Lianne Sylvester

As the team lead of the Attach and Parents Under pressure programs, I had many managerial responsibilities, however at the essence of my role was leadership, through a therapeutic lens. It will never be lost on me the that the deepest learning, regardless of treatment manuals, requires an enormous investment in time, safety and trust built between a team lead and her team. When this is established, the therapists are safe and supported to do their best therapeutic work for the clients we support, and offering connection, compassion, enrichment and guidance is how I have delivered my leadership to this team.

• Manage the operational delivery of program/service within agreed contractual, legislative and planned requirements
• Identify and work towards clients individual outcomes through a person centered and strengths focused approach
• Provide guidance and leadership to manage complex client cases
• Maintain effective and proactive relationships with key community services networks and agencies
• Deliver high quality, effective reporting on program as required
• Ensure that professional practice standards and guidelines are met within the delivery of program/service
• Apply specialist, advanced, therapeutic knowledge, qualifications and expertise
• Ensure that effective communication systems are in place for my team, providing safety, compassion and guidance and regular check-in and debrief opportunities
• Proactively identify team and program safety and wellness concerns and manage the implementation of agreed solution
• Effectively manage and review team and individual performance
• Utilise quality selection and retention practices to support a capable, motivated and committed team in the delivery of quality services
• Ensure all aspects of client work is delivered with cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Provide high quality regular professional clinical supervision to ensure that the team’s professional practice skills are developed in accordance with professional association expectations and guidelines, whilst also encouraging development and motivation in the delivery of service
• Identify ongoing operational and intrinsic risks associated with program/service delivery, recommend mitigation strategies and implement agreed actions
• Monitor and report on the program/service’s contractual and legislative compliance requirements
• Ensure all documentation and requirements are adhered to for regular IHCA Audits
• Escalate governance/compliance concerns swiftly to ensure that they are effectively managed and provide compliance reporting if required
• Meet increased reporting and recording requirements in managing program/service deliver
• Facilitate Monthly Team meetings and group supervision

The purpose of this position is to provide in-home counselling for substance-using parents who have care of at least one child between 0-12 years. The aims of the service are to reduce the harms associated with parental alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve parenting capacity and improve overall family functioning and the outcomes for children.

• Apply professional expertise to provide assessment and a range of evidence informed, client-focussed therapeutic interventions tailored to meet the needs of parents and families
• Implement and evaluate specialised interventions with individuals and families utilising the Parents under Pressure Program (PUP)
• Identify and act upon critical incidents of risk, such as abuse and/or neglect of children, suicidal ideation or family violence
• Actively develop relationships and engage with community services for the purpose of referral and case management of clients
• Participate in regular individual and group supervision
• Continue to actively engage in Professional Development
• Maintain a complex case load, including accurate client and organisational documentation in accordance with procedures
• Effectively contribute to the development and review of service and organisation procedures/policies and professional practice
• Provide statistics, reports, and other information as necessary including entering statistics into the CDS database
• Undertake 12 month accredited PUP training
• Facilitate groups with mothers in Warrawee refuge and Boronia Women's Prison
• Ensure that safety considerations are a priority in all work undertaken and all critical incidents reported to Team Leader

The ASSP program was an intensive therapeutic service assisting parenting women with a history of substance use to reintegrate into the community upon leaving prison. Its aims were to reduce substance use and recidivism rates, increase parenting capacity and improve family relationships.At the programs core, were evidence based principles drawing on Attachment, CBT, DBT and ACT.

• Weekly counselling to women due to exit prison, with a focus on improved outcomes of children and families and decreasing the likelihood of problematic AOD use through harm reduction strategies, MI, Relapse prevention and emotional regulation skills
• deliver integrated, multi-component, family and attachment based interventions to high risk mothers, addressing attachment disruptions and improve parent/child bonding
• Develop and sustain partnerships with relevant organisations
• Empower mothers by psycho-eduction around parenting and identifying resources, connecting them to community and developing a support system

Over this period I worked in three different women's safety refuges, Wyn Car, Warrawee and Nardine on a casual basis.

• Intake, assessment and induction
• Implement goals and support to meet the needs in client plans
• Support and advocacy to community services
• General practical and emotional support to clients
• Client transport to appointments and services
• Referrals
• Risk assessment and risk management