LGBTIQ+ Refuge to Recovery Case Manager

• Full time position available in Western Melbourne.
• Generous salary packaging including novated leasing, and meals and entertainment card.
• Excellent Professional Development opportunities and ongoing training.
• Regular supervision, reflective practice and management support including access to EAP.

ABOUT US

Refuge Victoria is a not-for-profit Specialist Family Violence Organisation that provides refuge accommodation to people escaping family violence. We have been responding to family violence and changing people’s stories for over 40 years. Refuge Victoria is the largest provider of refuge accommodation in Victoria with three core and cluster refuges, 15 refuge properties and nominating rights to approx. 35 Transitional Houses.

Refuge Victoria supports families experiencing homelessness from family violence, providing refuge and crisis accommodation, risk assessment and case management support and outreach case management support to clients in transitional properties and/or private rental.

At Refuge Victoria, we celebrate diversity in ethnicity, social experience, genders, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, religious beliefs, ages and abilities and welcome talent from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage members from the priority population to apply for this position.

ABOUT THE REFUGE TO RECOVERY PROGRAM

The “Refuge to Recovery” program commenced at Refuge Victoria in mid-2023. The program was developed to specifically address the service barriers experienced by LGBTIQA+ victim survivors as well as to improve outcomes for the community. While some of the barriers to support services for victim survivors can be overcome through improved LGBTIQA+ cultural competence, including training and intersectional awareness, many LGBTIQA+ people will not choose or trust mainstream services.

The “Refuge to Recovery” program is an LGBTIQA+ led program within a mainstream service, that provides a specialist refuge response to LGBTIQA+ victim survivors in partnership with queer controlled organisations. The specialist refuge response is the first of its kind in Australia and has already achieved great outcomes for clients who have come through the program.

THE ROLE

Refuge Victoria is seeking an LGBTIQ+ Case Manager to join our team on a full time basis. Working as part of a dynamic team the Case Manager has the primary responsibility to manage and deliver services for people who are experiencing family violence and are accessing Refuge Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Refuge to Recovery program.

You will hold a case load and be responsible for the delivery of case management support including completing intake, comprehensive risk assessment and safety plans using the MARAM, needs assessments, case plans and reviews, exit plans, advocacy and the coordination of clients into Refuge Victoria accommodation and services.

You will develop working relationships with key agencies including DFFH, community agencies, Child Protection as well as LGBTIQA+ specific organisations such as Thorne Harbour Health and Rainbow Door etc. You will attend meetings with these organisations who are supporting client case plans, in order to contribute to, document and minute take these meetings.

The role also includes the provision of advocacy and support for clients linking to community-based services including justice and legal, housing, health and wellbeing including mental health, cultural, employment and education, financial, access to material aid and court support to meet immediate needs.

The role will be rostered for one afternoon shift per week, to promote opportunities for engaging with clients and provide support to other staff working out of hours.

Refuge Victoria is committed to protecting children and young people from all forms of harm and abuse. As an employee you will be required to report any concerns raised by, or on behalf of, children and young people in accordance with mandatory reporting, reportable conduct, and incident management procedures. Everyone at Refuge Victoria has a role to play in keeping children and young people safe and your role will support and drive this commitment, ensuring individuals and teams behave appropriately towards children and young people at all time.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Maintain a caseload of LGBTIQA+ clients who have experienced and/or witnessed family domestic and /or sexual violence.
• The provision of advocacy and support for victim survivors and their children linking to community-based services including health, community controlled LGBTIQA+ organisations, mental health, legal, financial, counselling, access to material aid and court support to meet immediate needs.
• You will develop working relationships with key agencies including DFFH child protection to ensure the safety of the children using the best interest’s framework.
• Attending meetings with LGBTIQA+ specific organisations who are supporting client case plans to document and minute take these meetings.
• The role will require having input into establishing and reviewing workplace procedures and practice and reviewing the efficacy and responsiveness of the intake service.
• The case manager will provide support to students, support workers and casual/agency staff when required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Hold a Bachelor of Social Work or other equivalent qualification OR;
• Have minimum 5 years relevant professional experience OR;
• A related qualification as per the mandatory minimum qualification requirements OR;
• Hold significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience and have faced barriers to educational pathways.

Additionally, the successful candidate will have:

• A minimum of 2 years Case Management Experience preferably within a family violence setting.
• An understanding of relevant theories and practice frameworks that relate to Family Violence, therapeutic interventions, case management and support services.
• Knowledge of MARAM framework (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework).
• Demonstrated experience undertaking psychosocial assessments, safety planning, goal setting and care planning, advocacy, building referral pathways, risk assessment (suicide risk and FDSV risk), and use of evidence-based client outcome measurement tools.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in, intake and assessment, case planning in relation to family violence, service provision, safety planning, managing a case load and client advocacy.
• Problem solving capabilities evidenced by seeking relevant information, liaising with stakeholders, analysing issues, seeking different perspectives, identifying and progressing workable solutions, and implements and evaluates outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sector specific referral pathways and support co-ordination for LGBTIQA+ clients.
• Strong, demonstrated commitment to the LGBTIQA+ community, including knowledge of the different experiences of family violence within the community.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to safeguarding children and other vulnerable people.
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise competing demands.

WHAT’S ON OFFER

Combine your qualifications and experience with your personal passions and values, in a role that changes the lives of some of our community’s most vulnerable people and work alongside a supportive and compassionate team who are committed to creating a safe and free life for people escaping family violence. This role also offers:

• Level 5 of the SCHADS award.
• Salary packaging.
• EAP service and regular supervision.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Access to monthly Accrued Day Off.

Click ‘Apply Now‘ to submit a cover letter (optional) and resume addressing your experience against the responsibilities listed in this advertisement.

The successful applicant will need to undertake a national police check, referee checks, be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and have a Working with Children Check.