POSITION DESCRIPTION

1.             POSITION SUMMARY

Position Name:	Information & Referral (Duty) Worker
Date Updated:	July 2008
Employment Status:	Paid at a rate equivalent to Social Worker SACS Grade 1
Program Name:	Information & Referral Service
Immediate Supervisor:	Marissa Davidson, Co-ordinator, Community Youth and Family Health Program
Program Responsibility:	Jo Howard, Manager, Community Youth and Family Health Program
Closing Date:	Monday, July 21, 2008 at 5.00pm

2.             OUR ORGANISATION

The Inner South Community Health Service (ISCHS) is a multi-sited community health agency providing a comprehensive range of health and welfare services to the communities of Prahran,  St Kilda, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne.  Approximately 220 staff work in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver programs and services across four key service locations: SouthPort (in Coventry Street, South Melbourne); Inkerman Street, St Kilda; Mitford Street,     St Kilda; Malvern Road, Prahran.

Our programs include:

• Dental Program;
• Health Innovations Partnerships Program;
• Aged Health and Rehabilitation Program;
• Indigenous Access and Equity Program;
• Community, Youth and Family Health Program and;
• Service Support and Development Program

The ISCHS has a commitment to continuous quality improvement and has a reputation for innovation and excellence in its service delivery.  The Service values collaboration and works effectively as part of the local service system and prides itself on developing innovative, responsive services to meet community needs.

2.1     Mission

Inner South Community Health Service is committed to deliver innovative, responsive and targeted health services and to take a leadership role in advocacy, evaluation and policy development.  We strive to ensure access and linkage to services for those in the community who may not readily access mainstream services and to make an impact on the health of marginalized people.

2.2     Values

We value:

·        active client and community participation in service development and delivery

·        innovative, quality services that are client focussed, responsive and outcome oriented

·        services that address issues of access and equity

·        proactive and responsive service delivery to marginalised groups within our communities

·        our staff and an environment where skills are developed and encouraged

·        a continuous learning culture

·        the provision of a safe and supportive environment for staff, service users and visitors

·        good governance, ethical management and transparency in decision making

·        fostering partnerships, which achieve the best outcomes for our communities.

·        Accountability for performance

·        Achieving results

For more information on our organisation please visit our website www.ischs.org.au.

3.             POSITION DETAILS

3.1         Position Context

The programs and services of the ISCHS are grouped by target groups or work area into defined programs.  The Community, Youth and Family Health Program consists of 31 staff from various disciplines located across the four sites.  The three teams are Allied health, Casework/Counselling and Child, Youth and Family. 

The Community, Youth and Family Health Program acknowledges the impact of structural change on local communities.  Recent gentrification has left pockets of poverty and isolation.  Program staff have a specific focus on addressing isolation and marginalisation through incorporating social justice strategies and respectful approaches in the work undertaken.

The Information and Referral Service provides an intake, initial assessment, and referral service to many of the services offered by ISCHS program areas. The Information and Referral Worker will also provide consumers with an information and referral service to other health and welfare agencies.

Information and Referral (I&R) is delivered across the four sites; Mitford Street, Prahran, SouthPort and Inkerman Street. There are some differences in how the I&R role is delivered across sites. At Mitford Street, Prahran and SouthPort the I&R service is available to the public Monday to Friday from 10.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-4.30pm. At Inkerman Street a different service model operates with a drop in service Monday to Friday 1.00pm-5.00pm. The I&R worker at Inkerman Street is part of a team delivering this drop in “Front of House” service.  All I&R staff work across each site from time to time as part of their roles. The I&R positions are part of the Casework/Counselling team whose members include generalist casework/counsellors, a financial counsellor and a men’s behaviour change program.

The Information and Referral Service provides an intake, initial assessment, and referral service to many of the services offered by ISCHS program areas. The Information and Referral Worker will also provide consumers with an information and referral service to other health and welfare agencies.

3.2         Position Objective

To provide a prompt and accessible information and referral service - to the services provided by the ISCHS as well as to other agencies and services.

3.3         Key Responsibilities

·        To undertake initial or intake assessments using approved eligibility criteria for the range of services offered by the ISCHS.

·        To provide immediate supportive casework/counselling and follow-up as appropriate.

·        To provide short-term interventions.

·        To provide a minimal crisis intervention service (as necessary) to people accessing the Information and Referral Service.

·        To take a lead role in providing information, support and supplies to clients attending the fixed needle & syringe exchange, and to ensure the exchange is adequately maintained with stock.

·        To provide back-up to reception staff in emergency situations.

·        To co-ordinate Information & Referral Service coverage.

·        To maintain and update the Information & Referral Service resources.

·        To update the Information & Referral Service information technology systems.

·        To streamline and administer the allocation procedure for new service requests to teams.

·        To provide orientation and training to new members of staff on the Information and Referral Service as required.

·        To participate in the monitoring and on-going evaluation of the Information and Referral Service.

·        To act as a resource to members of the ISCHS teams with respect to the Information and Referral Service.

·        To maintain accurate client and program records and statistics as required.

Professional Development

·        To attend and contribute to staff development and supervision programs, and to attend relevant courses and mandatory in-house training when appropriate.

·        To participate in peer review/practice review.

Administrative

·        To attend all relevant Centre meetings.

·        To accurately complete timesheets and statistics on a routine basis.

General

·        To participate in the ongoing planning, evaluation and development of the Community, Youth and Family Health Program.

·        To adhere to ISCHS policies and procedures.

·        To participate in quality assurance activities as required.

·        To receive appropriate training about the Needle & Syringe Program (NSP) and participate in the NSP as required.

·        To undertake active and meaningful community participation and engagement

·        Other duties as required by the Manager of the Program.

3.4         Reporting Relationships

·        The Information and Referral worker reports directly to the Coordinator, Casework/Counselling.

4.             KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Mandatory

·        Qualified Social/Welfare Worker or related field, or unqualified where extensive and relevant experience can be demonstrated.

·        Demonstrated experience and skills in information provision, intake assessment, referral and casework.

·        Well-developed administrative skills.

·        Sound knowledge of the range of community, health, and welfare services available.

·        Experienced in telephone work and face to face engagement with clients.

·        Ability to work with interpreters, particularly via the telephone.

·        Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including community service agencies, community groups, and individuals who may have limited resources and complex needs.

·        The ability to effectively liaise with a range of community, health and welfare services, particularly via the telephone in order to facilitate consumer access to services.

·        Sound understanding of, and commitment to, the philosophy of community health.

·        Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and to work independently.

·        Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.

·        Well developed IT skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office products. Well developed ability/ ability to quickly acquire skills to manage workload via electronic client management systems.

·        A current Victorian Driver’s Licence 

·        Applicants must have registered for A Working With Children Check to be eligible for this position. (if relevant to this role).

Desirable

·        Experience in crisis intervention.

·        Knowledge and experience in working with people with drug and alcohol issues, domestic violence and mental health issues.

·        Knowledge and experience in the on going monitoring and evaluation of services.

·        Ability to speak a relevant community language other than English.

Award:	Social and Community Services Award
Salary Level:	Paid at a rate equivalent to Social Worker SACS Grade 1
Hours Per Week:	29.2 hours (approx 0.8 EFT)
Duration:	Permanent
Probationary Period:	This position is subject to a probationary period of three months, in accordance with ISCHS Recruitment Policy.
Location:	This position will be based at Inkerman Street and SouthPort. From time to time the incumbent may be requested to work from or be based at other ISCHS centres.

·        Salary packaging is a legitimate method of restructuring existing salary into a combination of salary and expense payment benefits in order to provide a higher net remuneration for the employee. 

·        This offer applies while Inner South Community Health Service continues to be granted "public benevolent institution" status and enjoys exemption from the provisions of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).  Should our status change salary packaging will no longer be available.

·        It is not compulsory for employees to take up the offer to ‘package’ their salary; however the benefits from packaging are considerable. There is a small cost to the employee.

·        Salary packaging is not available for casual or locum employees.

·          Meal entertainment is also available at ISCHS.  It is of great benefit to staff as it is a tax free benefit in addition to the $16,050 that you can claim through Salary Packaging.  ISCHS staff are able to claim up to $5,000 pa worth of FBT exempt meal entertainment expenses on top of their existing packaging.

        PLEASE NOTE: 

There is potential that Community Health may loose its current PBI status, which will affect Salary Packaging and Meals Entertainment benefits.  Community Health agencies are responding to this potential loss as a sector and are hopeful that we will be able to maintain our Salary Packaging and Meals Entertainment entitlements.

6.             APPLICATION PROCESS

Written applications addressing the selection criteria and including a resume and the names of three professional referees should be forwarded to Virginia Alexander, Recruitment Coordinator, at:

Postal Address	Email	Facsimile
Inner South Community Health Service PO Box 103 South Melbourne  Vic  3205	recruit@ischs.org.au	9696 7228

Closing Date:   Monday, July 21, 2008 at 5.00pm

                        Applications must be received by the closing date and time.

Further enquiries related to the position can be directed to:

Contact Name	Email	Telephone
Marissa Davidson	mdavidson@ischs.org.au	95251300

·        Selection will be based on how well applicants meet the selection criteria, therefore it is essential that applicants specifically address all the selection criteria.

·        A satisfactory police check will be required of the successful applicant.

·        The Inner South Community Health Service is committed to protecting your privacy according to the National Privacy Principles (NPPs). The ISCHS has a Privacy Statement and a Collection Statement, both of which are available on request to all applicants (if you require a copy, please contact Virginia Alexander on 9684 4221).

·        Pre-Existing Injury

      Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position