Queensland Corrective Services is a top tier forward thinking public safety agency, committed to the humane containment, supervision and rehabilitation of offenders. Every day, our work makes Queensland a safer place to live and work.

The Correctional Counsellor will contribute to a high level of community safety through the provision of welfare assistance, counselling and approved programs to offenders. This position is based at Southern Queensland Correctional Centre.

Job details

Southern Queensland Correctional Centre is a women's facility located in Spring Creek, approximately 17 kms from the township of Gatton in the Lockyer Valley. The centre provides high security secure placement accommodation for sentenced and remand women that are classified as high or low security.

Women who enter the criminal justice system often come from lives characterised by sexual, emotional and physical abuse, domestic and family violence, substance addiction and mental health difficulties. QCS provides a gender-responsive, trauma-informed approach to supporting women with the goal of offering an opportunity to truly rehabilitate and escape the cycle that led to unlawful behaviours. It is important to recognise that to change a woman, is to change a generation.

This role involves supporting women who are caring for children, preparing for parenthood, requiring short term counselling or requiring assistance with adjustment to the custodial environment. Counsellors facilitate connection with service providers who can assist with safety, housing, substance use prevention, violence prevention, legal services, disability services and many more psychosocial needs.

This role requires empathy, competence, organisational capacity, clear boundaries, and readiness to achieve a balance of autonomous initiative and working collaboratively with peers and professionals. Your team will include other professionals including psychologists and you will be able to grow your clinical experience and knowledge.

Qualifications, professional registration, conditions, and other requirements:

• Possession of a Degree in a field relevant to the position (e.g., Behavioural Sciences, Psychology, Counselling and Criminology).

In this role you will:

• Administer appropriate assessments to offenders, analyse assessment results and record information.
• Maintain own level of knowledge of contemporary offender rehabilitation research and practices, and legislation, policy and procedures in relation to offender management.
• Participate in professional supervision activities and team meetings.
• As a member of a multi-disciplinary unit, provide consultancy services to, and accept referrals from, other unit members including Psychologists, Education Officers, Activities Officers and Custodial Correctional Officers.
• Develop, implement and deliver appropriate assessment, counselling and welfare services to individuals.
• Contribute to and participate in case planning and case management activities including the preparation of reports and case notes.
• Ensure maintenance, accuracy and appropriateness of records for appropriate authorities.
• Provide advice and contribute to the classification and planning review process.
• Ensure records and information data for the Integrated Offender Management system (IOMS) are accurate and current.
• Ensure the safety and security of self and others and the security and confidentiality of QCS property and information.
• Provide timely information to relevant areas advisory and support services to sentencing and releasing authorities in relation to assessment.
• Liaise and develop productive relationships with external service providers to optimise offender community integration consistent with the highest standards of community safety.
• Provide advice to appropriate authorities regarding community re-integration and parole processes.
• Counsel offenders about offending behaviours and consequences of such behaviour.
• Provide timely advice to offenders about services and community expectations.
• Maintain high level knowledge regarding services for offenders.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference:  QLD/588323/24

Closing Date:  Tuesday, 17^th September 2024

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Multiple positions available

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• 588323-24-Role Profile (PDF, 414KB)
  
  
  588323-24-Final-Applicant-Information-Guide-QCS-September-2023 (PDF, 309KB)