Senior Alcohol & Other Drugs Worker – Randwick
Full Time Position Available
The Ted Noffs Foundation is a non-government organisation based in NSW & ACT, providing residential and non-residential alcohol and other drugs interventions for adolescents and their families. Our aim is to facilitate an improvement in the lives of young people at risk of drug-related harm.
The Role:
Working as senior shift worker assist the Unit Coordinator in the day to day operation of Ted Noffs Foundation PALM program to ensure compliance with practice guidelines, internal policies and procedures, contractual obligations, regulatory requirements and quality standards. Create and maintain a productive, participative and ethical work environment which values, encourages and respects diversity and is committed to achieving high quality outcomes.
Responsibilities/Duties will include:
- Provide leadership and direction to the Alcohol and other Drug Workers and assist in coordinating the program’s day to day activities, according to program guidelines and approved care plans
- Supervise the work of the AODWs, volunteers and students on placement. Consult and liaise with the Unit Coordinator, Adolescent and Family Counsellors and the Vocational/Educational worker to ensure the smooth running of PALM
- Ensure the implementation of residents’ individual care plans, including liaison with other service providers and agencies. Including directing AODWs to ensure the support worker role is carried out according to policy and procedure
- Maintain an awareness of individual and community behaviour and act to create a stable, harmonious and safe environment
- Participate in the assessment, care planning and case management and referral of young people in the program
- Engage and communicate appropriately and positively with young people in the program
- Participate in activities/ processes aimed at enhancing individual performance, team functioning, service delivery and program effectiveness
- Assist the Unit Coordinator and PALM manager in administration duties including Centrelink, the preparation and administration of staffing rosters, report writing and other tasks as directed
- Participate in care planning and case management
- Participate in a rotating roster of on-call duties (including weekends) to support the residential programs. (Remuneration as per SACS Award)
- To act as unit Coordinator as delegated by PALM manager to cover absences of unit coordinator
- Liaise with relevant individuals and agencies and, where appropriate, facilitate referrals to and/or from the program
- Ensure that TNF policies, procedures and models of practice are upheld and followed by AOD staff and PALM participants
- Undertake other duties as directed, consistent with TNF aims
Essential Criteria:
- You will have qualifications and experience in working with young people from our target group
- An understanding of and commitment to the principles of harm minimization.
- Ability to work compassionately and effectively in a residential setting with young people who have experienced problems with alcohol and other drugs, and possibly abuse, neglect and trauma
- An appreciation of the issues surrounding drug and alcohol use amongst young people – particularly individual and family impact.
- A mature and common sense approach to the management of issues and incidents..
- Good interpersonal skills, including ability to engage clients positively while maintaining own boundaries
- Knowledge of government and community networks and service providers
- Demonstrated ability to work cohesively and respectfully as a team member..
- A capacity and willingness to work on a rotating shift basis, including day, evening, night and weekend shifts
- Drivers’ license and good driving record.
- People prohibited by the Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998, are not eligible to apply
Desirable Criteria:
- Demonstrated capacity to supervise a residential treatment service and to motivate, lead and supervise a staff team
- Experience and understanding of the treatment and care of adolescents with substance use problems
- Keyboard and data entry skills, preferably with Microsoft Office
- Possession of, or willingness to obtain, First Aid certification
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.
Applications
For more information please ring 02 8383 6639
Application and resume, addressing the criteria in this job description and including two referees who have acted in a supervisory capacity, to be forwarded to
Thomas Whittenbury
Assistant Manager
PO Box 120
Randwick NSW 2031
or
email whittenburyt@noffs.org.au
Applications Close 8th September 2008