AOD Specialist Family Violence Advisor

• Seeking a AOD Specialist Family Violence Advisor
• Full-time (1.0 FTE), Ongoing
• Based at Footscray
• $96,031.78 per annum, plus super
• 17.5% annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options
• Progressive Workplace Flexibility options that enable genuine work life balance

Our values are: Honesty Trust Respect Concern Love

About Odyssey House Victoria:

Odyssey House Victoria (OHV) is a place of hope and positive change for individuals working towards breaking their pattern of addiction. At Odyssey House we believe that every person should have the opportunity to change and grow. Our diverse teams work with individuals, families, and communities to reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve mental health, and reconnect people to their family and the community.

OHV is a dynamic and fast-growing organisation committed to excellence in service provision and innovation in responding to alcohol and other drugs use problems.

About this opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced advisor with specialist knowledge of the intersectionality between AOD and Family Violence!

You will work alongside our other advisor and under direction of the Manager to collaboratively drive capacity building expertise and support for AOD service providers and practitioners within the NW Metro AOD catchment.

Key areas of focus:

• Capacity building & Engagement
• Strategic Focus
• Key Activities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provisioning of practice leadership and capacity building across sectors, especially AOD, Specialist Family Violence Services and Mental Health services to promote collaborative and inclusive practices and policies.
• Supporting and strengthening networks through cross sector collaboration between family violence, mental health and AOD Agencies within the NWMAOD Catchment
• Assisting with the identification and enhancement of referral pathways that provide a more integrated and collaborative health and human services system response to family violence and AOD issues.
• Assisting with the development of screening for early recognition of, and intervention into, family violence situations for clients of alcohol and other drug services.
• Contributing to identification emerging trends, needs, and gaps in service delivery along with collaborating in using this knowledge to generate changes in systems and approaches.
• Delivering relevant training and professional development activities to increase capacity to intervene at the intersections of family violence, mental health and AOD, as agreed with the Manager: Child and Family Services
• Participating in family violence capacity building in AOD services including attending clinical reviews, COP’s, forums and stakeholder training and educational sessions along with other activities as directed by the Manager: Child and Family Services.
• Providing secondary consults as needed across the NWMAOD catchment.

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities, please click HERE.

A week in the role:

If you were here last week, you would have:

• Collaborated with AOD services across Western Metropolitan Melbourne.
• Attended clinical review meetings.
• Conducted specialist family violence secondary consultations.
• Facilitated Communities of Practice in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Key Selection Criteria:

We are looking for an experienced and passionate advisor to assist with capacity building activities to enable earlier identification and responses to family violence for those who are experiencing family violence and/or perpetrating family violence, as well as promoting capacity building with other sectors to increase access and support to those impacted by substance abuse and family violence.

To be successful in this role, you must meet the following:

1. Relevant health and or welfare Tertiary/Degree qualification e.g., in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing or Allied Health Sciences with experience and/or an Associate Diploma with substantial experience.
2. Certificate IV or above in AOD or completion of the AOD Skill Set for Health Professionals (or commitment to obtain one of these within 12 months of employment). Staff will be fully supported in obtaining the skillset. * (Refer Appendix A).
3. Ability to articulate and apply a practice framework focused on engagement and assessment, including extensive knowledge and experience of MARAM risk assessment framework and the Best Interests Case Practice Model, in the context of family violence.
4. Ability to quickly acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management (CRAF / MARAM), and Family Violence Information Sharing and Child Information Sharing Schemes (when introduced in September 2018).
5. A significant understanding of:
   • the diverse nature of interpersonal and family violence.
   • the impact of gender, and of social and systemic issues affecting women and children.
   • the dynamics of family violence, including patterns of coercive control and behaviours.
   • the impact on children and the ability of the protective parent to safely parent.
   • the structure and nature of the specialist family violence service system, with a focus on local specialist family violence support services and approaches in the local area, and the mechanisms they employ to restore and enhance safe, child-centred parenting.
   • the interface between specialist family violence services and other service systems, particularly child protection.
   • the relationship between family violence and substance
6. Demonstrated experience in interagency liaison, consultation, and the building of partnerships with key stakeholders and relevant service sectors.
7. Possesses effective negotiation and problem-solving skills in a multi-disciplinary environment context.
8. Demonstrates commitment to social justice and social inclusion.
9. Extensive experience and knowledge of working with diverse individuals and communities.
10. Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information, to keep accurate and complete records of work activities in accordance with organisational requirements, information security and adherence to privacy policy requirements.
11. Highly developed written and oral communication skills including the ability to accurately record data, correspondence, conduct reporting and provide written and oral evidence as required.

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities, please click HERE.

*Appendix A (AOD Competencies)

OHV requires staff in clinical positions to have the following competencies (or their equivalent). Where people do not already have these competencies, OHV will invest in the staff’s professional development by providing them through our registered training organisation (RTO).
The competencies required in the first 12 months of employment are:

• CHCAOD001 – Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
• CHCAOD004 – Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
• CHCAOD006 – Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues
• CHCAOD009 – Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans

What we can give YOU!

In return we are committed to offering you an inclusive and transparent workplace culture where our people can develop to be their very best by:

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Providing work that is meaningful and challenging, with career development opportunities through project and secondment opportunities and succession planning
• Providing career pathways across diverse OHV programs.
• Access to 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP)
• Generous leave options such as 48/52 Purchase Leave, Study Leave and Sabbaticals
• Flexible working arrangements such as, school-orientated part-year hours and monthly RDO’s for full-timers (arrangements will vary based on role requirements).

In addition to the above, staff will also be provided monthly Clinical Supervision sessions for professional development and personal wellbeing.

Application information

Please apply directly via our ELMO careers website, via the Apply Now link (applications via email will not be considered).

Applications should be addressed to Emma Shaw and include your CV and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact Emma Shaw, Manager Child and Family Services on, [email protected], using the subject line: AOD Specialist Family Violence Advisor enquiry via EthicalJobs, or 0466 407 861

We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis and suitable candidates will be shortlisted immediately. This role will close once a suitable candidate has been selected which may be prior to the application deadline, so please don’t wait to apply!

Our commitment to diversity

At OHV we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions by encouraging people with disability, Aboriginal Australians, LGBTQIA, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.

Safety screening

OHV is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation. All OHV employees must undergo Police Records and Working with Children Checks. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with us.

Mandatory COVID vaccinations

In line with OHV’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy, all Odyssey House Victoria staff are required to hold Fully Vaccinated (Boosted) status, having also received the Booster Vaccination. Evidence of this minimum of three (3) COVID-19 vaccinations will be requested during the onboarding process and offers will be rescinded where such evidence cannot be provided.

All Odyssey House Victoria sites are smoke free for all employees.