Position Description
Position Title:
Therapist/Nurse
Hours:
Full Time
Reports To:
Clinical Services Manager
Position Location:
Residential Services, Lower Plenty
THE ORGANISATION
Odyssey House Victoria (Odyssey) is a specialist Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) agency that
promotes opportunities for change and growth by reducing drug use, improving mental health, and
reconnecting people to families and the community.
Odyssey has been operating quality drug and alcohol treatment programs since its establishment
in 1979. Odyssey has a justifiable reputation for the delivery of high quality, client responsive,
drug and alcohol treatment and support services, and operates a range of programs and activities
across Victoria.
Residential Services
Odyssey House Residential rehabilitation programs are structured, recovery focussed live-in
programs for people who experience severe problems with alcohol and/or drug use, and their
associated mental health issues.
The Therapeutic Community (TC) at Lower Plenty is a treatment facility in which the community
itself, through self-help and mutual support, promotes personal change.
The TC provides a suite of clinical interventions designed to affect lasting change in individuals
including those with co morbid mental health issues, forensic issues and significant social
disadvantage. Interventions are delivered within the context of the Therapeutic Community daily
schedule, policies and procedures.
THE POSITION
The Nurse/Therapist will contribute to the life of the therapeutic community by providing individual
and group therapy and case management to clients.
The role will support the Therapeutic Community principles in implementing practice and
promoting values amongst the staff group, the residents, the children, and their families.
The role will also assist in the provision of clinical nursing services for all clients (adults and children).
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Case Management/Treatment Activities

Assist in the delivery of high standard nursing assessment, treatment and care to clients as
required

Conduct client planning groups to develop and facilitate mutually agreed individual treatment
plans (ITPs) based on client treatment needs by drawing together the various assessments.
Chairing the planning group discussion, writing up the outcomes and presenting a summary
according to the specified format at staff meetings on completion of the planning group.

Ensure high quality treatment by keeping weekly case notes, updating treatment plans within
agreed time frames, collecting written evaluation from participants and providing feedback to
clients as relevant

Contribute to therapy team reviews, case reviews and other staff meetings, preparing
documentation, presenting updated reports and ensuring evaluations of progress, outcomes
and other relevant information

Monitor awareness’, awards and sanctions received by residents
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
Provide cover for the medical office and assist in coordinating operations as required

Arrange specialist health appointments and follow up as required for residents

Liaise with and co- ordinate appointments for visiting Psychiatrist, GPs, consultants, Hospital and
community based services as required

Ensure adherence to universal infection control procedures providing education where
necessary.

Ensure the completion of all paperwork as directed by Medicare and pathology services
Program Development and Treatment Activities

Contribute to the development and implementation of program modules to ensure a high quality
is maintained

Plan, implement and/or facilitate other treatment activities such as communiqués, action
meetings and special activities as required

Contribute to the development and day to day operation of the Therapeutic Community by
participating in selected social/recreational activities modelling appropriate behaviour within the
facility

Participate in clinical supervision, actively giving and receiving feedback
Networking

Provide court advocacy for clients as required

Assist in the appropriate referral and conjoint treatment of clients with specific or specialist needs
by liaising with other treatment and community services, keeping accurate notes on the client
database and providing feedback and information as necessary to others involved in each
client’s treatment

Assist in the development of inter-agency protocols regarding conjoint treatment of clients and
ensure written protocols are contained in the program manuals

Represent the organisation as required, providing accurate information about the TC and other
Odyssey House Victoria services
Quality

Participate in the ongoing development and implementation of quality assurance systems and
processes that enable a culture of continuous improvement

Actively use and promote the Business Management System (BMS) and ISO Quality assurance
standards and practices in day to day work activity

Model appropriate workplace health and safety practices to staff and clients and contribute to the
development of a safe working environment

Participate and support reviews of standards in the Therapeutic Community including
“Community of Community” reviews

Ensure rigour and structure in practice, good record keeping, and file management
Other

Assist in the supervision and collection of urine samples from clients on a rostered basis

Participate and assist in the supervision of Odyssey House community activities.

Commit to ongoing professional development through participation in in-house training programs
and external activities as appropriate.

Assist in the roster for holding staff keys in the absence of the House Supervisor

Undertake other activities as required and determined by the Clinical Services Manager
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Competencies/Key Selection Criteria

Registration with Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency in Division One or Two
Nursing

Certificate IV in AOD (or commitment to obtain this within an agreed timeframe).

Demonstrated ability to engage clients in dialogue and the capacity to engage in a therapeutic
relationship

Excellent case management skills and the ability to work with difficult and demanding clients

An ability to work as part of a multi disciplinary team, open to giving and receiving feedback,
and the capacity to recognise and resolve interpersonal conflict

A full and comprehensive understanding of alcohol and drug substance abuse and an
understanding of residential rehabilitation services

Excellent written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to effectively liaise and communicate with a wide variety of agencies and individuals at
many levels

Administration skills, including data entry and accurate and concise record keeping of clients
details.

Possession of a current Victorian Driver’s License
Desirable:

First Aid Certificate

Current knowledge of OH&S practices

Experience working within a quality framework
Other Conditions:

Odyssey House has a policy of a smoke-free environment

All offers of employment are provisional pending the satisfactory outcome of a confidential
Police and Working with Children check
Therapeutic Community Expectations of Staff:
All staff are expected to work in an open, honest and reflective style participating as members of the
staff group.
The staff group at the Therapeutic Community are multi disciplinary team and expected to maintain
good relationships with one another focussed on client outcome with a primary focus on a specific
group within the Therapeutic Community.
All staff are expected to have the capacity to be responsive and flexible to the needs of the
Therapeutic Community as such needs arise. Such needs take the form of staff out of hour’s duties
unscheduled meetings, events and tasks.
All staff are expected to model behaviours and attitudes in keeping with the objective of the
Therapeutic Community bound by the staff code of conduct and resident bill of rights..
All staff are expected to present themselves and the organisation to visitors, interest groups, statutory
bodies and professional associations as part of Odyssey House’s commitment to informing others of
our work.
All staff are expected to behave in ways in and outside of the workplace that neither brings
themselves or Odyssey House into disrepute.
All staff are expected to promote the benefits of improved lifestyle and mental health free of substance
abuse and other self defeating anti social behaviours amongst the staff and residents.