• Love Trust Honesty Respect Concern
  
• Casual
• Based in Benalla
• $38.84 - $42.37 per hour, plus super

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.

About our Circuit Breaker Program (CB):

The Therapeutic Community (TC), Benalla, is a short-term Circuit Breaker residential program. The Circuit Breaker program provides a six-week, live-in rehabilitation program in north-east Victoria for people affected by alcohol and other drug addiction and associated mental health issues. The program accommodates 15 adults and aims to help people end the chaos associated with a substance dependent lifestyle, establish healthier relationships, promote personal change, and support them in their recovery journey.

About this role:

The Duty Worker helps oversee the operation of the program. The key purpose of the position is to act as the first point of contact and provide an appropriate operational response to resident issues, following established procedures. The position liaises closely with staff and ensures effective communication with residents to foster therapeutic relationships and maintain an ongoing atmosphere of mutual acceptance and harmony within the facility.

Key areas of focus:

• Implementing schedule of events for each day.
• Facilitating the functioning of the residential facility (including after hours and on weekends), ensuring appropriate communication and feedback is always provided and managing a variety of emotional responses that follow through the application of TC interaction techniques (e.g. Directive, Encouraging, Supportive and Inconspicuous).
• Holding the staff keys and being the first point of contact for resident issues.
• Facilitate group sessions, including managing conflict through the communique process.
• Supporting the organisation of house activities for residents (e.g. games, music, art, other recreational activities).
• Fulfilling duties of a First Aid Officer performing first aid in the workplace, as compensated through a FAO allowance.
• Administering medication as prescribed, including organising emergency medical appointment, as necessary.
• Managing after hours petty cash in accordance with TC cash handling procedures.

A week in this role:

If you were here last week, you would have…

• Assisted residents attend medical, ancillary health appointments and community group meetings in local towns.
• Occasionally worked in the evening and weekends, helping residents with a variety of therapeutic tasks.
• Enjoyed the convivial company of staff and residents during structured work projects around the property.
• Attended therapy groups, assisting senior staff.
• Organised recreation and extension activities both on and offsite.

Key Selection Criteria:

We are looking for an organised and compassionate Duty Worker to coordinate the day-to-day activity within the facility.

To be successful in this role, you must…

• Hold or be willing to complete within the first 12 months of employment, a Cert IV in AOD or a relevant tertiary qualification in health/welfare i.e. Social Work, Psychology, Nursing or Allied Health Sciences with a minimum AOD skillset requirement (refer to Appendix A*)
• Possess a current Victorian Driver’s License.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage clients in dialogue and develop a therapeutic relationship to facilitate a meaningful TC experience.
• Be able to resolve conflict and work with difficult and demanding clients.
• Be able to take initiative and capacity to work independently, adapting to changing TC needs.
• A comprehensive understanding of alcohol and drug substance abuse and an understanding of residential rehabilitation services.
• Strong organisational and highly developed interpersonal skills (both written and verbal) with a consultative approach to addressing issues.
• Be able to self-regulate and self-monitor own behaviours, practice self-reflection at all times, display a commitment to realistically assess own personal strengths, limitations, biases, and effectiveness, and remain open to feedback and constructive criticism
• Demonstrate understanding of the importance and application of inclusive practice when working with people from diverse communities, such as cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds
• Demonstrate understanding of the importance and application of intersectionality when working with people from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds

*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)

Application information

Please apply directly via our careers website (applications via external recruitment websites or via email will not be considered)

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

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact Andrew Hick – Manager: Circuit Breaker Program on, 0400 112 485 or at [email protected] using the subject line: Duty Worker - Benalla enquiry via EthicalJobs.

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, 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 recent Victorian Government mandatory vaccination requirements for the health industry, and OHV's Mandatory Vaccination Policy, all Odyssey House Victoria staff are required to hold full vaccination status, and effective as of 1 March 2022 also have received the Booster Vaccination. Evidence of such vaccination status 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.