• DSS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.
• First Nations People, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply.

About the role

drummond street services (ds) delivers responsive, intentional and evidence-based prevention, early intervention and treatment programs, within a public health framework for a range of communities, including a range of family violence programs. We strive to build and enhance the innate resilience of children, young people, adults, their families and communities and to increase protective factors. Growth in our services has led to a range of new exciting opportunities to join our team, including a Senior Practitioner, queerspace andFamily Violence. Please look out for other current drummond street employment listings.

Working within queerspace and the Family Violence Response Team, the Senior Practitioner will lead and provide high quality therapeutic, mental health and family violence services to LGBTIQ+ people and their families, and other clients, within DS’ Family Services Model of Practice. Based primarily in Coburg and Carlton, with four direct reports, you will also support the team to provide secondary consultation, reflective practice, training and co-work to other staff and programs across our organisation. Ideal candidates are passionate, committed to social justice and cultural safety, are trauma informed and are affirmative of all children, young people, families, adults and communities. 

Your responsibilities

• Lead, supervise and collaborate with a trans-disciplinary team to ensure delivery of high quality, client led counselling, family violence and support services across queerspace and the Family Violence Response Team
• Participate in individual and group supervision as well as communities of practice.
• Ensure performance targets are met and that data and evaluation material is collected and input into our client information systems consistently and in a timely way
• Contribute to the preparation of reports for funders
• Lead and inspire high performance teams by engaging staff, setting clear direction and performance expectations
• Contribute to and foster a positive and affirmative team environments

About you 

• Use collaborative leadership and management techniques to support and empower team members
• Bring experience and confidence to your leadership, ensuring our staff group reflects the communities we service by upholding cultural safety for staff and in our service practices
• Highly skilled and experienced mental health practitioner and Senior Practitioner
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of child and adolescent development, whole of family practice, recovery-oriented trauma informed practice and the impact of structural disadvantage on individuals, families and communities, such as racism, sexism, Islamophobia, homophobia or transphobia

Selection Criteria

All of the following must be addressed in your application to be considered.

Essential

• Minimum Degree level qualification in Social Work or the equivalent.
• Highly skilled and experienced mental health practitioner and practice lead
• Demonstrate knowledge and application of LGBTIQA+ specialist and mainstream therapeutic and supportive approaches for families and specifically children and young people with particular focus on early intervention and preventative family-based interventions.
• Ability to contribute to the organisations culture, people, research and best practice, along with high level written skills.
• Demonstrate your genuine interest and commitment to collaborating with First Nation, LGBTIQ+, and people of colour. Use examples.
• A minimum of three years’ experience in the family services, family violence and/or mental health sectors
• Victorian driver’s license

Highly Desirable

• You identify as belonging to LGBTIQA+ communities, as well as other communities with whom ds assertively engages

next steps

To discuss your expression of interest in this role contact Paula Fernandez Arias on 0488 999 862 or [email protected], using the subject line: Senior Practitioner - queerspace & Family Violence enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.