ted noffs foundation

Alcohol & Other Drugs Schools & Outclients Counsellor

Closing Date 10 September 2008

Our vision is to be a Foundation for the lives of young people.

We do this through Residential and Out-client Services; Advocacy, Community Development and Research. Our work combines direct service delivery with training and program development.

We are currently seeking a full-time Counsellor to provide counselling and group work in schools to adolescents who are at risk of alcohol and/or other drug related harm. Assistance will also be provided to schools for the development of strategies and support structures for these students. Facilitation of parent groups may be undertaken.

Title:

Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor-Schools and Outclients

Reporting To:

Community Projects Manager - Schools & Outclients

Dept/Unit/Location:

Outclients Mt Druitt Office (Central Coast Region).

The role includes travel to designated schools and youth focussed services.

Some work outside business hours will be required at suitable community locations.

The Role:

To provide individual and group counselling to young people who are either attending school and/or living in the community who are at risk of alcohol and or other drug related harm.
To provide consultation and assistance to schools for the development of strategies and support structures for students facing alcohol and other drug concerns.
To provide alcohol and other drug interventions for parents and carers.
To promote the Ted Noffs Foundation schools and outclients services to young people, their families and the wider community.

Responsibilities/Duties will include:

Providing counselling to secondary school students at school during school time.
Facilitate Skills Train – a brief group intervention for students with drug use and related difficulties
Consult with school staff to assist them manage students with drug use and related difficulties.
Provide individual and group counselling to outclients who meet relevant criteria (young people aged 12-24 and their families and carers experiencing substance use-related difficulties.
Facilitate other group activities as required (for example, ‘Your Call’)
To provide appropriate services to other youth-serving agencies as required.
Maintain working relationships and consultation with relevant youth-serving agencies.
Liaising with other agencies to promote the service to potential referrers and clients.
Maintain high quality data and records.
Provide reports and administrative documentation as required.
Maintain legal and ethical requirements.
Attend and participate in staff meetings and in-service training and development activities.
Maintain own professional development.
Other duties as required consistent with the objectives of the role and the agency.

Essential Criteria:

Relevant tertiary qualifications (in Psychology).
Commitment to the Ted Noffs Foundation model of practice
Demonstrated ability and experience in individual counselling, group work and developing networks.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience in working with young people with alcohol and other drugs concerns
Experience working with parents and young people with a range of problems including depression, conduct disorder, self harm, childhood trauma, etc.
Knowledge of how school systems operate.

You will be required to contribute to Ted Noffs’ commitment to continuous quality improvement and to cultural sensitivity both in the workplace and in the community. Both elements will form part of your performance management with your manager.

Please Note

We provide a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants will have a commitment and capacity to implement and apply EEO, OH&S policies, ethical practices, and the principles of cultural diversity.

A person prohibited by the Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998 is not eligible to apply. Applicants must complete and submit the NSW Government 'Working with Children' background check consent and declaration forms, and the Ted Noffs Foundation criminal record check consent form. These are legal requirements for working with children in New South Wales - details of the NSW Government policy can be found here.

All applications must address both the essential and the desirable selection criteria and must nominate two referees.

For further information please contact Sarah Kang on: 02 9310 0133 or email kangs@noffs.org.au