rostered;

General:

Attend relevant Internal Committee and General Meetings as nominated/required;
Complete and record hours of work on timesheets daily ensuring they are accurate and signed;
Participate in quality improvement initiatives for the continual improvement of service delivery;
Provide information and updates for Intranet and Website;
Archive documents as identified/required inline with Organisation requirements;
Undertake further training as required/directed or approved relevant to this position;
Undertake identified/relevant mandatory internal and external professional development in order to maintain essential skills and qualifications;
Undertake all other duties pertaining to the improvement of health service delivery as directed by Supervisor;

QUALIFICATIONS / CRITERIA

Education to Year 12 or equivalent;
Other relevant Tertiary Education i.e.Psychology, Psychiatry, Mental Health, Counselling, Social Work, Welfare;
Be in possession or be eligible for Working with Children Blue Card (Queensland);
Possess a current Open Queensland Drivers License;
Be in possession or be eligible for Drivers Authorisation Card;
First Aid and/or CPR Certification.

Note: This Position Description (PD) is an outline of the nature and expected outcomes of the job. It will also include the knowledge and skills required to undertake the role. A PD is not a detailed record of every task and duty.

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