STAFF QUALITIES

STAFF SELECTION

Staff will be independent and be seen to be independent. Consequently service coordinators or supervisors who are likely to come into contact with one or both of the parents in another context should exclude themselves from working with that particular family.

All staff, paid or volunteer, are to be required to agree to a check of their criminal record and such check will be undertaken as a routine part of staff selection.

The following qualities and experience will be desirable for Peace of Mind staff:

Experience in human service provision to children and families
An understanding of child development needs and issues
The ability to communicate in an authoritative manner when required
The ability to assist parents, where necessary, with parenting skills
Maturity, diplomacy and common sense
Self-management of emotions in difficult circumstances
Supportive and positive attitude
Good communication, computer and writing skills
The capacity to make concise, accurate and neutral observational notes
Willingness to engage in professional supervision and be challenged on any personal issues that may be impacting upon their work role
Cultural awareness and sensitivity
The ability to maintain an independent role

Services may be add to this list where necessary to tailor to the nature of Peace of Mind services to be provided and to the client group.

STAFF

The type of families whom the service is prepared to take will affect what is expected of staff and consequently the competencies required of staff. Peace of Mind staff have the capacity to provide service that is consistent. It has already been noted that there are no legal statutory qualification requirements for Peace of Mind staff or any other supervised contact centres.

All staff employed by a Peace of Mind must complete a national police check and a working with children check that is relevant to the state or territory Peace of Mind operates in prior to them commencing work.

ROLE OF THE COORDINATOR

The role of Peace of Mind coordinator is defined by the service and coordinator roles will differ somewhat between different contact centres. The key role, however, is to ensure the overall quality of services provided. In most services for Peace of Mind the coordinator will also be one of the supervisors. Regardless, coordinators need to have each of the qualities and experience listed below for supervisors. The following additional competencies may also be required of coordinators:

program and financial management skills
ability to manage, supervise and train staff
an understanding of child development stages
an understanding of grief and loss theory
strong written and oral communication skills
strong community liaison skills
conflict resolution skills
computer literacy
team leading skills

THE ROLE OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPERVISORS

Supervisors:

are independent of the parents
seek to ensure that visits and changeovers proceed as scheduled and, where a relevant court order exists and can be accommodated by the service, in accordance with the order
relay factual information relevant to the child's welfare at the commencement and conclusion of the visit (eg. medication, diet, sleeping pattern etc)
intervene, where necessary or appropriate, to seek to ensure the welfare of the child
facilitate child/parent interaction during visits
terminate the visit where necessary
provide constructive feedback or correction to the relevant person where appropriate
document visit through the provision of factual, observational notes

VOLUNTEERS

Peace of Mind may include volunteer workers in our staffing structure, for University and college students requiring industry placement.

Volunteers will have the same competencies as would be expected of paid staff performing Peace of Mind related tasks. Consistency, reliability, commitment and the avoidance of conflict of interest are all relevant issues expected of all staff.

The standards in relation to staff selection and training are intended to apply generally to all staff - paid or volunteer and the Standards are intended to apply to all services.

TRAINING AIMS

Induction and on-going skills training is required for all Peace of Mind Staff and includes, but is not limited to:

Awareness of child development stages
Awareness of the need to, and ability to, maintain impartiality
Familiarity with relevant legal, welfare and government processes, terminology and requirements
Familiarity with issues relevant to the need for supervised visits and changeovers
Awareness of common issues and problems which may arise and techniques for dealing with difficult situations
Ability to appropriately assist parents, where necessary, with parenting skills
Familiarity with issues, including: supervision, child abuse, family violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, mental health and intense conflict
Awareness of the policies and procedures of the service
Awareness of the stages of separation and the issues which may be related to or accompany separation
Cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity
Ability to work effectively with adults and children with special needs including those with a disability
Familiarity with other relevant services
Awareness of personal values and beliefs

Again, services may be added to this list where necessary to tailor to the nature of Peace of Mind services to be provided and to the client group.

TRAINING PROGRAM

Peace of Mind may consider a range of options when planning training for staff including:

Developing comprehensive in-house Peace of Mind specific training
Engaging with independent training providers
Supplementing training by co-opting representatives from other relevant services. Peace of Mind may consider drawing on professionals from other services to enhance their training program by arranging information sessions (eg. Family Relationship Centre in relation to separation stages and issues, expert trainers in relation to family violence issues, family lawyers or Family Court Registrars in relation to legal terminology and processes).