Counsellor and Group Worker Family and Carer-led

Posted: 22/08/2024

Closing Date: 06/09/2024

Job Type: Contract

Location: Sunshine

Job Category: Community Services and Development

**About the organisation**:
**Jesuit Social Services is a social change organisation working to build a just society where all people can live to their full potential.** We reflect on the critical factors shaping our contemporary world; the social, political and economic contexts, and we adapt our practice to work with those most in need.**:
Since 1977, Jesuit Social Services has provided services to some of the most disadvantaged in our community.

We place a high priority on advocacy and are a leader in policy development and research.

**About the program**:
**The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (2021) highlighted the important role played by families, carers and supporters in contributing to the wellbeing of people who are experiencing mental health challenges, psychological distress, mental illness, or substance use issues. To better recognise and support families, carers and supporters**, Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centres have been established in each Victorian region.**:
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centres are led by the experiences of people who have lived/living experience of supporting someone with mental health challenges and/or substance use challenges. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centres provide a warm and welcoming space available to family, carers, kin and supporters of all ages and backgrounds, with no need for a referral. They provide opportunities to connect with peers along with tailored information, resources, advocacy, support (individually and group work), and access to brokerage funds through Tandem’s Carer Support Fund.

Jesuit Social Services has been funded to deliver the Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre (the ‘Centre’). In establishing this exciting initiative, Jesuit Social Services is committed to engaging with and employing people with a lived/living experience of support or caring for people who have a mental health and/or substance related issues.

Jesuit Social Services’ Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre is contracted to deliver services two evenings a week and on Saturdays.

**About the role**:
The Counsellor and Group Workers will report to the Coordinator Counselling and Group Work, Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect and will:

- Deliver high quality, strengths based, trauma informed, short-medium term counselling to families and carers who access the Centre. This is offered face-to-face at the Centre, through outreach in the community, and via telehealth.
- Develop and facilitate group programs and activities across Western Melbourne that meet the wellbeing needs of carers that visit the Centre
- Work with the Coordinator Counselling and Group work and broader team to deliver a Centre that is welcoming, driven by the voices of carers and relevant to their needs.
- This role is based on-site in Sunshine

Competitive remuneration, plus salary packaging benefit, is offered together with ongoing professional and career development.

**What Jesuit Social Services can offer you**:

- A comprehensive Induction and Orientation program
- Ongoing role related training and development
- An organisation that is a preferred employer and lives their values, through our day to day work
- A welcoming, collaborative and supportive team environment
- Employee assistance program
- A competitive salary plus salary packaging benefits
- Generous, above industry leave

**Desired Skills and Experience**:

- Relevant tertiary qualification/s and Victorian Driver’s License
- Experience delivering high-quality, short-term counselling and group work programs.
- Experience working with a diverse range of participants, including individuals, families, children and carers in community and outreach environments
- Capacity to fulfil reporting and administrative requirements associated with the position
- Lived or living experience as a family member, carer or supporter of someone with mental health challenges, or substance use challenges is highly desirable

**How to apply**:

- Download the Position Description
- For further information please contact Nick Pace, Manager, Western Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect on 0437 676 685.

Applicants **are required to respond **to each of the Key Selection Criteria, with names and contact numbers of two referees.

Your responses to the selection criteria should be **incorporated **into your covering letter.

**Applications close at 5.00pm on **Friday 6**th** September 2024**.**

**Jesuit Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.**

**Jesuit Social Servi