This is a full-time position (38 hours p/w), on a permanent contract, however we are open to negotiation of part-time hours. We invite applications from practitioners who are passionate about the issues people with intellectual disability and parents face, including young parents, and who enjoy engaging in direct practice with people experiencing complexity within their lives and their networks. We encourage diversity in our workplace and encourage all interested applicants to apply.

We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply and people of all genders, sexuality, and parenting status. We also encourage new graduates to apply, and offer ongoing, supportive professional supervision to support emerging practice. Remuneration is at a SCHCADS Level 4 (Social and Community Services Pay Scales). There is opportunity to increase your income through inclusion in our salary sacrificing program. The SCHCADS award can be accessed here: https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/modern_awards/award/ma000100/default.htm

Benefits of working for CLA Inc includes:

• Diverse practice and skill development opportunities, including induction and training.
• Supportive, collegial environment with regular debriefing and formal supervision by a qualified Social Worker.
• Encouragement to engage in critical reflection through team processes.
• Mobile Phone and laptop. • Not-for-profit salary packaging.

Please find attached an application kit containing the following documentation: – Position Description (Relationships Therapist: Disability Specific)

– Instructions on how to apply (included in this letter)

– CLA’s Parenting Practice Framework

– A letter from parents we work alongside – Trauma, Vicarious Trauma, Burnout and Self Care Policy and Procedure

ROLE DESCRIPTION  Relationships Therapist (Disability Specific) Purpose of the Position Community Living Association works alongside parents who have an intellectual and/or cognitive disability, their families and significant others, and other key stakeholders to support the parent to:

• Build their parenting capacity, knowledge and skill through adaptive, practical and concrete ways of education and learning
• Engage in therapeutic work to process grief and loss, trauma, and emotional harm that can result from adverse life experiences, including engagement in child protection systems both as a child and an adult..
• Build capacity to advocate for oneself and one’s family across systems and to engage parents where possible in systems advocacy work. • Navigate complex systems which they find themselves engaged with such as Child Protection, legal, housing, NDIS, health and education. The aim of this work is to foster parents’ capacity and challenge systems and structures to enable environments where parents can speak up, be heard, be involved, and connected, to their children in ways that are meaningful to them and their families. This includes individual, group and project work to support parents to reach individual goals related to parenting, to connect and create relationships with their peers and to engage in project work and systems advocacy.

Characteristics and Features The Relationships therapist will:

• Exercise initiative and judgement to independently develop a case plan by undertaking holistic and collaborative assessment, planning for intervention and ongoing evaluation.
• Actively contribute specialised skills and knowledge, as outlined in the role requirements, internally and externally, and support other practitioners in the team.
• Utilise therapeutic interventions, knowledge of parenting strategies, including Circle of Security, to foster parents’ capacity to safely parent, including where this occurs alongside other supported (e.g., family members, partner and/or foster/kinship carer)
• Use discipline skills and knowledge to work with parents engaged in multiple and complex systems, e.g. NDIS, Child Safety, Criminal Justice, Housing, Centrelink, Health, Mental Health.
• Manage time, set priorities, plan and organise their work, engage in your own professional supervision, and supervise other staff/students as required.
• Advocate, coordinate and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders in complex systems.
• Utilise community development methodologies to bring parents together to create community and social/systems change.
• Engage in critical reflection individually, and as part of a team, to develop practice and practice responses to enhance outcomes for young people.
• Work both autonomously and in collaboration with the Arros Team and external stakeholders

Provide direct support to parents, who have an intellectual, cognitive, or psycho-social disability, to actively support them to address barriers to achieve parenting related goals through individual, group and/or project work.

• Apply CLA’s Practice Framework, ARROS Parenting Practice Framework, and CLA’s Policies and Procedures in the work, to ensure best practice and to ‘champion’ the rights, needs and hopes of both parents we work with and the rights of parents with intellectual disability more broadly.
• Engage in therapeutic interventions to support parents to manage their emotions, navigate their experiences of childhood trauma (relating specifically to their parenting), and grief and loss.
• The ability to develop knowledge and understanding of NDIS plans, funding, budgets, and service agreements, and to support parents to understand and participate in the NDIS system where relevant, particularly where advocacy is required.
• Demonstrate a commitment to social justice and an understanding of how best to access, advocate for, and maintain supports for parents with intellectual disability through working effectively with internal and external stakeholders in complex systems e.g. NDIA, Department of Child Safety, Department of Housing, Justice system etc.
• Utilise communication and advocacy skills to write professional reports, outlining your assessments, interventions, and recommendations in support of a parent’s goals and any subsequent resources (including NDIS funding) that they need.
• Represent Community Living Association in forums and networks, advocating with, or on behalf of parents, to improve their opportunities and outcomes.
• Work alongside families, significant others, community members, and service providers who are in contact with or support parents who have an intellectual/cognitive disability
• Network and collaborate with parents, foster and kinship carers, significant others, community members and service providers to develop joint responses to the needs of parents who have an intellectual/cognitive disability. • Provide community development responses to emerging themes in practice.
• Respectfully and actively participate in regular and ongoing supervision, reflective practice through team meetings, staff development activities, and contribute to a positive work environment.
• Work as a member of the ARROS team, including providing back-up support and/or assistance to other team members as required; particularly when continuity of service delivery is compromised.
• Share administrative responsibilities e.g. taking referrals, answering phones, locking up and recording at team meetings. • Maintain record keeping such as case notes, minor expenditures, report writing and assist the Team Leader with programmatic / organisational data and reporting, including requirements of NDIS funding.
• Work autonomously to fulfill the requirements of the role.  • Work collaboratively with your team members, and other staff across the organization, as required

Requirements

• Tertiary qualification in social work, or a related discipline.
• Specialised knowledge and/or experience in developmental practice and working with people with an intellectual, cognitive and/or psychosocial disability. A comprehensive understanding and skills in the Helping Process, Relational Practice, Trauma-Informed Practice, and Capacity Building Frameworks.
• A commitment to social justice and an ability to use advocacy skills in practice.
• Sound knowledge and skills in working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the LGBTIQ community.
• Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes (mileage reimbursed as per SCHADS Award)
• NDIS Worker Orientation Module certificate of completion • Yellow Card, Yellow Card Exemption OR NDIS Worker Screening Clearance
• Blue Card “Working with Children Check” Accountability •

The Relationships Therapist (Disability Specific) is accountable to the ARROS Team Leader.

• They are required to follow CLA’s Policy and Procedures and statutory requirements.
• In accordance with the Staff Supervision and Staff Development Policy, regular supervision will occur with the Team Leader.
• Workers will be supported with opportunities for ongoing professional development.

To apply for the position of Relationships Therapist (Disability Specific) please submit the following documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae (Including two referees who can comment on your work)
2. Cover letter (maximum of four pages) that describes how your skills, interests, and knowledge meet the requirements of the role.

Please also consider in your response the following questions:

• What draws you to this role working with parents with intellectual disability?
• As a practitioner, how are you committed to ethical practice, reflection on practice and ongoing professional growth?
• How do you operate as a member of a team, including any teams and stakeholder groups you are currently in?

Please email your applications to [email protected] (Attn: Renee Mills, ARROS Team Leader)

Applications are to be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by phone for an interview, and the position will be filled once a suitable candidate is identified.