• Part-time (0.8 FTE) – this is a 12-month parental leave cover
• SCHADS 5
• First Nations People, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply
• DS is committed to child safety and to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. The safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people is central to our work. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in the best interests of children and young people.  All staff are required to participate in a thorough recruitment and screening process, including holding a current Working with Children Check and completing a National Police Check.

About the role

Drummond Street Services (DS) is seeking applications for a Family Practitioner position within the Family Violence Response Programs at Queerspace, based in Carlton. This role is being offered as a 12-month parental leave cover / secondment opportunity (internal applicants).

DS delivers early intervention case work, counselling, and group support to individuals, families, and communities using a developmental, whole-of-family, and life-course approach.

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with parents/carers and their children (including pre-birth to 18 years) who are impacted by family violence and may also be experiencing a range of complexities including trauma, housing instability, mental health concerns, substance use, and financial disadvantage.

Your responsibilities:

Supportive community, family relationship and child focused interventions:

• Provide centre based and outreach support for children, young people and their families affected by FV that reduce risks and increases protective factors for a range of developmental, safety and wellbeing outcomes.
• Assertively engage with families and their children that are difficult to reach or engage through other community engagement or in collaboration within DS.
• Coordinate a family safety contact response for victim survivors of those engaged in our PUV programs, including offering a brief response that covers risk assessment, safety planning, information sharing, program and service collaboration, and referral.
• Manage a caseload of allocated families providing comprehensive, whole of family assessment of presenting needs, strengths, risk factors and risk alerts.
• Match service intensity and interventions to the complexity of the family’s needs.
• Work with the family to identify goals and develop a whole of family action plan, ensuring that children’s health, safety and wellbeing is central to the goals.
• Deliver a range of multidisciplinary interventions with the family.
• Continuously review the case through supervision and ensure that the action plan goals, dynamic risks and safety are reviewed.
• Communicate respectfully and honestly with families and demonstrate transparent practice in relation to welfare concerns. 
• Ensure practice is aligned with relevant framework and legislation, such as MARAM, FVISS/CISS and the Best Interests Case Practice Framework.
• Facilitate coordination within the multiple agency service system and work collaboratively with other services, including Child Protection, other internal programs or external services when a child is believed to be in need of protection or providing a joint response between our service and Child Protection where there is an open case.
• Undertake comprehensive closure and exit planning with families to ensure that their goals have been achieved and additional supports are in place, as required.
• Complete all client records and other required documentation including case plans, client assessments, letters, etc. in accordance with DS policy.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources and networks.
• Ensure adherence to professional practice standards and DS’s policies and procedures including those relating to Practice.

Selection Criteria: 

Please address the following in your application to be considered.

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work or equivalent (as per FV Minimum Mandatory Qualifications requirements) and further training in relation to family work
• A minimum of three years’ experience in family violence/family services or related sectors
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of a range of therapeutic approaches for individuals, relationships, families and specifically children and young people
• Demonstrated experience with providing counselling and case work that supports marginalised individuals, children, young people and families with multiple and complex needs such as mental health, family violence and substance abuse issues.
• Demonstrated high level written, oral and interpersonal communication skills and organisational skills including the ability to meet deadlines and prioritise work tasks
• A genuine interest and commitment to working with First Nations People, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour and public housing residents

Please review the attached position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria.

Application process

• All applications will be directed to our careers portal – Family Practitioner, Family Violence Response
• All applicants must include a resume with a cover letter addressing all the key selection criteria for the position to be considered.
• Applicants shortlisted for an interview will be required to provide evidence of their qualifications during the interview process 

Please contact Felipe Avilez, FV Manager Queerspace [email protected] using the subject line: Family Practitioner - Family Violence Response enquiry via EthicalJobs, for further information regarding this position.

DS supports a flexible and productive work environment through its Hybrid Work Model. Where operationally viable and in line with role requirements, eligible employees may have the opportunity to work remotely on a structured basis. Eligibility for hybrid work is subject to the conditions outlined in DS’s Hybrid Work Model Policy and is not automatically granted.