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Family Preservation & Reunification, Early Years Practitioners

MacKillop Family Services

This Response includes an initial intensive intervention phase, delivered through a mobile and integrated approach, followed by a sustained service support phase, aimed at preventing at-risk children entering or re-entering care. The Response will link to, align with, and build on (and not duplicate) existing child and family services within the broader service system, providing an enhanced continuum of care across the state. It will be evaluated and continuously developed to enhance the Family Preservation and Reunification (FPR) evidence-base for Victorian child and family services (including Child Protection).

The model is an integrated and evidence-based/evidence-informed approach to supporting and problem solving with families and preventing children and young people’s re/entry to out of home care. The team will work as a cohesive whole and report directly to the FPR Practice Team Leader.

The early years family work will engage parents and their babies/children in order to build their capacity as parents that provide for their children’s health, safety and development as well as work towards building their self-reliance and sustainability through access to education, vocational training and employment. The Early Years Practitioner has a case load of 5-6 families and services will be delivered in the home and community as needed for 4 to 6 months by practitioners.

The Early Years Practitioner will engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in a culturally safe and competent way. This includes engaging in regular consultation with the program’s Cultural Advisor and including ongoing training.

This position services the Northern region and is located at our office in Forrest Hill.

Key selection criteria include:

  • Bachelors degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or a related subject area. Tertiary qualifications with extensive experience in family work will be considered.
  • Work experience in a relevant field which supports an understanding of key child development issues relating to young parents and their families who have complex needs.
  • Demonstrated ability to undertake complex casework with families and children who have experienced trauma.
  • Demonstrated capacity to develop collaborative relationships across professional and organisational boundaries, as well as knowledge of relevant Community Service Organisations, local and State Government (DHHS) and the ability to network with these services.
  • Child development research and its application in treatment.
  • Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., systems, strategic and functional) family therapies.
  • Needs, risk and social skills assessment and intervention.
  • Preferred sound knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal history, values, the stolen generation, practices and culture.
  • Have an awareness and knowledge of attachment and trauma theories related to Aboriginal children, young people and families; Demonstrated ability to use this knowledge to guide practice with Aboriginal children, young people and families.
  • Knowledge of Aboriginal cultures and a commitment to their social, economic and cultural development.
  • Demonstrated understanding of cultural safety.
  • Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with others and exercise influence in a diversity of contexts.
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines, targets and key deliverables of the program.
  • An ability to work flexible hours when required including some evenings and weekends.

For a full listing, please view the position description and click Apply Now.

MacKillop is committed to being a child safe organisation. Applicants will be required to undergo criminal records checks and hold a valid employment working with children check to be successful.

We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

If you think you have the knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to the lives of young people and our team, then we want to hear from you.

For more information please contact Kim Bowen at [email protected] using the subject line: Family Preservation & Reunification, Early Years Practitioners enquiry via EthicalJobs.

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