About Recovered Living NZ
Mountains Youth Services Team (MYST) is a non-profit organisation that supports the development of disadvantaged and at-risk young people by providing relevant and dynamic programs that empower young people to grow intellectually, emotionally and physically. We operate a range of different services including youth centres, adolescent counselling services, in-school programs, early school leavers, personal, individual and family support programs, outdoor education programs and an outreach service. MYST is an incorporated association, governed by a board of elected volunteer members. The Board meets about once a month to review the operations and directions of the organisation. The day-to-day management of MYST is overseen by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). MYST is a child-safe organisation, committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes the safety of all children and young people. This includes encouraging a culture where the prevention and reporting of abuse is supported and encouraged. All staff and volunteers are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children and young people. Our commitment to being a child-safe organisation and promoting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people are priorities of MYST. Child safety is therefore a critical element of any role at MYST. The successful applicant will be expected to uphold that commitment, and demonstrate their commitment to being child safe and their experience in working with children and young people.
What you’ll do
The successful candidate will:
- Build positive, effective working relationships with diverse young people and their families
- Undertake comprehensive initial assessment and ongoing assessments of client needs.
- Provide high quality therapeutic interventions to young people in the context of their families, which may include
- individual counselling
- family inclusive counselling or family therapy
- educational and therapeutic group work (parents and young people).
- Work flexibly and creatively to support clients, including conducting outreach
- Use evidence-based and best-practice approaches to work with clients
- Respond appropriately to risks of harm that present for young people and their families; including child protection and immediate mental health risks, as well as diffusion of strong negative emotions
- Develop supported transition plans for clients leaving the service
- Seek feedback from young people and families and monitor outcomes achieved with clients
- Consult with other clinicians and the direct supervisor to access clinical support where needed, including escalating issues to the direct supervisor
The details
- Part-time position, 25 hours per week
- Salary as per SCHADS award grade 5.3
- Locatedat various sites across the Blue Mountains
What you’ll bring
Qualifications and background experience
- Tertiary qualifications in psychology, counselling, social work, family therapy or other related discipline
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in providing counselling, referral and support to young people and their families
- Professional registration with a recognised industry body, such as PACFA (The psychotherapy and Counsellors Association of Australia), ACA (Australian Counselling Association) or ARCAP (the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists)
- Demonstrated continuing professional development / attainment of professional development points to keep current with industry skills and knowledge
- Previous experience managing a large and complex caseload
- Accredited supervisor or willingness to obtain with MYST financial support
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated understanding of the barriers and issues faced by vulnerable young people
- Well-developed time management, communication, interpersonal liaison and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of legislative requirements dealing with young people
- High level written and oral communication skills
- Highly developed interpersonal, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
- Proven capacity to establish working relationships with a wide range of services and professionals
- Ability to provide high quality counselling and client support to young people and families, and to provide short to medium-term counselling to young people to ensure referral and supports are sustainable and appropriate
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy under legislative requirements
- Ability to keep up-to-date, clear and concise records, maintain high quality case files, and write reports to meet government funding requirements and as required on program and service outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as an effective team player with a positive ‘can-do’ attitud• Competent computer skills (Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, email/internet, database).
Experience Requirements
- Experience working with children and young people
- Proven track record of clinical and line supervision and support to multidisciplinary teams working with families, children and young people experiencing challenges
- Strong commitment to, and the ability to lead staff in, working in the best interests of children and young people
- Experience in delivering quality counselling to a diverse range of people, including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, LGBTIQ+ and people with disabilities
- Experience presenting at workshops or other educational events
- Demonstrated experience facilitating group work and counselling with young people.
Next Steps
Interested? To apply, or for further information, please email your CV to the Mountains Youth Services Team at [email protected].