• Time Type: Casual
• Location: Liverpool Area
• Award & Classification: SCHADS Award – Crisis Accommodation Employee Level 1

About Us

Open Support is a community service organisation committed to providing assistance to families in need across New South Wales through the active participation of trained volunteers and staff. Open Support supports the vulnerable in our society offering services that are professional, flexible and responsive to emerging community needs.

As one of it’s key service areas, Open Support provides crisis accommodation, case management, and support services to women and their children who have experienced and are escaping family violence. Our crisis facility, Safe Haven operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Support is also offered to clients who are transitioning or have transitioned from crisis accommodation to longer-term housing. The Open Support DFV Program assists women and children to begin the process of healing from the trauma of DFV and aims to empower these families to lead safe, independent and fulfilling lives.

The Opportunity

Open Support is looking for motivated and passionate team members to work at our crisis accommodation facility, Safe Haven. Successful candidates will be experienced in working with families impacted by domestic and family violence and have the ability to support and empower women to secure a safer future for themselves and their children.

The DFV Residential Support Worker is responsible for providing crisis response, accommodation and emotional support to women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence. This includes ensuring comfortable and safe residential care and the delivery of family-centered support according to program and individual client goals. The residential worker will work collaboratively with the Open Support DFV team and with relevant external service providers to ensure all clients are provided with integrated support and exit planning.

This position will require the ability to work across a range of shifts, including overnight. Safe Haven operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The candidate must have a willingness to perform general housekeeping duties as required and will be required to be flexible in regard to duties and working hours depending on the day-to-day demands of the position.

Skills / Experience

• Qualifications in social work, welfare or related discipline and/or at least 3 years’ experience in working with clients with complex needs within a residential setting.
• The ability to provide a flexible, trauma-informed and client-centered approach to service delivery.
• Strong interpersonal, active listening and negotiation skills and experience in effectively managing difficult situations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of risk management within family violence or related setting.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, plan, prioritise workload and show initiative.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including:
  • Maintaining client case files and reporting
  • Advocating on behalf of others to a range of agencies and support services
  • Communicating effectively and sensitively with from diverse cultural backgrounds and linguistic needs
  • Proficiency in using the Microsoft Office suite.
• The ability to manage service obligations including confidentiality, a duty of care, mandatory reports, WHS, other relevant legislation and professional conduct standards.
• Experience in working in a residential setting (desirable)
• Ability to speak a second language other than English (desirable)

The Benefits

We offer all employees the ability to maximise their income by reducing tax payable through salary sacrificing. We also offer our employees ongoing development and learning.

Criminal records and/or child protection checks will be conducted and will form part of the selection criteria for this role.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity, ethical practices, and the principles of cultural diversity. As part of SVHA’s commitment to the federal government’s employment parity initiative, we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.