Family Counsellor

Central Office
4-6 Peel Street North, Ballarat VIC 3350
PO Box 2537, Bakery Hill VIC 3354
T 03 5337 8999
E people&culture@catholiccarevic.org.au
ABN 51 857 084 361

Position Description

Position Title: Family Counsellor

Program: Counselling and Relationship Services

Location: Pakenham. Travel to other locations will be required.

Reports To: Team Leader, Counselling and Relationship Services

Award and Classification: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010, Level 5

This Position Description intends to describe the general scope, level of work, accountabilities and responsibilities of the

position. It does not necessarily include all duties and responsibilities.

This Position Description may be altered in accordance with the changing requirements of the position.

About CatholicCare Victoria

CatholicCare Victoria (CCV) is a leading and influential provider of charitable and social services in Victoria. The

Mission of CatholicCare Victoria is to build communities that recognise and nurture the dignity of each person.

Our employees share our Mission for a stronger, more inclusive society through supporting individuals, families

and communities in times of need, especially those who are most disadvantaged, vulnerable and/or marginalised.

CatholicCare Victoria delivers excellence in a broad range of child, family and youth services, family relationship

services, school counselling and pastoral care services, social housing, employment and advocacy services across

various office locations and delivery sites in Victoria. One of our primary areas of investment in addressing

homelessness is through our subsidiary CatholicCare Victoria Housing (CCVH) and in partnership with Government

we are constructing new homes across Victoria.

CatholicCare Victoria draws on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to inspire and direct our endeavours. We

value and respect human dignity and embrace diversity in an inclusive work environment.

CatholicCare Victoria Values

Values Behaviours

Respectfulness We value people for who they are and recognize what they are doing. We interact with

others honestly and in a positive, considerate, and caring matter.

Integrity We value the work we do. We are fair, honest, and trustworthy. We act professionally,

take accountability for our actions, and keep our promise.

Inclusivity We welcome everybody, working to enable everyone to feel like they belong and have a

place – from a face to be seen and a voice to be heard.

Collaboration We walk alongside clients, communities, and each other. We contribute to the work and

lives of others so that we can all achieve our best, together.

Compassion We connect with each other’s stories. We acknowledge the inherent strengths and

diverse experiences of others. We act with kindness and care in all our relationships,

helping each other to address our challenges in a safe and welcoming environment.

About the Program/Section

Client Services comprise client programs and services across CatholicCare Victoria with a range of diverse
practitioner positions across multiple programs. Programs are funded from Federal, State and philanthropic
sources.
Client programs and services are grouped as follows:

• Client Services Operations – all client facing service delivery across children, youth families, individuals,

• Service Development and growth including the Schools Program and CCVT contract management.
  

The program aims to ensure the wellbeing of individuals, couples and families by minimising the emotional, social
and economic costs of disruption to daily functioning and / or relationships. Services are for all community
members including from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, indigenous people, low-income earners,
sole parents and those living in remote areas. The Family Counselling service is positioned within the Counselling
and Relationship Services portfolio. This position is required to outpost across the catchment.

Regular travel will be required across the Diocese catchment and to locations other than office bases.

Changing funding body priorities, seasonal conditions issues (e.g. drought), and emergency management recovery
(e.g. bushfire, flood), can result in the requirement to focus and establish service delivery activity in rural and
remote locations.

Counselling Services - Professional Family Counsellors assist people to resolve relationship issues that arise at
various stages of their relationships. Counselling could include individual, couples or family counselling.

Position Summary

The role of Family Counsellor is to promote the independence and healthy development of individuals, couples

and families through the provision of quality counselling and program delivery.

Key Result Areas and Responsibilities

The order in which key result areas and responsibilities are listed is not necessarily significant.

Key Result Area Key Responsibilities

Service Provision • Provide relationship and personal counselling to individuals (children, youth,

adults) couples and families.

• Provide information, advice and referral to individuals/couples/families seeking

support with relationship and separation issues and assist in the resolution of

these issues in the best interest of the child/children.

• Ensure parents are aware of children’s needs in relation to age-appropriate

emotions, physical and social needs and ensure the child’s best interests are

promoted.

• Delivery of sessions that provide information and education to separated

parents.

• Participate in the intake and assessment of referrals.

• Provide a current industry accredited practice framework, incorporating the

concepts of emotional intelligence and reflective practice, as key components to

service delivery.

• Negotiate and collect client fees.

• Represent CatholicCare Victoria at local networks and as appropriate liaise with

the broader community and other professionals regarding CatholicCare Victoria

services and programs.

Service Quality • Assist leadership staff to monitor and evaluate standards for service delivery

and ensure legislative compliance.

• Participate in an ongoing evaluation process with a focus on client outcomes,

service responsiveness and flexibility.

• Engage in supervision with line manager and participate accordingly.

• Maintain client records and data as required. Client files must always reflect

current assessments.

• Participate in team, program, organisational meetings as required.

• Attend weekly allocation meetings.

• Maintain a high level of professional standards.

• Participate in the development of CatholicCare Victoria policies and strategic

planning as required.

• Participate in and complete organisational professional training and clinical

professional learning and development activities as required.

• Participate in planned after hours program delivery within the span of hour as

required as well as attend other site locations when the need arises.

Team Participation • Contribute to the on-going development of the team through peer and group

supervision, reflective practice sessions, collaborative teamwork and providing a

responsive service to all clients accessing our programs.

• Be responsible for specific areas of the program portfolio as delegated by

management.

Implementing relevant • Demonstrate compliance with Victorian Child Safe Standards.
legislation, practice and • Participate in regular supervision and performance reviews.
policy • Ensure all client information remains confidential as per the Privacy Act 1988
(Cwlth), organisational guidelines, program requirements and industry/sector

expectations.

• Adhere to organisational policies, procedures and program manuals.

The position is also required to perform other duties as lawfully and reasonably directed.

Reporting and/or Supervision Relationships and Authority

Reporting Relationship:

The position reports to and works under the general direction of the Team Leader, Counselling and Relationship

Services.

Position/s Reporting to Family Counsellor:

Not applicable.

Authority:

The position exercises a degree of autonomy. Significant decisions require the approval of the Senior Manager or

General Manager.

The position is required to work within the relevant delegations policy, procedure and guidelines of CatholicCare

Victoria.

Stakeholder Relationships

Internal Relationships:

• Operates as a member of the Counselling and Relationship Services team; and

• Collaborates with and maintain working relationships with components of CatholicCare Victoria organisational

structure.

External Relationships:

• Networks with a broad range of referral pathways; and

• Contacts with stakeholders of the social services sector and the broader Community Wellbeing stream.

Organisational Responsibilities of the Position

Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)

CatholicCare Victoria is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of employees, volunteers, contractors,

clients and other people within our workplaces. The position is required to perform the responsibilities of the

position adhering to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004), in particular to:

• take reasonable care for your own and others’ health and safety within the workplace;

• take reasonable care that your actions or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of

yourself or others;

• cooperate with any reasonable directions, policies and/or procedures relating to health and safety in the

workplace;

• report all injuries, illness, near misses or hazards as per CatholicCare Victoria policies and procedures; and

• participate in relevant health and safety training, and risk management initiatives based on position and

responsibilities.

Cultural Safety and Respect

CatholicCare Victoria acknowledges the history, culture, diversity and value of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Peoples, and pays respect to their Elders past and present, as well as acknowledging future generations.

The position is required to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in a culturally safe and

respectful way.

Safety of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

CatholicCare Victoria is committed to the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The position is required to perform the responsibilities of the position adhering to the Catholic Safeguarding

Standards, National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, Child Safe Standards and any other relevant standards

and/or legislation.

Risk Management, Accreditation and Quality Improvement

The position is required to actively participate in risk management, accreditation and quality improvement

processes, procedures, systems and initiatives, including reporting risks, incidents and feedback in a timely and

responsible manner.

Policies, Procedures and Legislative Requirements

The position is required to undertake the responsibilities of the position adhering to all CatholicCare Victoria

policies, procedures and practice guidelines and relevant standards and/or legislation including, but not limited

to:

• Employee code of conduct

• information privacy and confidentiality;

• Equal Opportunity, anti-discrimination and anti-bullying; and

• inclusion and diversity.

Key Requirements

Qualifications and/or Training

1. Proven professional qualifications in Counselling, e.g. Psychology, Family Therapy, Counselling
Graduate Diploma or other relevant tertiary studies.

Experience

2. Demonstrated experience in delivering child centered family focused and relationship counselling
within current research-based industry accredited frameworks. Demonstrated knowledge and
application of child safe legislation, principles, standards and practices.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

3. Demonstrated understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children, including
Aboriginal children, children with a disability and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse
backgrounds.

4. Promote participation of clients by active engagement, while acknowledging there are social and
cultural constraints which may disempower some people.

5. An understanding of emotional intelligence and reflective practice, and the role they play in service
delivery.

6. Capacity to travel within the Mallee region to provide out-posted service as determined.
7. Highly developed verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal and group work skills.

Child Safety

8. Demonstrated commitment to the safety of children, young people and adults in a respectful and

inclusive environment for all diversity groups in accordance with the Catholic Safeguarding Standards,

National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, Child Safe Standards and any other relevant

legislation.

9. Demonstrated knowledge and application of child safe legislation, principles, standards and practices.

10. Demonstrated understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children, including

children with a disability and from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Other Requirements

• Current driver’s licence.

• Current Victorian Working with Children Check.

• Current Australia-wide Police Check.

• A Statutory Declaration (provided by CatholicCare Victoria) to declare that: you have not lived overseas

for more than 12 months in one country; OR if you have lived overseas for more than 12 months, that you

have no criminal history overseas.

• International Police Check (where applicable).

• Right to Work in Australia.

Please note, CatholicCare Victoria will conduct the Police Check/s.

It is the incumbent’s responsibility to maintain a current valid Driver’s Licence, Victorian Working with Children

Check and Right to Work in Australia.

The incumbent is required to agree to undertaking a Police Check every three (3) years (or earlier to comply with

specific contractual or legislative obligations and requirements).

Job Condition

The incumbent in this position is authorised to act as a family counsellor on behalf of CatholicCare Victoria in

accordance with Section 10C(1)(b) of the Family Law Act.