• Based in Preston
• Full - time position
• Generous Salary Packaging options available
• New role – make it your own
• Job# WIN22

Windana is a major provider of alcohol and other drug treatment services in Victoria. Our aim is to offer holistic, innovative services to our client group, and we encourage staff and clients to work in partnership. The value of community is intrinsic to our culture and promotes a sense of purpose and hope for the future.

The position

The Family Practitioner - Functional Family Therapy Through Child Welfare (FFT-CW®) role, is a newly created role as part of the introduction of the FFT-CW® model. The position is offered as a full time, fixed term contract to 30 June 2020, with the possibility of extension if funding allows.

This role will be part of a team comprising Anglicare and Mind staff and will work collaboratively to develop practice expertise in delivering this new exciting evidence-based model.

The FFT-CW® Family Practitioner will receive expert coaching and support to work with families in their homes using a four-phase intervention program of engagement, motivation, behaviour change and generalisation.

The program

The Functional Family Therapy Through Child Welfare program has been developed to support families, with children from birth to 18 years, in the home. The role of FFT-CW® is to be a final preventative intervention for families to divert them away from the statutory Child Protection system and focus on providing them with an alternative positive experience of receiving support from an organisation.

The model seeks to move families through a theory of change process where negativity is reduced (which is so often embedded in the relationships of target families), and hope is in increased through strategies to strengthen family communication and dynamics which reduces escalation of issues and subsequently risk. This role is based at the Anglicare office in Preston.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a skilled individual who has the passion and commitment to take up a newly created role and make it their own. To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Tertiary qualifications, preferably in social work, psychology or behavioural sciences or equivalent.
• Excellent understanding of the child and family service system, including legislative and policy frameworks.
• Excellent knowledge of, and experience in the application of relevant theoretical approaches (particularly trauma theory) that underpin therapeutic and casework practice to vulnerable children, young people and families.
• Excellent skills in providing expert case consultation and advice to complex cases, particularly around risk, safety and wellbeing assessments.
• Excellent knowledge of psychosocial therapeutic interventions suitable for clients presenting with co-occurring AOD and mental health conditions, particularly mood disorders, personality disorders, severe and persistent mental illness, as well as relapse prevention strategies, motivational interviewing techniques, cultural competence, dual diagnosis, trauma-informed approaches, ASIST, Mental Health First Aid, Introduction to Family Inclusive Practice, CBT interventions and risk assessment.
• Sound understanding of culturally sensitive practices and ability to establish rapport and relate sensitively with Aboriginal and culturally diverse groups.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of the complex health and psychosocial needs of persons affected by the use of alcohol and other drugs.
• Understanding of the Victorian Drug Services Framework and the AOD service system

More Information

We are committed to child safety and are a Child Safe organisation. A valid Working with Children Check is mandatory for this position, and a police check will be administered for preferred candidates.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace culture. We encourage people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQIA, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.

A full Position Description is attached below.