Therapeutic Specialist

The Therapeutic Specialist role reports through to the Principal Practitioner. The position works closely with the Managers and Coordinators of the local region to deliver clinical and therapeutic services for children, young people, families and carers who are clients of the programs.   

The Therapeutic Specialist is responsible for guiding and supporting carer and staff interactions with children and young people, conducting assessments, developing therapeutic treatment plans and leading reflective practice to support carers and staff to develop their therapeutic skills. In addition, the Therapeutic Specialist will, as required, provide therapeutic services including Family Therapy directly to the children, young people and families who are clients of our services.

The Therapeutic Specialist will provide support to staff, carers and members of each child’s therapeutic network. This will include facilitating group reflective practice and training for staff especially in the areas of trauma and its impact on the young person, ensure that appropriate assessment procedures including SDQ and HoNOSCA assessments, risk assessment, therapeutic planning processes and outcome measurements are undertaken for each child or young person upon entry to TRC at all relevant times during referral, placement and transition to further options, facilitate the development and timely review of Therapeutic Assessment Plans for each child and young person in TRC, work in collaboration with the area manager, program staff and regional services and provide secondary consultation concerning the mental health needs of clients of MacKillop Family Services. 

This is a Part-Time (0.9 EFT) opportunity based in South Melbourne within our Therapeutic Residential Care program. The position reports to the Principal Practitioner.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, the incumbent will have:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline is essential. Post Graduate training in relevant child, adolescent and family clinical practice, family work and systemic thinking is strongly preferred.
• Therapeutic specialists will have a thorough understanding (based on advanced training/qualifications and a body of knowledge on recognised theoretical approaches) of the impact of trauma, disrupted attachment and abuse/neglect on a child or young person’s development and wellbeing.
• Therapeutic specialists will have substantial experience in working therapeutically with young people and demonstrated capacity to persevere to achieve positive outcomes when working with young people who have experienced trauma and have complex needs and presentations.
• Therapeutic specialists must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Aboriginal and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) cultures to provide culturally sensitive and effective care for young people in residential care  

For more information, please contact:

Katherine Long-Davidson at Katherine.Long-Davidson@mackillop.org.au

Our offer:

• Generous Salary Packaging up to $18,500 (helps increase your take home pay)

• Ongoing Career Development, Education and Training

• Employee Assistance Program – free and confidential counselling, coaching and emotional support for work and personal challenges

• Click HERE to find out more about becoming a member of the MacKillop Family Services team and what further support we have to offer our employees. 

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver’s License;

• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);

• Valid Employee Working with Children Check.

• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.