• Permanent role working 35 hours per week
• Great people, great team and a great place to work
• Based in Bankstown (currently working from home, with some scheduled office visits)

About SSI

SSI is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. We work with children and young people as well as people with refugee and asylum-seeking background, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, people with disability and more to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.

About the Multicultural Child and Family Program

Every child has a right to a safe, happy and permanent home connected to family, community and culture. When children under the age of 18 years, for safety reasons, cannot live with their family or carers we work with the Department of Community and Justice (DCJ) to support them be safe and work out the best options for their long-term care and wellbeing outcomes. This may include returning the children to their family's care or being cared for by foster carers on a long-term basis.

About the role and your responsibilities

Family preservation involves working with parents as early as possible and providing them with intensive support to help keep children and young people at home safely; it aims to prevent or reduce out-of-home care placements. Family Preservation Program provides timely, comprehensive, evidence-based assessments intensive, outreach interventions aimed at skill development for families with children up to 18 years of age.

We are currently looking for a resilient and adaptable self-starter to join our fabulous team in Bankstown. Working very closely with DCJ, you will be responsible for providing effective and professional case support to CALD families to meet their needs and strengthen their ability to care for their children. You will complete intensive, in-home visits to families, provide educational, practical, social and emotional support and will work in partnership with Child Protection (and other services where required); work with families to achieve case plan goals by promoting child safety, child development, increasing parenting capacity and family functioning.
You will write and complete high-quality comprehensive assessment & intervention reports and maintain all records including case notes, plans and statistics within required timelines; develop and maintain effective relationships with Child Protection, other government and community organisations all whilst complying with relevant legislation and guidelines

About you

The successful candidate will ideally have the following skills & experience:

• Tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, welfare/community services or a related discipline;
• Demonstrated experience in working with high risk infants, children, adolescents and complex families;
• Knowledge and experience with child protection legislation/services and risk assessments;
• Demonstrated skills in preparing and writing high quality assessment reports;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build long-lasting relationships;
• Understanding of therapeutic models and theories that enable positive change and demonstrated ability to apply these in engaging families to make change
• A full unrestricted NSW drivers' licence.

If you have previously worked with CALD communities, you're a highly motivated individual with previous working relationship with DCJ, hold strong assessment skills and have an open-minded nature about you, please apply now!

What we offer at SSI

• Salary packaging options to receive up to $15,900 of your salary tax-free meaning more take home pay!
• Currently working from home and returning to the office next year, where we will continue to promote flexible working arrangements and work/life balance;
• Access to in-house training and learning opportunities for professional development and growth;
• Working alongside professional and dedicated team members all wanting to make a difference in our communities.

Please ensure a detailed cover letter and your resume is attached to your application.

All employees will undergo a National Police Clearance and a Working with Children Check as a condition of employment.

SSI will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.

If you require a reasonable adjustment please email [email protected], using the subject line: Family Preservation Case Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs or call Vimla Khooblall on 02 8799 6700.