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Child & Family Practitioner - Cairns

Life Without Barriers (National)

About the Organisation

Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose, not for profit organisation of 7,000 employees working in more than 440 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people and people with mental illness. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers. 

Our Purpose is to partner with people to change their lives for the better. Our values state our beliefs, drive our purpose and drive everything we do. All people engaged by Life Without Barriers are required to uphold our values of being: Responsive, Imaginative, Courageous, Respectful and promoting Relationships.

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply.

About the role

The purpose of the Child and Family Practitioner position is to provide a high level of skilled support and supervision to the placement of children and young people in a family-based care arrangement.

The successful candidate will work in partnership with the Foster Carer, children and young people, relevant government agencies and stakeholders to develop and implement individualised care plans to ensure the relevant ‘standards of care’ required by QLD government are met and at all times to give priority to the protection and well-being of children and young people.  

Please note:  The incumbent will be required to participate in an on-call roster.

Key Responsibilities

The objective of the position is to ensure that every carer has an opportunity to develop in their caring role, has adequate support and has the necessary skills to meet carer competencies and the needs of the child in their care.

  • Undertake child focused casework practice (case planning and assessment) in partnership with the relevant government agency, children and their families, carers and other stakeholders.
  • Provide ongoing support and supervision to Foster Carers in relation to their caring for children and young people in their home.
  • Provide support and supervision to Carers by telephone as well as through home visits.
  • Support and supervise Foster Carers in the case planning process and assist them to implement the strategies outlined in the case plan.
  • Provide supervision and support to youth workers.
  • Build a positive team environment through the demonstration of good communication and interpersonal skills and appropriate peer support.
  • Model appropriate conflict resolution, communication and positive behaviour management skills.
  • Ensure all necessary documents and information, legal documentation, care plans and assessments in relation to the child/young person is received from the relevant government agency.
  • Ensure the necessary risk assessments, cultural support plans, safety plans and behavioural support plans are developed and implemented.
  • Ensure all necessary documentation and information such as carer renewals, foster care agreements, file notes and other records are kept up to date, including inputting information into the CIRTS database.
  • Keep case notes and other records as required by LWB and by law.

Skills and Experience

  • Demonstrated experience working with individuals, families and communities from a strength-based, culturally appropriate perspective that are part of the out of home care sector.
  • Demonstrated experience in identifying an individual’s strengths and areas for improvement within the context of providing foster and/or host care with an emphasis on permanency for children in care.
  • Demonstrated experience in working within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrated experience working autonomously in carrying out agreed case plans, or individual plans, for multiple clients simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing competing priorities and to deliver high quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
  • Demonstrated understanding of impact of trauma and attachment on children and young people and complex behaviours.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop quality case plans that are consistent with appropriate policy and procedures. 

Essential Criteria

  • Recognised Social Work qualifications with eligibility for membership of the AASW and/or a Bachelor of Psychology or other relevant qualification.
  • Significant experience in the child protection and out of home care sector.
  • Strong coordination, leadership and peer support skills.
  • Highly developed critical thinking and reflective practice skills and the ability to apply these skills in case management.
  • High level communication, influencing, liaison, negotiation and mediation skills.
  • Current Drivers Licence.

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check (where relevant to the role).

Benefits

  • An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful applicant, including mobile phone and laptop + non for-profit tax reduction options.
  • Onsite shared parking options.
  • Supportive team environment.
  • Salary packaging tax benefits, meal entertainment benefit, novated leasing and more.
  • Growing organisation with great career opportunities.
  • Monthly RDO.

How to Apply

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts. For any enquiries including persons with disability that require adjustments, contact [email protected], using the subject line: Child & Family Practitioner - Cairns enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as applications are continuously reviewed prior to the closing date; and as such the closing date is subject to change without notice. 

We are dedicated to playing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and bring continuity of care and support to our clients. If you are successful, we will discuss with you an alternative to a face to face interview. 

 Life Without Barriers supports the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. We believe people with disability need to be heard and for these experiences to influence how support services like ours are delivered. View our statement (https://bit.ly/2GzZGWA).

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