Wesley Brighter Futures

• Full-time permanent position
• Based in Penrith – working within the Cumberland, Blacktown and Nepean areas
• Salary + car allowance + super + salary packaging benefits

About us

Wesley Mission is a high profile, multi-faceted Christian organisation making a real difference in the community. We work with the most disadvantaged in our community by providing over 200 services ranging from aged care, homeless services, child and family care, counselling, employment, training and education, and health services.

Our Vision is “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

About the program

As part of Wesley’s Family and Community Services group, the Brighter Futures program provides targeted support to vulnerable families with children aged 0-8 years to prevent them from escalating into the child-protection system. The Brighter Futures Early Intervention Program is a voluntary, child-focused program funded by the Department of Family and Community Services, which aims to promote strong, functional and well-supported families within the community.

About the role

This is a role for people passionate about making a difference with vulnerable children and families. The role entails caseworkers working at the coalface with complex-needs families, utilising an evidenced-based framework developed by Wesley Mission. You will be joining an incredibly exciting team dedicated to making a difference. If you are hard-working, passionate, and skilful at reflective practice, then we would welcome your application

Wesley Mission provides regular supervision and support for all staff as well as range of opportunities for professional development and staff benefits. This is a child-related position and preferred applicants will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and criminal record history check.

Essential criteria

• Tertiary qualification(s) in Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Social Science or related fields
• At least 2 years’ experience in working with families involving the identification and analysis of safety and wellbeing concerns for children
• Experience in assessment-based tools
• Demonstrated ability to engage families at the point of initial service contact, building relationships of trust and cooperation, problem solving and support planning
• High-level ability to liaise, network and maintain solid working relationships with a variety of individuals
• High-level written and verbal communication skills
• Cultural competence and experience working alongside CALD and Aboriginal families
• High-level self-management, critical analysis and organisational skills
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working with children and families experiencing stressors, including domestic violence, child-protection issues, parent drug and alcohol misuse, parenting skills, child-behaviour management, learning difficulties, parental mental health and social isolation
• Current NSW or National driver’s licence.

Desirable criteria

• Working knowledge of the local child and family support sector for the area which you are applying
• Experience in SafeCare delivery, or other evidence-based parenting programs
• Experience in managing electronic files and databases

Remuneration

Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, Level 5, plus superannuation and salary packaging.

A position description is attached.