Support Worker: Aftercare|phams (qld)

Position Description: Support Worker – PhaMs (QLD) Organisational Attributes Vision

• To be nationally recognised leader building independent lives.

Purpose

• To be a leading provider of services to people with a disability in Australia • To identify opportunities to build independent lives • To offer services for people to achieve wellness and well being • To maintain quality services

Position Title Personal Helpers and Mentors

Position Location QLD

Reports To Team Leader

Positions Reporting To This Nil

Award QLD Community Services and crisis Assistance Position Status Full Time Permanent Part Time Permanent

Classification Level 4, paypoint 1-3 Probation Duration 3 Months Employee Benefits Salary Packaging Superannuation Car & phone allowance Flexitime Staff training

Rate of Pay

Special Features Occasional work outside standard business hours (when requested by supervisor/ manager)

Casual

General Purpose of the Job • To provide direct and personalised assistance through outreach services, providing referrals, and linking with appropriate services and monitoring and reporting progress • To provide clients with opportunities, quality support and services to develop or re-develop skills, build confidence and reconnect with community; and ensure that services accessed are coordinated and integrated and complementary to other services in the community • To encourage and support the recovery process of people with a mental illness. • To provide support that is sensitive, client focused, community oriented and planned. • To assist people with a mental illness to maintain key systemic relationships, which facilitate independent living. • To increase access and equity for clients within a disability support and collaborative recovery model of psychosocial rehabilitation.

Main Responsibilities • Direct program participation involvement which includes assessment of needs, developing and monitoring Individual Recovery Plans, and linking with clinical case management, needs assessment, advocacy, peer support. Personal development, supporting family relationships, mediation and supporting people to self manage. • Use the Collaborative Recovery Model and other best practice models to assist participants to define recovery and support goals. • Coordinate and integrate participants with other services • Respectfully, effectively and efficiently respond to issues raised by clients, their advocates or family members. Assess participants, collect data, write reports, correspondence, memos and respond to verbal/written requests for information as required. • Maintain records/progress notes of activities undertaken with participants. • Do referrals to relevant services which include housing support, employment and education, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, independent living skills courses, clinical services and other mental health services as required Last Revised: March 2009 Page 1 of 5

Position Description: Support Worker – PhaMs (QLD) • Maintain confidentiality of service users and follow required privacy • Understand and follow Aftercare’s policies and procedures including local procedures which apply to specific to programs. • Attend and participate in team, training and professional development activities. • Understand and follow the position expectations as described in Aftercare’s Service Delivery Model and adjusted by your manager to meet any specific program requirements. • Undertake reporting and administration which include reporting to FaHCSIA and general administration • Follow and support CQI Quality program • Other duties relevant to the position of Personal Helpers and Mentors as required.

Recruitment Specification Essential Criteria • Experience and skills in working with people experiencing mental illness • Demonstrated capacity to relate to clients and other stakeholders with dignity and respect. • Ability to think and act calmly and deal sensitively with distressed people • Knowledge of when to seek help or supervision, promoting ethical behaviour and antidiscriminatory practice that treats clients, family and staff with dignity and respect. • Understading of the principles of duty of care, rights to privacy and confidentiality • Demonstrate effective listening, communication skills, empathy; and the capacity to relate with others with dignity and respect • Ability to help program participants link in with other relevant community resources and to promote the rights, responsibilities and recovery of program participants • Commitment to professional development and willingness to participate in training as programmed by Aftercare. • Ability to work within a team • Ability to implement and facilitate planned activities resulting in greater community access and support • Demonstrated communication, problem solving and organisational skills • Demonstrated ability to work with families, carers, government agencies and community services • Current driver’s licence Desirable Criteria • Knowledge and understanding the Disability Services Act and Standards and Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations • Computer skills Educational and professional qualifications • Tertiary qualifications in Disability Services, Mental Health, Nursing, Social Work or Psychology (desirable) • Diploma or Certificate in a related area or other non related tertiary qualifications

Last Revised: March 2009 Page 2 of 5

Position Description: Support Worker – PhaMs (QLD) Work experience • Previous experience working in a disability service setting is desirable

Key Result Areas (KRA) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Aftercare’s staff members are known for the professionalism they bring to their work duties. The following section describes this professionalism and also the performance standards that are required of staff members.

KRA KPI

Provide service to clients • Courtesy, consideration and sensitivity exercised at all times with client group and the public • Engagement with potential participants; providing direct and personalised assistance through outreach services, referring and linking with appropriate services, monitoring and reporting on progress. • Assess the eligibility and needs using the Functional Assessment Tool and consider risk factors • Assist in the implementation, monitoring and review of the recovery plan • Advocate on behalf of participants to ensure that their rights are upheld and assist in negotiation of agreements • Foster the personal development of participants • Support the participants in managing their daily activities and develop their skills and confidence to achieve this independently • Support family and carer relationships • Mediate to resolve problems that participant may be experiencing with family, carers and/ or other service providers • Assist participants to access appropriate housing • Information provided to the client group and the public is accurate, timely and maintains Aftercare’s image and accountability • Establish a knowledge of (including eligibility, referral procedures and protocols) and links with key services within the community participants are likely to be referred • Establish who will be responsible for the overall care coordination to ensure that an integrated and holistic service is provided • Establish a two-way communication process for the purpose of: 1) Sharing appropriate information between the programs 2) Identifying, addressing and resolving any problems in the provision of a coordinated service • Maintain the databases for the information required by Aftercare and FaCSIA

KRA K PI

Follow defined OH&S procedures • Follow all OH&S related workplace procedures and instructions for controlling risks • Recognise, assess and report hazards in the work area to immediate supervisor • Report accidents and incidents to immediate supervisor • Participate in consultation on OH&S issues • Participate in OH&S training

Last Revised: March 2009 Page 3 of 5

Position Description: Support Worker – PhaMs (QLD) • Participate in Return to Work Programs where necessary KRA KPI

Work effectively in local context • Work is performed in accordance with Aftercare’s policies & procedures • Own work is monitored and improved, according to job quality and client service requirements • Requests for assistance from other staff or the public are responded to promptly appropriately and respectfully • Effectively contribute to change processes and offer ideas in a constructive and positive way

KRA KPI

Work with others in service delivery • Duties are undertaken in a manner that promotes cooperation, respect, shared responsibility, a sense of team spirit and good relationships within Aftercare • Work information is shared with co-workers to ensure designated work goals are met • Communication with others is conduced in a way that is clear and concise and focused on the best way to achieve work objectives • The principles of Equal Opportunity are observed and implemented

KRA KPI

Communicate in the workplace • Participation with own work group and other teams is supportive, efficient and effective with the primary goal of helping Aftercare achieve its objectives • Participation in work meetings is consistent with the purpose of the meeting and the meeting conventions are observed • Information, instructions and decisions are understood and adhered to • Provide concise, relevant work information in response to supervisor requests within designated timeframes

KRA KPI

Follow specified risk management policies and procedures • Workplace procedures and instructions for controlling risks are followed accurately • Hazards to the community either in or outside work area are recognised and reported immediately to the immediate supervisor • Assist others in the work team with implementing risk management policies and procedures

KRA KPI

Follow defined ethical guidelines • Understand and follow Aftercare’s Code of Conduct and Protected Disclosure Act • Follow ethical guidelines relevant to the individual’s training and/or profession as appropriate (e.g. Psychology, Social Work) • Potential conflicts of interest are reported immediately to the relevant internal and / or external agent • Support is given to other staff who may wish to report any potential conflicts of interest • Commitment to Continuous Quality Improvement within and across the service of Aftercare and contribute accordingly • Keep abreast of the various Legislative Framework governing the services and its various amendments

KRA KPI

Policy and Procedures •

Be aware of and adhere to Aftercare policy and procedures.

•

Monitor overall compliance and report to Service manager any breaches of Policy and

Last Revised: March 2009 Page 4 of 5

Position Description: Support Worker – PhaMs (QLD) Procedure manual

Competencies for the Role • Orientation to disability work and demonstrate a genuine commitment to helping people with a severe functional limitation as a result of a severe mental illness • Maintain an environment designed to empower people with disabilities • Ability to show compassion, patience and empathy • Ability to think calmly and deal sensitively with distress and unpredictable behaviour • Knowledge of mental illness and skills in working with people experiencing mental illness • Deliver and develop services for people with disabilities to promote recovery and participation • Utilise specialist communication and listening skills to build strong relationships and to promote the consumers’ rights and responsibilities • Maintain effective work environment, team work and insight of when to seek help or supervision • Work within a legal and ethical framework and promote anti-discriminatory practice that treats all parties with dignity and respect; and balances right to privacy/ confidentiality with duty of care • Participate in safety procedures for direct care work • Undertake administrative duties and keep accurate records • Knowledge of local community resources • Maintain and utilise organisation’s information systems • Work within Aftercare’s administrative protocols • Communicate appropriately with colleagues and management and other service providers • Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers • Plan and implement community integration

Relationships Within Aftercare Administration Staff, Support Workers, Team Leaders, Support Coordinators, Managers, Executive Director, Board Members External to Aftercare Clients, Families, Advocates, Government Workers, Service Providers, Funding Bodies, Government Departments, Consultants

Last Revised: March 2009 Page 5 of 5