Description:
Counsellor Caseworker
Position Description
Position Objective
To provide direct care to clients and their caregivers, along the palliative care trajectory and in bereavement.
This includes psychosocial/spiritual assessment, on-going care planning, casework, counselling and liaison
with other services both within Peninsula Home Hospice (PHH) and the community.
To work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team, participate in organisational activities and the
wider community.
Statement of Purpose
Peninsula Home Hospice provides home based specialist palliative care that optimises quality of life for
those in our care, and honours the hope for choice, dignity, comfort and peace.
Core Values
We value: Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Innovation and Empowerment
Position Specification
Reports To Clinical Leader Allied Health
Award Aligns with Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award
2010
Classification Social and Community Services Level 6
Hours As per Contract
Role Reflection Initially during the probation period at three months, and six months, then annually
Key Selection Criteria
Mandatory Tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work
Eligibility for membership or registration to relevant Professional Association
Demonstrated ability to work with issues associated with dying, death and
bereavement
Demonstrated ability to conduct psychosocial and spiritual assessments
Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate care plans to address
the changing needs of clients
Demonstrated ability to provide counselling for clients and their families and
caregivers
Well-developed interpersonal and written communication skills
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of an
interdisciplinary team
Current Victorian Drivers Licence
Desirable Community palliative care experience
High level of organisation and time management skills
Experience and skill in group facilitation
Well-developed computer skills
Counsellor Caseworker Position Description
Key Responsibilities
1. Conduct psycho-social and spiritual assessment, planning and evaluation
2. Provide counselling which includes bereavement interventions to meet the needs of clients and
their carers/families
3. Provide spiritual support to meet the needs of the clients and their carers/families
4. Facilitate client groups
5. Provide case work support for clients and their carers/families
6. Provide timely and relevant support to other members of the team
7. Utilise culturally appropriate intervention strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Divers clients
(CALD)
8. Demonstrate effective and efficient management of own workload to include indirect activities.
Key Responsibility 1 Conduct psycho-social and spiritual assessment, planning and
evaluation
Effective assessment
and planning ensuring
that psychosocial
spiritual needs are met
Prioritises new referrals for assessment and evaluations within accepted
timeframe
Assesses individual mental functioning, emotional status, loss history, social
supports, coping styles, strengths and challenges, financial and legal
concerns and spiritual needs
Assess group and family functioning
Assist clients in setting goals, plans and evaluates interventions
Provides client and carer/family education as appropriate
Participates in discharge planning to ensure the provision of timely and
appropriate services
Participates and contributes to the client review meetings, including morning
handover and multi-disciplinary team meetings
Key Responsibility 2
Ensures therapeutic
interventions build
client and family
capacity
Provide counselling which includes bereavement interventions to meet the
needs of clients and their carers/families
Establishes rapport with clients and families
Demonstrates counselling skills
Provides opportunities to explore issues and emotions, and to increase self-
awareness
Normalises grief processes and individual differences
Demonstrates ability to facilitate family meetings
Key Responsibility 3 Provide spiritual support to meet the needs of clients and their
carers/families
Ensures spiritual
needs are met
Invites spiritual exploration and supports what is sacred
Demonstrates ability to identify spiritual needs and provide appropriate
spiritual support or referral to specialist worker
Provides or refers clients for culturally appropriate religious support, ritual and
worship
Counsellor Caseworker Position Description
Key Responsibility 4
Facilitate client groups
Provide opportunities
for growth in group
environments
Key Responsibility 5
Supports clients and
carers to access
practical supports
Key Responsibility 6
Demonstrates ability to
support team growth
within collegial
boundaries
Demonstrates group facilitation skills
Facilitates family meetings
Participates in the development and implementation of groups
Evaluates the effectiveness of group programs
Demonstrates ability to mediate conflict resolution
Provide case work support for clients and their carers/families
Provides advocacy and liaison support in obtaining community resources and
practical supports.
Makes appropriate referrals to other community services as required
Facilitates problem solving and development of coping strategies
Arranges practical support for clients and carers/families
Provide timely and relevant support to other members of the team
Demonstrates ability to respond to other team members needs for collegial
emotional support, and feedback on an informal basis
Provides support and encouragement of self-care practices within team
Demonstrates ability to refer colleagues for support if their needs are beyond
collegiate
Key Responsibility 7
Engages in culturally
safe practices
Utilise culturally appropriate intervention strategies for Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse Clients (CALD)
Demonstrates a positive regard for diverse cultures.
Responds to others in a non-judgmental and non-evaluating manner
Demonstrates awareness of the relationship between culture and health
beliefs and the relationship between culture and health seeking behaviour
Develops effective communication and relationships with other ethno-specific
providers and community groups
Demonstrates knowledge of culturally appropriate resources and how to
access them, including use of interpreting services
Key responsibility 8
Ensures time, skill and
organisational
resources are used for
the betterment of the
service
Demonstrate effective and efficient management of own workload to
include indirect activities
Maintains current client records and meets statistical reporting requirements
Recognises opportunities for the development of research and quality
initiatives including new service programs
Actively participates in supporting internal and external working groups
Contributes to the regular revision of written resource material for client use
Accepts responsibility for the supervision of tertiary students as delegated
Reviews own work performance, identify learning needs and accesses
opportunities for development
Counsellor Caseworker Position Description
All staff are expected to:
Demonstrate an understanding of Peninsula Home Hospice Policies and Procedures, including
those relating to quality management
Participate in PHH Quality Improvement Activities including accreditation
Maintain a professional appearance as required by Peninsula Home Hospice Policy
Ensure familiarity and compliance with Occupational Health and Safety requirements and
regulations
Undertake other projects and duties as directed by your Line Manager or the Chief Executive
Officer
A condition of employment with Peninsula Home Hospice is that all staff have a satisfactory Police check
and a Working with Children Check.