Position Statement

The Team Leader Counselling provides leadership and operational oversight to ensure the delivery of high quality, client centred and strengths based counselling services. This role is responsible for promoting and modelling a collaborative, ethical, and clinically sound team environment while ensuring compliance with professional standards and organisational policies. This is an on-site position.

The position plays a central role in managing clinical risk, overseeing service delivery, and supporting professional development within the counselling team.

Key Accountabilities and Deliverables

People, Programs, and Performance

• Provide leadership for daily operations, fostering a collaborative and professional team culture to ensure high standards of service delivery within the Counselling Team.
• Oversee day to day team logistics, including staff leave management and operational coordination.
• Manage the administrative aspects of the counselling team, ensuring timely and efficient workflow.
• Identify opportunities for service improvement and initiate quality improvement activities within the team.
• Provide clinical risk discussions and support to counsellors, ensuring best practices in risk assessment and intervention.
• Maintain an active caseload and provide clinical oversight for complex cases.
• Arrange and oversee both group and individual supervision for the team, ensuring a structured and supportive approach to professional development.
• Support staff in undertaking risk and safety assessments for clients and counselling sessions.
• Ensure adherence to organisational policies and procedures to maintain safe and ethical service delivery.
• Provide guidance to the counselling team regarding referral pathways and access to additional support services for clients.
• Coordinate internal resources and practitioner involvement in service delivery and projects.
• Ensure accurate and timely records are maintained, following confidentiality and data management requirements.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams.
• Work collaboratively with the Counselling and Critical Incident Manager to develop, strengthen, and enhance service delivery models.
• Support the Manager to enforce safeguarding policies, risk assessments, and safety procedures.
• Stay updated on legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records and assist the Manager with program reporting.
• Assist the Manager with strategic planning, including Activity Work Plans and new service developments.
• Provide delegated decision-making in the absence of the Manager to support service continuity and risk management
• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, and mentoring of new team members
• Support change management processes within the team, ensuring smooth implementation of new initiatives or policies.
• Identify and report on emerging service needs and contribute to the development of responsive programs and initiatives.
• Other duties as directed from time to time by the Counselling and Critical Incident Manager.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology or another relevant qualification.
• Significant proven experience and background in the provision of counselling services.
• Proven experience in motivating and encouraging a successful team collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, and manage competing priorities, whilst ensuring clients are kept safe and at the centre of service delivery.
• Working knowledge of a strengths-based approach, both within practice, and the organisation.
• Proven experience in actively developing, fostering, and maintaining strong whole of organisation relationships.
• Ability to encourage the development of individual staff and identify opportunities for growth.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Working knowledge of general risk management principles, both from a people and organisational perspective.
• Demonstrated knowledge of theory and experience in trauma-informed counselling.
• Proven experience in developing and maintaining strong (working) stakeholder relationships.

Desirable

• Leadership experience.
• Exposure to the Not-for-Profit sector.

Requirements

• A satisfactory Northern Territory working with children check (Ochre Card).
• A valid NT Drivers License
• A satisfactory national criminal history check.
• A commitment to our Safeguarding Children Practice and Behaviour Guidelines.