Therapeutic Assistant

About the role

The purpose of this position is to provide specialist therapeutic support, planning, intervention and advisory services to program staff supporting children and caregivers within Children’s Services.  While the focus is on care/behavioural/safety planning, this role will also provide and support others to provide direct specialist therapeutic services to programs as requested.

The role also includes the delivery of therapeutic training to care givers with the Children’s Services Programs, including but not limited to induction, TCI training, therapeutic parenting and self-care.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Guide, role model & support (including both employees and volunteers) in the delivery of therapeutic services across the Children & Young People space. 
• Demonstrating authentic leadership through direct work and role modelling in therapeutic practice, which is adaptable, flexible and based on individual needs of the children and young people. 
• Effective and supportive reviews of individual safety and risk plans for young people across the service, including but not limited to supporting the care team to respond using therapeutic practice that aligns with the organisation’s therapeutic framework. 
• Working with team members, identify program safety and wellness concerns and manage the implementation of solutions and self-care plans for team members.
• Provide training to team members to build capability in the delivery of therapeutic services including but not limited to Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
• To work alongside the young person’s care team to consider how to best support their needs and the care team in providing therapeutic intervention strategies.
• Providing incident and post crisis response, reflection, support with the care team and young person involved. 
• Provide assistance to both the Operations Lead and Senior Manager with contractual monitoring and reporting requirements for program/services

About you 

To be successful you will have the following key attributes:

Qualifications – Social work, psychology or relevant.

• Excellent communication skills, extensive experience in report writing, assessments and case planning skills. 
•  Strong interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Willingness to provide therapeutic consultation to Care teams as required, including but not limited to internal young people’s / house meetings, department of Communities meetings. 
• An enthusiasm for fostering positive workplace culture, and skills in building appropriate therapeutic relationship across the service. 
• Strong computer literacy skills with a proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Proven capability to build effective and high performing therapeutic teams.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Resilient, confident and determined approach to the various challenges within the workplace.
• An ability to think creatively and laterally depending upon circumstances
• Proven ability to provide effective coaching in a sensitive and well considered manner
• Attention to detail and the ability to efficiently and effectively audit documentation to ensure that aligns with the therapeutic milieu. 
• An appetite for learning and maintain a contemporary skill set relevant to the role

Working with Uniting

At Uniting, we exist to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.

We act with impact. We work to address the causes of vulnerability and disadvantage, and we stand for a just society where individuals and communities are valued and connected

As an organisation, we celebrate our diversity and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, faith, age, ability, culture, language, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

We're a not-for-profit community services organisation of the Uniting Church Western Australia and part of the UnitingCare Australia network.

Our values

We're bold and respectful, compassionate and imaginative. And we'll support you to belong and thrive.

We value social and cultural diversity, and we're committed to a safe workplace.  We strongly encourage applications from First Peoples, people who have lived experience, people with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and mature age workers.

Uniting is committed to providing a nurturing environment where all children feel safe, valued and heard.

How to apply

Enquiries can be directed to Michael Somers at **************@unitingwa.org.au

Please apply through the SEEK website, providing a covering letter together with current resume. 

A position description outlining further details will be available here.