Supportive Care Specialist

Meaningful purpose, passionate people & a supportive culture. Part Time Permanent role based in our Woolloomooloo office with a flexible approach to WFH.

**About us**

Cancer Council NSW (CCNSW) is a community funded and focused not for profit. We are the largest cancer charity in NSW and our point of difference is that we work across every area of every cancer, from research right through to support.

**About the team**

As a Supportive Care Specialist, you will be joining the Supportive Care team, who provide peer and counselling support to people affected by cancer who are experiencing emotional distress and are focused on addressing the psychosocial impacts of cancer.

The Support Care team works with the Cancer Information and Support Division, our aim is to empower and support people affected by cancer, so that no-one need face cancer alone. This Division assists people as they navigate the cancer journey, easing their emotional and practical burdens and helping them make informed decisions.

**About the role**

This critical team role facilitates access to peer support and counselling for people affected by cancer, by working across services enabling multiple channels of delivery:

- Cancer Counselling - providing direct therapeutic support though professional counselling
- Cancer Council Online Community - moderating this online community where people affected by cancer can engage in discussion forums, support groups and share personal blogs
- Telephone Support Groups - facilitation of these groups, that enable peer support for adults experiencing advanced cancer, their carers and bereaved carers
- Cancer Connect Peer support - delivering client access to this one-to-one peer support, which is provided by a trained volunteer who has experienced cancer.

**Key responsibilities of the role will be**:

- Provision of individual and group psychosocial / therapeutic support via telephone, online or face to face engagement, across our peer support and counselling services.
- Demonstrate a client centric culture by actively working to improve our understanding of client needs and enhance the client experience across our staff and services.
- Provide evidenced based information on a range of cancer types to clients accessing 131120 information and support and referred to Cancer Peer Support and Counselling services.
- Refer clients to relevant support services and facilitate client access to professional counselling and/or peer support in accordance with program operating guidelines.
- Deliver training for peer support volunteers and facilitators.
- Provide briefing and debriefing support to peer support volunteers and facilitators.
- Contribute to review of peer support volunteer and facilitator performance and identify gaps in service, to ensure volunteer / facilitator competency in peer support provision and inform recruitment and continuity of volunteer / facilitator positions.
- Maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective delivery of supportive care services.

**About you**

With an ability to adapt and tailor your approach, excellent verbal and written communication skills will be essential, along with:

- Tertiary qualifications in Counselling, Psychology or equivalent
- Registration with a national peak body e.g PACFA, ACA, APHRA
- Experience providing individual and group therapeutic support via telephone, online or face to face
- Knowledge of psychosocial support
- Sound computer experience in Microsoft Programs including CRM.
- Desirable - previous experience in supportive care of cancer patients and their carers

**About the benefits**
- Work for purpose and know that your work fosters an engaged, diverse and culturally aware organisation.
- Access to flexible work arrangements including a balanced approach to WFH and office.
- Generous salary packaging options that can increase your take home pay by paying certain expenses using pre-tax dollars up to $15,900 a year.
- Additional performance-based leave available.
- Discounts available for everyday expenses such as private health, retail and fitness.

Please note, the health and safety of our people is a priority for us, our employees and volunteers are strongly recommended to be up to date with their COVID vaccination.