Social Worker - Generalist Counsellor

About the position:

Social Worker - Generalist Counsellor

Temporary 12-month Part-Time contract*

16 hours per week (0.4EFT)

About you:

We are currently seeking a passionate and experienced Social Worker to join our team. The ideal candidate will be dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families facing various challenges. As a Social Worker, you will play a crucial role in providing support, advocacy, and resources to help our clients overcome obstacles and improve their overall well-being.

About Us

Yarrawonga Health is a dynamic and community-focused public health service dedicated to empowering individuals and families through comprehensive social services. We are committed to creating positive change and fostering a supportive environment for those in need. Our team of dedicated professionals work collaboratively to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people we serve. Better yet, it is also a great career move as you join a thriving organisation guided by its mission to provide and improve sustainable health and education services for our communities in partnership with them.

Situated on the heart of the Murray River, Yarrawonga Health provides acute, surgical, community and aged care support for the region. We're only a few hours from Melbourne and you'll be enjoying all the region has to offer - from wineries and snow fields to water and boating activities on the Murray River, you'll never be bored!

Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Welfare Work or Counselling from an approved provider.
• Eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers or equivalent.

Regulatory Checks:

• Current NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Current Working with Children's Check
• Current National Police Check or willing to obtain.

Key Selection Criteria:

• Current Victorian Drivers licence.
• Posses skills and experience in the provision of initial need assessment, provision of counselling services and other casework activities across the lifespan;
• Demonstrated experience and ability to work across community based, acute and residential aged care settings;
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in assessment and application of a range of appropriate and evidence-based counselling approaches and methods;
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and consultatively in a multi-disciplinary team, aged care recipients, external service providers, families and community members;
• Excellent organisational skills including the use of information communication technology;
• Ability to work independently and with initiative;
• Proven experience in social work, preferably in a nonprofit or community-based setting;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently;
• Strong organisational and time-management abilities;
• Knowledge of community resources and social services

Key Accountabilities:

Deliver high patient care:

• Ensures an excellent standard of social work/generalist counseling assessment and service using a wide range of theories and therapeutic interventions is delivered to clients who present with a broad range of life issues;
• Conducts appropriate assessment of client conditions, establishes treatment goals and implements techniques by which these goals shall be met in clinical practice. Services should be underpinned by the social model of health, and be evidence-based;
• Participates in teaching and education programs for nursing, allied health and other hospital staff and students in relation to social work/generalist counseling;
• Assists in continuously reviewing and evaluating best practice evidence based clinical care;
• Role models a positive vision for change and assists the Operational Director Community Services to proactively support the team through the change process;
• Participates in relevant organisational committee processes (e.g. Family Violence Committee, Child Safe Committee) as delegated by the Operational Director Community Services, attends meetings and provides feedback to the team;
• Performs roles of Staff Contact Officer and assists in the development of organisation-wide staff wellbeing initiatives;
• Maintains clinically accurate statistics and records assessment, actions/treatment and progress in patient files;
• Participates in ongoing development, revision and implementation of policies and procedures.

Critical thinking and decision making

• Displays an ability to analyse situations and make appropriate decisions in conjunction with other clinicians in a timely manner to ensure the needs of clients, staff and the organisation are met;
• Demonstrates a collaborative working relationship with the Community Services, Acute Services and Residential Aged care teams in relation to decision making at local level;
• Addresses critical factors when making complex decisions;
• Gathers sufficient information and confers with appropriate staff to make informed decisions.

Interpersonal Communication, Influence and Leadership

• Communicates information and expectations clearly and concisely in a way that supports and builds effective and collaborative working relationships with all key stakeholders;
• Attends and actively contributes to team meeting;.
• Effectively deals with challenging behaviours and then promotes resolution of conflict within own department;
• Liaises effectively with senior staff regarding requirements of work, needs of department and time management;
• Demonstrates leadership in situations demanding action;
• Undertakes not to reveal to any person, entity or confidential information relating to Patients/ Residents/employees, policies, processes and dealings and not to make public statements relating to the affairs of Yarrawonga Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer.

Self-Management

• Demonstrates a positive attitude to the agreed role and responsibilities of the position;
• Maintains and updates own professional development portfolio to demonstrate ongoing commitment to learning and best practice;
• Invites and assimilates feedback from others by active participation in own performance review process.

More Information:

For more information regarding the role contact: Stephanie Kennedy, Operational Director Community Services by email Stephanie.Kennedy@yh.org.au

All employment with Yarrawonga Health is subject to and conditional upon a satisfactory Police Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check and Victorian 'Employee' Working with Children's Check.

YH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and follows Equal Employment Opportunity Principles. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.

All healthcare workers are required to have mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and evidence of vaccination will be required prior to commencement.

* Contract may be ended early. 4-week notice will be provided if contract needs to be ended due to replacement position no longer required.

Application Process:

All applications are to be submitted via Yarrawonga Health's website Yarrawonga Health Careers.

Please submit your application including a cover letter, resume, and responses to the key selection criteria found in the position description.

Please refer to the attached position description for full details of the role.

Applications close midnight Sunday 7th April 2024.

*Interviews may be conducted prior to closing date.