Children & Families Counsellor

• SCHADS Award Level 5 (Salary Sacrifice available)
• 19 hours per week (can be worked as 5-day F/N)
• Ongoing position (subject to funding)
• Based at Maroochydore office
• Applications close 5pm Monday 3rd March

Applications are sought for the position of Children and Families Counsellor based at the Maroochydore office of Laurel Place Inc. This is a permanent part-time position, 38 hours per fortnight, subject to the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period and ongoing funding from the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety. The incumbent of the position will be required on occasion to travel within the Sunshine Coast and Gympie areas.

The primary focus of the position is the provision of trauma-informed therapeutic intervention and support to children and young people who have experienced sexual violence. Focus is also directed toward the provision of therapeutic support to non-offending family members/supporters to strengthen family functioning and prevent further harm. The position also provides therapeutic intervention and support to children under 10 years of age who are engaging in harmful sexual behaviours.

Please send your application marked confidential to [email protected]. Include in your application your address to the selection criteria, brief C.V. and contact details of at least two referees.

Organisational Environment:

Laurel Place Inc. is funded by The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services, and Child Safety. Laurel Place is governed by a Board drawn from the local community. The service employs approximately 50 staff across four programs and four locations in Maroochydore, Gympie, Murgon as well as Moreton Bay

The service provides a range of options to women, men, children, young people, families and the community that work towards reducing the impact and incidence of sexual violence in the Sunshine Coast, Gympie, South Burnett, and Moreton Bay Regions. Laurel Place also operates Women’s Space from the Maroochydore location which provides support to women who have experienced all forms of gendered violence.

The service also focuses on providing education, information and resources to the target groups and wider community.

This position reports directly to the Team Leader, Murgon & Gympie and more broadly to the Director, Counselling Services, Executive Director, and Board of Management. The position also requires regular engagement and consultation with the Support Worker – First Nations Clients.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide a range of culturally appropriate and sensitive, trauma-informed therapeutic interventions to children, young people, adults and their non-offending family members/carers/ supporters who have experienced sexual abuse.
• Provide culturally sensitive and appropriate therapeutic interventions and support to children and young people who engage in sexually harmful behaviours.
• Conduct and complete thorough assessments, including the assessment of risk/safety and the use of appropriate assessment measures.
• Develop and facilitate a range of therapeutic and educational group programs when required.
• Provide relevant information and resources to children, young people, adults and their non-offending family members and supporters as well as other allied agencies.
• Liaise and work collaboratively with statutory bodies and other relevant services regarding case planning and monitor child protection concerns accordingly as is appropriate.
• Promote community awareness of the issues relating to sexual violence including the magnitude and extensiveness of its impacts on individuals, families, communities and wider society
• Engage in the accurate and relevant collection of statistical data and provide to the Team Leader.
• Participate in training, case planning/review and regular supervision.

All Service Staff Duties:

• Work within and towards the organisational vision, mission, and values
• Ensure the maintenance of client confidentiality including keeping confidential client records; and,
• Participate in annual staff appraisals/assessments;
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training;
• Participate in annual and other planning sessions to develop a strategic response to Domestic, Family and Gender based violence;
• Support a culture of transparency and accountability within the service, and contribute to a positive, collaborative, and supportive workplace culture and environment;
• Contribute to overall tidiness and cleanliness of shared office spaces; and,
• Perform any other reasonable tasks at the request of the leadership team.

Primary Delegations and Accountabilities / Reporting Relationships

• Work under the direction of the Team Leader, Children’s Program
• Work as part of a team (Board of Management, Executive Director, Practice Manager, Team Leaders, Counsellors, Indigenous Community Liaison and Support Worker, Centre Support and Business Support Officers).

Selection Criteria: Required

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or similar, and experience in the field of sexual violence or similar.
2. Demonstrated understanding of the gendered nature of sexual violence and its impact at both an individual and societal level.
3. Demonstrated experience providing trauma informed, therapeutic interventions to children, young people and their non-offending family members/carers/supporters who have experienced sexual violence.
4. Demonstrated ability in providing sensitive and appropriate therapeutic intervention to children, young people and their non-offending supporters from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and Gender Diverse people.
5. Ability to work with children and young people up to 12 years of age who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours.
6. Well-developed skills in assessment, case formulation and service planning including assessment of risk and safety and use of assessment measures relevant to children and young people (and their non-offending carers/family/supporters) who have been affected by sexual violence.
7. Proven ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with government and non-government organisations.
8. Ability to access and deliver appropriate information and resources targeting a range of audiences.
9. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment.

Essential

• Must possess (or be eligible for) a working with children check – Positive Notice Blue Card
• Current Open Qld Driver’s Licence
• Eligibility to work in Australia
• Relevant tertiary education

If you feel you are the right person for this position and to would like to work within an organisation that values their staff and invests in your professional development, please email your addressed selection criteria, brief C.V., cover letter and contact details of two referees to [email protected]

Applications close 5pm Monday 3rd March2025.