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Position Description
Position Title:
Youth and Family Services Clinician
Program:
Withdrawal & Coordinated Care Program
Reports to:
Manager Withdrawal and Coordinated Care
Supervise:
No direct reports
Date of review :
31/01/2017
Our Mission
Helping people to rebuild their lives.
Our Vision
We will provide a range of complementary treatment services to support individuals and families to assist
them to recover from the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. We will draw on our specialist expertise to
increase community understanding of drug and alcohol related issues and we will develop a pro-active,
educative focus to our work.
Our Principles
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Provide a range of approaches and give attention to all aspects of an individual.
Provide unflagging belief and support for individuals who wish to change and grow.
Respect differences in culture, religion, gender, age, family situation, background and economic status.
Commit to honesty and respect in all our relationships.
Draw on our expertise to develop new approaches to support treatment information and community
education.
 Develop processes and practices that are open, fair and honest.
What we believe
We believe that people can rebuild their lives.
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Organisational Background
Windana was established in 1984. It is an independent organisation, incorporated under the Associations
Incorporation (Reform Act) 2012 and managed by a Board of Management.
Both Commonwealth and State drug and alcohol objectives are adopted involving the utilization of harm
minimization approaches, a focus on minimal/brief interventions and the provision of medium to long term
support. Windana currently operates various programs that aim to empower drug users to improve their
quality of life. These are:
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Residential services, which include the Windana Youth Community House, the Drug Withdrawal
House and the Therapeutic Community Residential Rehabilitation.
Community Services which includes Family Services, Street Project, Art Therapy, Windana Health
and Healing, Counselling, Intake and Assessment in South East Melbourne and Peer Support Group.
Non –Residential Withdrawal in Barwon, Frankston Peninsular and South East Melbourne.
Admissions and Care Coordination Team including Dual Diagnosis, Admissions Coordinators and
Care and Recovery Coordination
A variety of ancillary staff, volunteers and partnerships with a diverse range of organisations all
provide a broad base for service delivery.
Further information about Windana’s underpinning philosophy and more detail about services provided are
available on the Windana website www.windana.org.au
Windana receives recurrent funding from the Victorian Department of Human Services and the Federal
Department of Health and Ageing.
Central administration functions are located in St Kilda. The organisation employs 95 EFT staff and has a
budget of over $7 M.
Program Information:
The Withdrawal and Coordinated Care Program costs of both state wide and catchment based services
including:
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Adult residential withdrawal unit, St Kilda (15 beds)
Youth residential withdrawal unit, Dandenong (5 beds)
Non-residential withdrawal services (Casey, Cardinia, Dandenong, Frankston/Mornington Peninsula
and Barwon)
Clinical Lead Nursing
Admissions and Care Coordination Team – Admissions Coordinator, Youth and Family Services
Clinician, Care and Recovery Coordination and Dual Diagnosis
Scope of Role
The Youth and Family Services Clinician at Windana is based on the Victorian Department of Health
objective of placing clients at the centre of service delivery – “ensuring that they have access to the services
they need, opportunities for early intervention and health promotion and improved health outcomes.”
The Youth and Family Services Clinician will work within an inter-disciplinary care model for clients
accessing family, withdrawal, and rehabilitation services at Windana to enable a holistic health assessment
and treatment plan to be developed. The Youth and Family Services Clinician will provide interdisciplinary
assessment and care coordination for clients accessing Windana services with a particular focus on young
people and family and family violence.
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The Youth and Family Services Clinician will provide youth assessments, bed coordination for the youth unit
and support the Admissions Team and Family Program in the early identification of family and family
violence presentations.
Objective of the position:
Whilst working closely with the Clinical Lead Nursing and the Youth Residential Withdrawal Unit Team
Coordinator this position is accountable to the Manager Withdrawal and Coordinated Care. The Youth and
Family Services Clinician is responsible to:
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Provide organisational assistance to embed a culture of ‘one person, one plan’ model of care.
Assist to reduce the dependency on alcohol or other drugs within a harm minimisation framework.
Provide interdisciplinary assessment and care coordination for clients accessing Windana services with
a particular focus on youth and family and family violence.
Improve access to youth assessments and entry to Windana’s youth residential withdrawal unit
Improved access to Family program and management of family violence and child protection issues
o Strengthen family functioning and assisting in providing a safe environment for the children of
program participants.
o Ensure families are connected to a range of supports within the community both formal and
informal.
o Strengthen the capacity of Windana programs to respond effectively to the needs of families.
Improve pathway between internal Windana programs and external programs.
Improve the referral potential for clients on exit from Windana.
This position is located at both the youth withdrawal unit at Dandenong and the St Kilda office but will be
expected to work across all Windana sites as required. The position is funded via the Commonwealth
Government and is subject to ongoing funding after 30 June 2017.
Responsibility
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To perform duties within the contact of the Windana philosophy, policies and procedures
To acknowledge and respect the diversity in the nature of our clients and the many aspects of their
lives – physical, psychological, spiritual and social
Work as per your contract of employment, relevant Award / Agreement and agreed roster
All policies and procedures are read and understood including all revised policies and procedural
documents
Understands and works within the policies and procedures applicable throughout the organisation
Work within the parameters of general legislative compliance – including but not limited to OHS
laws and guidelines, Fair Work Australia Act, Children and Young Persons Act, Privacy Act, Health
Records Act
To abide by all guidelines and requirements of our principle funder (s)
Follow the objectives of the service plan / model as directed by your Team Leader / Manager
Position responsibilities
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Ensure timely and comprehensive interdisciplinary youth assessments, care planning and bed
coordination responsibility in collaboration with Youth Unit Team Coordinator, Clinical Lead Nursing
and the Admissions Team
Participate in multidisciplinary review meetings with the Admissions team and staff of the youth
residential unit
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Provide clinical expertise to the Admissions Team in the review of clients presenting where family and
family violence issues have been identified
Ensure appropriate and timely referral to the Family Program where issues of family and family
violence are identified
Provide advocacy and support where required for young people and those experiencing family and
family violence issues
Utilize brief intervention and motivational interviewing to assist clients
Participate in daily client and house activities at the youth unit where required and as per roster
(minimum two days per week)
Liaise with other Windana programs and external agencies where required
Ensure mentoring and support is provided to Windana staff regarding presentations of family and
family violence
To participate in individual and group supervision on a regular basis
To participate in professional development opportunities as identified
Selection criteria
Mandatory Skills & Competencies:
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Empathetic to values of Windana
Commitment to continuous quality improvement and OH&S
Criminal records check
Working with Children Check
The ability to abide by the Agency’s undertaking re: confidentiality
Ability to work within a team environment and autonomously
A demonstrated knowledge of problematic alcohol and other drug use and experience in working in
the alcohol and drug field or related fields
High level interpersonal and communication skills
Experience working with people with mental health issues
A proven capacity to work with a variety of community agencies and develop effective working
relationships.
Demonstrated experience in working with young people, families and children with complex needs,
including alcohol and other drug issues and an ability to work in an outreach capacity.
The ability to work with people from a diverse background
Awareness of legislation affecting Windana services e.g. Equal Opportunity, Mental Health,
Disability Services, Children and Young People’s Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act.
A current full driver’s license.
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Qualifications:
 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
 Minimum two years working in the Alcohol and other Drug sector
 Previous experience working with young people
 Awareness of local community agencies and networks likely to be of value to clients
 Intermediate level computer skills in MS Office 2007 and internet navigation.
Desirable Skills & Competencies
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Division 2 Registered Nurse qualifications and experience would be an advantage but not
mandatory
Awareness of and/or ability to adopt the principles of service coordination and associated systems
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Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in child and youth development.
Dual diagnosis knowledge, skills and experience is highly regarded. If the applicant’s skills and
experience are not evident, then a commitment to undertaking professional development as part of the
employment contract will be required.
Employment Conditions
Salary and conditions are in accordance with the SACS Award, Social Worker Level 5 Pay point 1.
The continuation of this program is dependent upon ongoing funding being made available from the
Commonwealth Government after 30 June 2017.
The position is full time, 76 hours per fortnight
Remuneration Packaging is available in accordance with current legislation.
Occasional after hours work may be required.
Windana operates a flexible time-in-lieu system.
Windana operates under an Equal Opportunity Policy and Occupational Health & Safety Policy in
accordance with current legislation.
Effective risk management is a core competency expected of everybody across Windana including all staff,
management and volunteers. Leaders will be accountable for applying agreed risk management policy and
strategy in their area of responsibility.
The Youth and Family Services Clinician is expected to conduct her/himself with professional integrity
towards clients according to the “Staff Code of Ethics” and maintain their professional responsibilities in
line with the “Bill of Rights for Members and Clients”.
Under the Accident Compensation Act, it is the applicant’s duty to advise Windana of any pre-existing
condition, which could be aggravated by the type of employment they are applying for. Failure to do so
seriously jeopardises any entitlement the employee might have for a work-related aggravation of that nondisclosed pre-existing condition.
Agency vehicles are available for authorised use and these should be used at all times for work-related
purposes.
Other employment conditions are as per the relevant Award / Agreement.
Windana is working toward becoming a smoke-free environment.
Responsibilities stated herein reflect the primary functions of this job and
should not be construed as an exhaustive list of duties.
Employee Name: ________________________ Date: ____________
Signature: _____________________________
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