POSITION DESCRIPTION: DIRECTOR COUNSELLING SERVICES PURPOSE OF THE POSITION The Director Counselling Services will lead and oversee the organisations Counselling Services. This includes maintaining excellence in the: quality and quality improvement of counselling services provided, and clinical supervision, professional development and employee performance for counselling staff. The Director Counselling Services will contribute to the organisation s strategic direction and plans, and will lead counselling projects. A vital supervisory element of this position requires constant awareness of the work health and safety risk and management of vicarious trauma for the in organisations employees. POSITION RELATIONSHIPS Position Reporting To: Executive Officer Positions Reporting to this Position: Clinical Supervisors and Specialist Trauma Counsellors operating in a telephone and online and face to face environment. ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia is committed to upholding the rights of all women to live in a socially just and equitable society and the right of all people to live free of violence. The organisation provides services nationally in the area of sexual assault, domestic and family violence. The organisation works with all stakeholders and in accordance with its vision, mission, principles and goals. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND WORK PERFORMED 1. Ensure best practice counselling interventions are provided to clients: Oversee the research, development and review of policies guiding the work of the organisation s counselling services. Direct and maintain excellence in the quality of the organisation s therapeutic and psychological service provision. Direct the organisation s therapeutic planning, counselling care networking, counselling supervision, professional development and vicarious trauma management programs. Oversee the responses to Counselling Services Complaints received by the organisation. Position Description Director Counselling Services Page 1 of 5
Provide regular supervision to Clinical Supervisors from psychology, social work and counselling disciplines. Provide on call support to senior clinical employees. Participate in organisational meetings, planning activities and events. Ensure that work is carried out with a high standard of professionalism, efficiency, effectiveness, and accuracy: that timeframes are met; and that data integrity and security are maintained at all times. Influences research conducted into the effectiveness of the counselling services provided and other issues of interest to the fields of sexual assault, domestic and family violence responses. Ensure work practices are ethical, and comply with the Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia Code of Ethics and the Code of ethics of the relevant professional Associations. 2. Leadership: Clinical supervision and mentoring of the Clinical supervisors, including role modelling and regular feedback to empower the Team and build knowledge and capability, foster their development, and proactively manage performance and underperformance. Collaborate with the Executive Officer to promote cohesion and development of a collaborative culture and continuous improvement. 3. Assist the Executive Officer to develop the activities of the Service to increase it s funding base: Participate with funding bodies, corporates and other entities in preparation and management of programs and projects Comply with file, statistic, quality control, risk management, record keeping and administrative practices of the organisation. Maintain an awareness of current issues in relation to sexual violence, Women s rights as human rights, other Women s issues and issues which effect marginalised groups and communities. 4. Supervision Provide clinical supervision to the organisation s clinical supervisors who in turn provide clinical and vicarious trauma supervision to counsellors Ensure that clinical supervisors are accountable for effective delivery of clinical supervision by adhering to the organisation s supervision quality assurance practices, Ensure the supervision of counsellors is maintained in accordance with Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia s Clinical Governance framework and underlying principles through quality management policies and processes. Support and resource the professional growth of supervisors by identifying and responding to training needs as required. Continue to monitor supervisors vicarious trauma exposure and work to develop self care plans to reduce impacts. Position Description Director Counselling Services Page 2 of 5
MAJOR CHALLENGES OR CONSTRAINTS Maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary counselling interventions, with particular reference to face to face, telephone and online sexual assault, domestic and family violence trauma counselling, and clinical supervision Ensuring timely advice on ethical matters relating to counselling service provision to clients and staff of the service. Managing a team in a highly specialised and often changing environment. Developing and maintaining an awareness of the impacts and management of vicarious trauma. DECISION MAKING As the lead clinician in the organisation, senior clinical employees will discuss a wide range of issues with the Director Counselling Services who will provide advice and guidance as to best practice options and available methodologies. The Director Counselling Services will provide the Board with professional advice regarding clinical matters. INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION The Director Counselling Services liaises with all employees of the Service. Additionally, the Director Counselling Services may liaise with stakeholders, professional bodies, and counterpart organisations both Government and non-government. WORKPLACE ATTITUDE The Director Counselling Services will demonstrate the following positive workplace attitudes: a constructive and pro active approach to work practices and tasks, not participate in conversations which undermine the organisation or individuals within the organisation, embracement of workplace diversity and difference, willingness to learn, commitment to upholding the rights of others, recognition of shared responsibilities, using reflective practices, and taking personal responsibility for contributing to workplace problem solving, understand that each worker is a part of the whole and that all positions and roles contribute equal value to the organisation s overall aim of providing high quality service provision. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Essential Commitment to and understanding of the provision of services from a feminist perspective. Position Description Director Counselling Services Page 3 of 5
Commitment to the provision of best practice evidence based counselling services. Detailed understanding of the causes and consequences of sexual assault, domestic and family violence. Tertiary qualifications in Psychology or Social Work. Senior leadership experience with NGO, Government or similar Skills of leading, guiding, supervising and mentoring a Counselling Services Team, Stakeholder and relationship management experience and skills, Demonstrated: - experience in quality improvement, quality assurance and reflective practices, - experience and knowledge of therapeutic work those who have experienced sexual assault, family and domestic violence, - knowledge of best practice vicarious trauma management, - knowledge and experience in policy development, - project management experience, and - training experience. Knowledge of and ability to work with a range of therapeutic frameworks. At least five years experience in clinical supervision. Minimum five years counselling experience. Computer literacy. Position Description Director Counselling Services Page 4 of 5
Desirable Ability in working cross-culturally. Experience working with marginalised women. Experience in community or Women s Health sector. Experience in record keeping and related administrative tasks. Experience in telephone counselling. Sighted and agreed to by Director Counselling Services Name Date Sign Current as at: November 2017 Review due: November 2018 Consultation by: Executive Officer Approval by: Board, where changes are made Position Description Director Counselling Services Page 5 of 5