Therapeutic Specialist – Therapeutic Residential Care

HOW WILL I HELP?

As the Therapeutic Specialist you will provide direct clinical support to young people with complex needs within the Lighthouse program based in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs. Your role will provide therapeutic leadership aligned with the Lighthouse Model of Care and include holding a small clinical case load, completing therapeutic assessments and care planning for young people, contributing to clinical planning, delivering trainings, and supporting the implementation of reflective and trauma-informed practices across Care Services. 

This role is central to supporting young people in our care who have unique needs, including children and young people who may be impacted by complex trauma, and have experience within the out of home care system. 

This ongoing, part-time role of 0.4 FTE is central in leading teams in the application of the Lighthouse Model of Care, and contributing to a culture of inclusion, safety, healing and growth. 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

• Competitive pay level + Salary Packaging
• Flexible working arrangements 
• Group reflective practice sessions 
• Ongoing training and development 
• Being part of a caring community, who really values you 

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

First and foremost, interpersonal skills are a must, with a level of maturity and understanding needed when working with those who use and support our services.

From a professional standpoint you will require:

• A tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, or a related field
• A thorough understanding of the impact of trauma, disrupted attachment and abuse/neglect on a child or young person’s development and wellbeing
• Substantial experience working therapeutically with children and young people, in particular those who have experienced trauma, homelessness or have an out of home care experience
• Demonstrated capacity to achieve positive outcomes when working with children and young people who have experienced trauma and have complex needs and presentations
• A strong ability to develop therapeutic alliances with young people who have experienced significant family disruption, personal trauma and those who present with complex psychological and social needs
• An ability to select and utilise relevant theoretical frameworks and tools in formulating suitable psychosocial assessments of young people and the ability to work with Care teams to implement therapeutic interventions
• Ability to provide secondary consultation in relation to young people who present with complex needs, taking into consideration the most appropriate immediate response as well as short term, medium term and long-term needs
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the needs of Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse children and young people to provide culturally sensitive and effective care for young people in residential care
• An ability to deliver therapeutic training / workshops as required
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to plan, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines as required
• Demonstrated commitment to personal and professional development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Other key skills which would be desirable;

• Post graduate training in relevant child, adolescent and family clinical practice is strongly preferred
• Experience delivering therapeutic training / workshops
• A well-developed understanding of child, youth and family services and the Child Protection system in Victoria and a commitment and track-record of working in close partnership with internal teams and a broad range of external services.

For this role you will please note you will also need:

• Current driver’s license
• Valid first aid certificate (or willingness to obtain one)
• Criminal Records check
• Current Working with Children check
• Worker and Carer Exclusion Check