Honesty Trust Respect Concern Love

• Full-time, Permanent.
• Based at Footscray.
• $87,090.01 per annum, plus super.
• 17.5% annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options.
• Progressive Workplace Flexibility options that enable genuine work life balance.

About Odyssey House Victoria:

Odyssey House Victoria (OHV) is a place of hope and positive change for individuals working towards breaking their pattern of addiction. At Odyssey House we believe that every person should have the opportunity to change and grow. Our diverse teams work with individuals, families, and communities to reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve mental health, and reconnect people to their family and the community. OHV is a dynamic and fast-growing organisation committed to excellence in service provision and innovation in responding to alcohol and other drugs use problems.

Role Purpose:

The AOD Clinician: Counselling & Assessment is responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments and providing a range of counselling interventions to assist clients and their family members to change harmful behaviours resulting from problematic alcohol and other drug use. The key purpose of the position is to reduce harms and increase a client’s capacity to effectively manage the difficulties they are experiencing.

Key areas of focus:

• Provision of treatment services
• Professional liaison and consultation
• Supervision and professional development
• Administration

Duties include but are not limited to…

• Providing high quality engagement, assessment, treatment and support services to individuals and their families, through evidence-based, therapeutic counselling and group work.
• Conducting comprehensive assessments including:
• Ascertaining information on substance abuse, history, mental health, and risk.
• Determining if a client requires a standard or complex treatment response.
• Utilising the mandated AOD assessment tool.
• Arranging further assessments and secondary consults if required; and
• Presenting assessments at clinical review and making recommendations.
• Developing treatment plans and providing effective counselling interventions and assertive referrals to meet the individual needs of clients and their families, including those with complex needs.
• Apply an in-depth understanding of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework to effectively identify, assess, and manage family violence risks, ensuring appropriate escalation and intervention when necessary.
• Provide information, education, and practical assistance to clients to help them to reduce the harms of their substance use.
• Providing clients with exit and post treatment support plans to offer them appropriate support to maintain treatment gains.
• Facilitating interim support for clients awaiting the commencement of counselling services.
• Considering the needs of and identifying any risks to vulnerable children, working with families to develop safety plans, and facilitating referrals to partner Child First and Family service agents when indicated.
• Consulting with other services to develop and support the provision of recovery and harm reduction orientated treatment.
• Supporting the student placement program and supervising students as requested.

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities, please click HERE.

A week in the role:

If you were here last week, you would have:

• Participated in Clinical Review.
• Engaged in team meetings and debriefs with colleagues.
• Participated in a team lunch.

Key Selection Criteria:

We are looking for an experienced and passionate AOD Clinician to engage with clients to reduce harms and increase their capacity to effectively manage the difficulties they are experiencing.

To be successful in this role, you must…

1. Hold a relevant Health, Social or Welfare tertiary qualification with one years’ experience or an Associate Diploma with relevant experience.
2. Hold a Certificate IV in AOD or have completed the required competencies (or able to within the first 12 months of employment). Refer to Appendix A*.
3. Be experienced in the provision of assessment and counselling services preferably with AOD or dual diagnosis clients.
4. Be able to understand and integrate intersectional practice into AOD work.
5. Have experience with therapeutic approaches such as: Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Coping Skills Training, Family Inclusive Practice, self-help groups, Community Reinforcement Approaches.
6. Demonstrate understanding of community-based interventions for reducing alcohol and drug related harm.
7. Be able to collaborate effectively with clients, families, colleagues, stakeholders, and other service providers.
8. Have proven ability to work with a range of people and organisations (including specific client groups such as Aboriginal, CALD and Forensic clients) in a non-judgmental and respectful manner.
9. Have a demonstrated commitment to teamwork and the ability to take appropriate individual and team responsibility for the welfare of clients.

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities, please click HERE.

*Appendix A (AOD Competencies)

OHV requires staff in clinical positions to have the following competencies (or their equivalent). Where people do not already have these competencies, OHV will invest in the staff’s professional development by providing them through our registered training organisation (RTO).
The competencies required in the first 12 months of employment are:

• CHCAOD001 – Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
• CHCAOD004 – Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
• CHCAOD006 – Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues
• CHCAOD009 – Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans

What we can give YOU!

In return we are committed to offering you an inclusive and transparent workplace culture where our people can develop to be their very best by:

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Providing work that is meaningful and challenging, with career development opportunities through project and secondment opportunities and succession planning
• Providing career pathways across diverse OHV programs.
• Access to 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP)
• Generous leave options such as 48/52 Purchase Leave, Study Leave and Sabbaticals
• Flexible working arrangements such as, school-orientated part-year hours and monthly RDO’s for full-timers (arrangements will vary based on role requirements).

In addition to the above, staff will also be provided monthly Clinical Supervision sessions for professional development and personal wellbeing.

Application information

Please apply directly via our careers website at the Apply Now link (applications via external recruitment websites or via email will not be considered).

Applications should be addressed to Mandy Telfer and include your CV and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact Mandy Telfer Counselling Coordinator on, [email protected] using the subject line: AOD Clinician Counselling & Assessment enquiry via EthicalJobs or 0466 319 448.

We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis and suitable candidates will be shortlisted immediately. This role will close once a suitable candidate has been selected which may be prior to the application deadline, so please don’t wait to apply!

Our commitment to diversity

At OHV we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions by encouraging people with disability, Aboriginal Australians, LGBTQIA, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.

Safety screening

OHV is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation. All OHV employees must undergo Police Records and Working with Children Checks. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with us.

Mandatory COVID vaccinations

In line with OHV's Mandatory Vaccination Policy, all Odyssey House Victoria staff are required to hold Fully Vaccinated (Boosted) status, having also received the Booster Vaccination. Evidence of this minimum of three (3) COVID-19 vaccinations will be requested during the onboarding process and offers will be rescinded where such evidence cannot be provided.

All Odyssey House Victoria sites are smoke free for all employees.