• 60 hours per fortnight, maximum-term position until 29 February 2024
• Ballarat

Take the next step in your career with CatholicCare Victoria.

About the Position

The Family Services program at CatholicCare Victoria provides Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) funded services to families and children in the community. The Family Services program provides a continuum of support to families in the community, ranging from supporting them in their parenting role, to working intensively with families under increased pressure whose children are at risk of placement in care services, or have been placed in care and are able to be reunified with family in a short timeline, through the Victorian Family Preservation and Reunification Response (FPRR).

The Family Services team aims to promote strong families with children who are safe, healthy, resilient and thriving; and parents and caregivers who are supported to create safe and nurturing home environments.

Senior Family Services Practitioners are responsible for working as lead practitioners by undertaking complex case work. Senior practitioners demonstrate an advanced level of skill and competence in their work due to their experience in working in similar child and family focused roles.

Specifically, the position is responsible for:

• Using approaches that consider the best interests of the child, trauma informed practices, knowledge of child development, attachment theories, family preservation and reunification principles, and other relevant framework.
• Developing goals, action plans and safety plans with families through direct work with individuals and groups as appropriate.
• Providing written reports to Child Protection and other stakeholders as required.
• Participating in ongoing evaluation processes with a focus on client outcomes, service responsiveness and flexibility.
• Participating in Family Service Alliance activities, including working groups, as required.

To be considered for this position, you will require:

• Professional qualification in Social Work, Welfare or other related tertiary study.
• Experience working within either the Child Protection or the Family Services sectors, or other service providing direct case work to families and children, as a practitioner or at a senior level.
• Advanced knowledge and application of relevant theories, intervention approaches and understanding of the causes of family breakdown, child safety and child development.
• Advanced knowledge of the impacts of trauma on children and adults and demonstrated experience in the application of approaches for working effectively where trauma is featured.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of the Best Interest Case Practice Framework, MARAM framework and an understanding of goal setting and review and family safety planning.
• Experience in or willingness to provide supervision to students and to undertake training in supervision.

About CatholicCare Victoria

CatholicCare Victoria is a leading and influential provider of charitable and social services in Victoria. The Mission of CatholicCare Victoria is to build communities that recognise and nurture the dignity of each person. Our employees share our Mission for a stronger, more inclusive society through supporting individuals, families and communities in times of need, especially those who are most disadvantaged, vulnerable and/or marginalised.

We deliver excellence in a broad range of child, family and youth services, family relationship services, school counselling and pastoral care services, social housing, employment and advocacy services across various office locations and delivery sites in Victoria.

We draw on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to inspire and direct our endeavours. We value and respect human dignity, and embrace diversity in an inclusive work environment.

Working for CatholicCare Victoria

At CatholicCare Victoria we offer:

• A family friendly working environment.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Salary packaging for eligible staff.

We embrace, value and respect an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.

We are committed to the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

How to Apply

For further information and how to apply, visit our website, via the Apply Now link.

Enquiries to: Melinda Shaw, Manager, Family Services on 0447 363 988.

Applications are required to be submitted via the Apply Now link for your application to be considered.

Please ensure your application includes your resume and a cover letter detailing a summary of your experience relevant to the position as per the position description which is attached to the advertisement on our website.

The successful applicant must have right to work in Australia.

Should you require cultural or other support in submitting your application, please contact our People and Culture Department on 03 5337 8999.

Should you require information in alternative formats, please contact our People and Culture Department on 03 5337 8999.

Directions from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer require all CatholicCare Victoria workers to be fully vaccinated and for specific positions, boosted, unless they are an Excepted Person as defined by the Pandemic (Workplace) Order 2022. All applicants must therefore be able to comply with the requirements.