About Women & Children First

Women & Children First (WACF) is a community-based organisation providing crisis accommodation and wrap around care for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence and abuse as well as parenting and relationship education and prevention programs.
Our two women and children’s refuges and specialist support services are based on Sydney's Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore.

Our Programs Prioritise

• Safety - Providing immediate and ongoing safety through crisis housing and trauma-informed case management and wraparound care.
• Empowerment - Empowering survivors to heal and rebuild through psycho-education programs on healthy relationships, parenting, and wellbeing.
• Prevention - Advocating for change and breaking the cycle of abuse through community and political engagement and education.

About The Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this role is designed to provide professional casework services to all women and children who are using our services in line with our values.

As a Domestic Violence Caseworker, you will play a pivotal role in providing an assessment, case planning and coordinating support and services for women and their children who are at imminent risk or are homeless in a timely manner. A key part of your role will include, providing wrap around support to women/families whilst walking alongside them through their journey to healing.

This is a dynamic role where you will be working in an experienced team across two locations to provide vital accommodation and services to women and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse. This includes completing in depth assessment, induction and settling in of clients into our accommodation, providing intensive casework and strengths-based case management and participating in the rotating on call roster for after-hours support to refuge families.

The work carried out by Women & Children First is at times very challenging. All staff at the Centre endeavour to always provide high quality services to clients and especially at times of crisis and distress. The position requires empathy and the ability to manage and meet competing demands.

Responsibilities Of Role

In-depth intake assessment of referrals of clients and their children for legal, psychological, health, housing, income maintenance, immigration and safety issues

• Induction and settling in of clients into the refuges
• Crisis counselling
• Ongoing intensive casework and strengths-based case management of refuge and transitional housing clients working towards independent living
• Strengths-based/trauma informed case management with other women clients who have experienced domestic violence, as appropriate, and are at imminent risk of homelessness
• Responding to ad hoc requests for information, advice, referral and other assistance to WCF clients as required
• Participation in the rotating on call roster for after-hours support to refuge families
• Developing and maintaining strong and collaborative professional networks and referral links within the Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches areas and beyond, particularly with housing services
• High-level record-keeping and file maintenance
• Completing all CIMS required data entry
• Assisting COO and CEO with ad hoc projects, reports and duties as required
• Participation in staff meetings
• Participation in local networks and committees, as appropriate and approved
• Actively participate in professional development as appropriate and approved - this will include monthly supervision and clinical supervision

Skills And Experience Required

• Relevant tertiary qualifications
• Ability to seek direction and advice
• Strong assessment and case management skills
• Excellent time management, organisational and administrative skills
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative and prioritise
• Comprehensive knowledge of welfare and housing systems, particularly as they relate to homelessness and risk of homelessness, domestic violence and child protection
• Demonstrated understanding of legal processes in welfare, family law and AVO proceedings
• Demonstrated the ability to build and maintain key stakeholder relationships
• Commitment to professional integrity and accountability
• Commitment to working in a collegiate, collaborative and co-operative manner
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Commitment to a psychologically safe workplace, with awareness of the impact of vicarious trauma when speaking with clients with heightened emotions, by balancing mental health and work-life health
  

Other Requirements

• Current driver's licence.
• Current Working with Children Check and National Police check

Benefits Of Working At WACF

• Inclusive culture.
• Safe, supportive, and strengths-based work environment.
• Salary packaging benefits.
• Access to learning and development opportunities.
• Additional day to celebrate your birthday.
• Additional well being day.
• Social events and regular team connection time.
• Employee assistance program.
• Part time, temporary 12 month (3 days per week)
• Northern Beaches/Lower North Shore, Sydney NSW
• Classification: SCHADS Level 4 PayPoint 1-4 depending on experience + Salary Packaging + Superannuation