Bridges Inc – www.bridges.org.au
Position Title: Alcohol and other Drug counsellor / Group Facilitator
Salary: SCHADS Grade 5/6 depending on tertiary qualification and experience +
superannuation and salary sacrifice.
Position Fulltime: 5 days a week. 38 HOUR WEEK
Bridges is an organisation that works innovatively with individuals, families and communities who
are encountering drug/alcohol and related issues. The role will include assisting the Executive
Officer to meet the operational needs and funding requirements of the organisation and the
change process. The role will also provide direct service to Bridges clients, and stakeholders.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
 Provide Drug and Alcohol counselling and group work programs to a variety of clientele from
the Western Sydney area.
 Conduct client screening, initial assessment and exit information / evaluations

Evaluate client progress against therapeutic goals in programs, provide feedback to
Management and maintain client records/case notes.

Identify and help children and young people at risk of harm

Provide Services to mental health clientele within the Western Sydney community and as
directed by the Executive Officer.

Data entry and reporting in line with Bridges funding requirements and as requested by
Management, including up to date entry of case notes, referrals and revised case plans.
 Attend interagency or stakeholder meetings as required.
 Undertake intake assessments for new clients of Bridges for all programs.
 Provision of information and referral service for clients contacting Bridges.
 Undertake projects both in service and outreach as directed by Executive Officer.
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Secondary Job Responsibilities
 Participate in the research, develop, implementation and support evaluation of therapeutic and
non-therapeutic programs / projects that meet funding requirements in collaboration with other
team members, stakeholders, and under the direction of the management team.
 Support interventions / projects that tackle the social determinants of drug use, and that are
strengths-based and at times including narrative approaches.
 Actively participate where required in the coordination and facilitation of planning,
implementation and evaluation of services.
Administrative & Marketing:
 Attend all relevant Bridges meetings.
 Accurately complete timesheets and statistics on a routine basis.
 Participate in the ongoing planning, evaluation and development of Bridges programs.
 Work collaboratively with the management team, and other staff to meet Bridges goals and
objectives.
 Undertaking networking and marketing activities for Bridges where directed.
 Complete monthly statistics on individual service delivery tasks.
 Assist with the development of marketing material and advertising of programs where required.
 Provision of administration services to support service delivery including answering phones
and undertaking administration tasks to support management and counsellors.
Continuous Quality Improvement & Service Evaluation:
 Participate in the development of quality procedures and contribute to internal and external
program reviews as required.
 In consultation with the Executive Officer, contribute to the development, implementation
and/or review of overall operational policy, systems and protocols.
 Maintain a continuous quality improvement approach, including receiving and utilising client
feedback and using appropriate evaluation tools.
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Community Participation:
 Work as a team to enhance Bridges’ capacity to enable community participation in service
planning, implementation and evaluation.
 Work as a team to foster strong relationships with key stakeholders.
Work Health & Safety:
 Adhere to work health and safety policies and procedures and ensure that services are
provided in a safe manner at all times.
 Undertake work health and safety assessments where required within Bridges and on outreach
projects to ensure all risks have been assessed with recommendations.
Performance Management Framework:
 Actively participate in individual performance planning, which determines key responsibilities,
strategies and performance indicators in line with the organisation’s Strategic Plan including
monitoring KPI’s.
 Participate in staff development and supervision programs and attend relevant courses and
mandatory in-house training / supervision when appropriate.
 Participate in peer review/practice review.
 Participate in case /performance reviews and career planning of Bridges staff under direct
supervision of this role.
 Adhere to internal policies and procedures.
Reporting Relationships:
 This position directly reports to the Executive Officer and is required to work in a collaborative
manner at all times.
 Complete other duties as directed by either the Executive Officer or Bridges Board
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SELECTION CRITERIA –COUNSELLOR/GROUP
FACILITATOR:
Essential Criteria:
 Demonstrated high level verbal and written communication skills. Including conflict
resolution and mediation skills.
 Minimum 3 year experience in Alcohol and Drug counselling and group work, and ability
to undertake counselling and group work activities.
 Experience in the community welfare sector.
 Experience in working within the Mental Health arena and knowledge of co-morbidity,
addiction and other mental health disorders.
 Knowledge of family and drug and alcohol service systems including knowledge of harm
minimisation strategies, and addressing social determinates of drug use.
 Proven ability to be flexible to new ideas and the capacity to adapt to changing work
demands and circumstances.
 The proven ability to be able to cooperate and provide support to others in the pursuit of
team and management goals
 Knowledge of working with marginalised communities, including Aboriginal and Torres
Strait communities.
 Computer skills in using Microsoft Office products such as Word & Excel.
 Tertiary qualification in such areas as social work, psychology, counselling with the ability
to register with a relevant Australian professional body.
 A current driver’s licence and own car, as role will require outreach work in Blacktown
LGA.
Desirable:
 Knowledge of or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of the local service environment
of Blacktown LGA.
 Experience in undertaking research and using evidence based practices.
 Experience in community development.
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Enquiries for this position can be made to
Claire Grundy
Executive Officer, Bridges
Ph 96227511
Or Claire@bridges.org.au
Applications MUST address all Essential Criteria, closing date is 5pm 25 October 2014
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