POSITION DESCRIPTION – MST-CAN Crisis

REPORTS TO: MST-CAN Supervisor

GRADE/AWARD/LEVEL: SCHADS Industry Award 2010, Level 5

WORK LOCATION: Central Coast

PROGRAM: MST-CAN

WORKING WITH CHILDREN: Clearance Required

PURPOSE

Multi-systemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) is an Evidenced Based Model (EBM) designed to treat 6-17 year-olds and their families who have come to the attention of child protective services due to physical abuse and/ or neglect. MST-CAN works with the entire family and is proven to keep families together, ensure children and young people are safe, prevent abuse and neglect, reduce difficulties experienced by adults and children and increase natural social supports to reduce risk of entering out-of-home care.

The role of the Crisis Caseworker is to provide casework support to family members who are engaged with MST therapists to provide practical assistance for families and the MST therapist team. The Crisis caseworker will work closely with all 12 families referred for MST CAN services and will provide clear and structured casework adherent with MST service principles and therapist directions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to MST crisis caseworker administrative and practice principles • Support the MST CAN therapists and families to improve client outcomes • Assist therapists in gathering information about resources within the community • Engage primary caregiver and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement • Assist therapists in the implementation of a problem conceptualisation, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the MST Analytic Process • Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts which promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the nine MST Principles and the MST Analytic Process • Perform safety checks including drug and alcohol screening at the direction of the therapist or supervisor, respond to emergencies, and implement crisis plans

Approved: 24 April 2017 Page 1 of 3 Document ID: 17055-180 • Participate in all MST-CAN training, supervision and consultation activities • Build and maintain relationships with key community stakeholders (i.e., services, Guardians, judges, schools, etc.) to ensure cooperation among service providers • Assist clients in practical needs such as housing, budgeting, job attainment, and prosocial recreational activities • Assist the clinical team and parents with children’s school adjustment • Attend and participate in MST-CAN group supervision weekly

ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promote and uphold the Mission, Vision and Values of CatholicCare. • Communicate and Act in ways that are reflective of CatholicCare’s Core Values; Respect, Hope, Commitment, Professionalism, Excellence and . • Understand and positively work within the Values and Mission of CatholicCare. • Develop a sound knowledge of Organisational wide policies and procedures. • Develop a thorough knowledge of Organisation, the purpose and strategic plan. • Read, sign and adhere to organisational Policies.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, the MST-CAN Therapist should demonstrate the following competencies:

o Initiative – individuals taking responsibility for their performance with integrity and diligence. Actively looking at ways to improve current practices. Being able to determine what decisions can be taken autonomously and which need to be referred upwards for approval. o Respect – accepting of individual differences and treating others with dignity; demonstrated support for the organization and its missions and goals. o Building collaborative relationships – the ability to develop, maintain and strengthen partnerships with others inside and/or outside the organisation and provide information, assistance and support in a positive and responsive manner. o Client focus – commitment to supporting excellence in CatholicCare programs and interventions, enabling all CatholicCare clients to achieve their goals and potential. o Communication skills – the ability to express yourself clearly and professionally in business writing and in conversations and interactions with others. o Risk – anticipation, mitigation and resolution of workplace events/issues as relevant to the level of this role. o Professional skills/knowledge – the ability to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge and skill in a technical/professional area (administration)

Position Title: MST-CAN Crisis Caseworker Page 2 of 3 Approved: 24 April 2017 o Self-management – the ability to develop and maintain professional practices in a responsible manner. Ability to work autonomously to complete tasks appropriate to the level of this role. o Information management skills – the ability to maintain, provide and distribute information appropriately. o Project management skills – the ability to manage a set ‘task based’ project from end to end including sound time management and organisation skills and the ability to see a task through to completion.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, , Childhood Education or a related subject area.

Knowledge:

• Child development • Parenting skills • A working understanding of the culture and strengths of the families within the MST-CAN population • Resources available in the community and the ability to connect families to those resources • Ability to locate and access housing for clients • Ability to work with families to develop a safety plan • Child protective legislation and reporting requirements • Working with Aboriginal and Torre Straight Islander communities

Essential Experience:

• Working with families in a community based setting • Working with child protection and court systems • Working with Indigenous families and communities • Ability to work as a team member • Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence the behaviour of youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighbourhood) • Full driving licence and own vehicle available to use for work related purposes • Resident or knowledge and understanding of the demographics of the Central Coast

Desirable Experience • Management of suicidal or homicidal threats and family safety risks • Behavioural therapy targeting behavioural change in children at home and school • Theory of Behavioural therapies and application

Position Title: MST-CAN Crisis Caseworker Page 3 of 3 Approved: 24 April 2017