Racf Counsellor

**_RACF-Counsellor _**
**_Position description_**

**_General Information _**

Peninsula Home Hospice is an accredited, not for profit community palliative care organisation
providing specialist health care and practical support to people living at home with a life limiting
illness and their families and friends. PHH supports people who live within the Mornington Peninsula
Shire, City of Frankston and City of Kingston (south of Mordialloc Creek)

**_Statement of Purpose _**
- Peninsula Home Hospice provides home based specialist palliative care that optimises quality of life _
- and honours the hope for comfort, choice, dignity and peace.**_Core Values _**

We value: _Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Innovation and Empowerment_

**_Position Specification _**

**Reports To **Clinical Manager Allied Health or delegate

**Award **Aligns with Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award
2010.

**Classification **Social and Community Services Employee Level 6.

**Hours **As per contract.

**Role Reflection **Initially during the probation period at three months, and six months.

A condition of employment with Peninsula Home Hospice is that all (clinical) staff have a satisfactory
Police check. (and a Working with Children Check).

**_Key Selection Criteria _**

Mandatory - Tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work
- Eligibility for membership or registration to relevant Professional Association
- Demonstrated ability to work with issues associated with dying, death and

bereavement.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct psychosocial and spiritual assessments.
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate care plans to address

the changing needs of clients.
- Demonstrated ability to provide counselling for clients and their families and

caregivers.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct family meetings.
- Well-developed interpersonal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently with mínimal supervision and as part of an

interdisciplinary team.
- Current Victorian Drivers Licence

Desirable - Community palliative care experience
- Experience in an aged care service demonstrating clinical skills and knowledge.
- High level of organisation and time management skills

**_RACF Counsellor Position Description_**
- Experience and skill in facilitating education and training.
- Demonstrated ability to provide coordinated care in partnership with external

providers.
- Well-developed computer skills

**_Position Objective _**
- The focus of the role is on the provision of specialist palliative care either directly with aged care

residents and families or via a process of education, support and guidance of Residential Aged Care
Facility (RACF) employees.
- To support the RACF’s in the development of processes and resources that will assist in the

identification of residents who require adoption of a palliative pathway and potential referral for
specialist palliative care input.

**_Key Responsibilities _**

1. To provide clinical review of residents psychosocial and spiritual palliative care needs

2. Provide information and counselling which includes bereavement interventions to meet the needs
of clients and their carers/families.

3. Maintain a collaborative approach with all stakeholders, GP, RACF staff, family, and client.

4. Utilise culturally appropriate intervention strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Divers clients
(CALD)

5. Demonstrate effective and efficient management of own workload to include indirect activities.

**Key Responsibility 1 To provide clinical review of resident’s psychosocial and spiritual palliative**
**care needs**

**KPI**:

- Assesses individual mental functioning, emotional status, loss history, social

supports, coping styles, strengths and challenges, financial and legal
concerns, and spiritual needs.
- Assesses family functioning in relation to palliative issues
- Assists clients, family and RACF in setting goals, plans and the evaluation

of interventions.

**Key Responsibility 2 Provide information and counselling which includes bereavement**
**interventions to meet the needs of clients and their carers/families.**

**KPI**:

- Supports the facilitation of family meetings.
- Provides or facilitates opportunities to explore issues, emotions and to

normalises grief processes and individual differences.
- Provides client and carer/family education as appropriate.
- Facilitates problem solving and development of coping strategies.
- Facilitates referrals as appropriate.

**Key Responsibility 3 Maintain a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach with all**
**stakeholders, GP, RACF staff, family, and client.**

**KPI:
- Maintains effective communication with RACF staff and family.
- Develops and maintains a collaborative approach with local GP’s who

provide primary medical support for residents.
- Provides education opportunities aimed at capacity building.
- Provides individual and group mentor