• Part time - 0.4 EFT
• Ongoing position
• Based in Geelong

The Specialist Children’s Case Worker sits within the Specialist Women and Children Services located within the Family Violence Program, within the Access, Support and Family Safety Division.

Women and Children Services

The Specialist Women and Children Services team promotes safe, equal and just relationships by privileging the safety of women and children, by listening to the voices of children and by a commitment to culturally sensitive practice. Women and Children Services include:

Homeless Children’s Specialist Support Service

Homeless Children’s Specialist Support Service is funded by the Department of Human Services as part of The Road Home the National Approach to Reducing Homelessness.  The HCSSS incorporates a suite of support responses to children and families including assessment and case planning support; enhanced case management and therapeutic group work.

Specialised Family Violence Support for Women & Children

Provides support services including outreach and case management and therapeutic group work to women and where appropriate their children, who are experiencing or escaping family violence. There is a focus on female partners/ex-partners and accompanying children of men participating in the Men’s Behaviour Change.

Court Play

Court Play provides play for children while mothers go about their court business. This role will also work collaboratively with Court staff, Family Violence workers, Police and other service providers to ensure the best possible experience for women and children when attending court

Key Responsibilities

• To provide an integrated and comprehensive assessment and casework service to children, with particular emphasis on children with complex needs.
• Develop case plans collaboratively with Family Violence staff and clients inclusive of developing an agreed set of goals and programs support.
• Assist in the development and implementation of case plans by applying advanced interpersonal skills, particularly negotiation and conflict resolution skills, prioritising and decision making, and early intervention and solution focused strategies.
• Create, implement and review developmentally appropriate support plans, programs and services and ensure an appropriate standard of care, supervision, safety and support is provided.
• Initiate and attend case management meetings with other professionals involved with children to ensure collaborative service delivery.
• Ensure exit planning and case closure is undertaken with consideration of risk factors to women and children.
• Provide secondary consults to Family Violence staff.
• Facilitate and support group work with children when required.
• Work in the Court Play Program to engage with the children of women seeking legal protection from Family Violence at Geelong Magistrates Court.
• Build partnerships develop processes and evaluation tools for the Court Play Program.
• Ensure service complies with funding and service agreements, professional standards and relevant legislation, policies and guidelines.
• To work collaboratively within an integrated Housing and Family Violence Service and to participate in service delivery in the range of services provided within the Housing and Family Violence Service as required.

A full Position Description is attached below.