The Workers’ Psychological Support Service (WPSS) is an independent, confidential, and free support service for Queensland workers who are experiencing, or have experienced, a work-related primary or secondary psychological injury. It is delivered by social workers with skills and experience in mental health.

The WPSS provides personalised, non-technical support for workers with a work-related psychological injury by:

• Offering assistance to engage with additional specialised support services before, during and following the workers’ compensation claims process;
• Connecting to appropriate community support and advice services;
• Providing assistance to navigate the workers’ compensation system; and
• providing initial informal counselling, mental health education and self-care strategies.

The service is not a crisis line; rather, it connects clients with established community and other independent support services (as opposed to workplace interventions) that they may not have otherwise been aware of.

key deliverables

The duties and responsibilities of the social worker will be in line with their level of expertise, which includes but is not limited to:

• Manage the phone line. Answer general queries.
• Provide regular, flexible, low level non-clinical support to workers, provide information about the service, assess their need for the service and book appointments with the senior social worker. As experience builds with this role, it is expected that the social worker will provide higher level non-clinical support to workers.
• Follow up with selected workers at a specific point in time for evaluation purposes and record findings.
• Researching supports and services available for workers.
• Liaise with appropriate stakeholders and build professional relationships. Attend consultations with the senior social worker and other relevant stakeholders when required.
• Attend and participate in relevant professional development opportunities including supervision meetings with the senior social worker.
• Assist senior social worker to develop presentations, promote service where necessary.
• Maintain record keeping and case notes effectively.
• Maintain service when senior social worker is unavailable, to ensure continuity during periods of leave and to support a staff succession solution.
• Other duties as required.

qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in social work, as recognised by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW);
• Current membership with the AASW;
• Not having any other outstanding professional competency or ethical issues or complaints known to the AASW which may preclude membership of the organisation; and
• Evidence of continuing professional development will be well regarded.

other

Pre-employment screening, including an Australian Federal Police (AFP) criminal record check, may be undertaken on the person who is recommended for appointment to this role.

A probationary period of 6 months applies for new employees.

The QCU supports Equal Employment Opportunity and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and women with relevant qualifications, experience and skills to apply.

key selection criteria

The ideal candidate must demonstrate:

Social work practice and client focussed service delivery:

• Demonstrates self-awareness and the effects of behaviour on others, demonstrates resilience in the delivery of support to ensure that the worker/client can make informed decisions and feel heard and supported without judgement.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, manages conflict appropriately, and shows the utmost respect to all people at all times.
• Deliver high quality mental health social work services in accordance with prescribed professional and ethical standards relevant to the service scope.

Evaluation processes:

• Demonstrated or ability to acquire evaluation skills to effectively review and improve this new service and ensure worker satisfaction with the delivery of the service.

Communication skills:

• High level verbal and written communication skills to effectively liaise internally with management and work colleagues and externally with relevant stakeholders, including medical and allied health professionals, community service providers, and other organisations involved in meeting the identified needs of psychologically injured workers.

Teamwork and autonomy:

• Ability to work with staff to promote a co-operative and cohesive team approach.
• Experience in working independently to deliver high quality and timely actions and output, with the flexibility to rearrange priorities to meet changing needs of the organisation.

Administrative tasks such as record keeping and time management:

• Accurate and timely case noting and database recording to ensure reporting and evaluation processes are in place to continuously improve the service.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritise a caseload and exercise initiative.
• Sound computer and word-processing skills, including use of Microsoft Office Suite.

Labour movement values:

• A high level of commitment to, and/or experience with Queensland unions and the broader Labour movement.

Addressing key deliverables:

• Capability and capacity to discharge the specific function of the new role, as described in the Key Deliverables

TO APPLY