Family Violence Crisis Specialist I&A Overnight Worker

Safe Steps is the only 24/7, family violence response centre in Victoria, providing a “state-wide entry point” for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. Services include information and referral, crisis response, specialist family violence risk assessment, safety planning, Webchat, and access to supported crisis accommodation.

Our vision is safety, support and respect for all victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Our practice is trauma-informed and guided by evidence. We provide services to all victim-survivors and recognise that most of our work is dedicated to the needs of women and children which reflects the gendered nature of domestic and family violence.

Within the parameters of our constitution, service philosophy and the policy framework established by the Board, and under the direction and supervision of the Intake and Assessment Manager, the Family Violence Crisis Specialist (Intake and Assessment) will work as part of the Victorian state-wide Family Violence service, providing a specialist first response to victim-survivors seeking safety from family violence.

The position works within an established feminist theoretical and practice approach and collaborative multi-agency context based on best practice knowledge. The role requires the highest level of professionalism, ethical behaviour and compassion.

Safe Steps is the only 24/7, family violence response centre in Victoria, providing a “state-wide entry point” for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. Services include information and referral, crisis response, specialist family violence risk assessment, safety planning, Webchat and access to supported crisis accommodation.

Our vision is safety, support and respect for all victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Our practice is trauma-informed and guided by evidence. We provide services to all victim-survivors and recognise that most of our work is dedicated to the needs of women and children which reflects the gendered nature of domestic and family violence.

Our research and advocacy is informed by our practice and promotes the voices and diverse experiences of victim-survivors. We advocate to create systemic change and effective pathways for victim survivors from crisis to safety and recovery. We are courageous, feminist, empowering, inclusive, respectful and reflective in all that we do. Safe Steps employs more than 100 full-time staff, part-time staff, volunteers and students.

The Family Violence Crisis Specialist (Intake and Assessment) is expected to uphold organisation’s policies and procedures as well as the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and Health and Human Services Standards, which include the following obligations:

• to respect client confidentiality
• to obtain consent for the disclosure of information about a client

• Safe Steps’ locations and unlisted telephone numbers may not be disclosed to any other person except in accordance with service procedures. The locations and unlisted telephone numbers of any high security refuges may not be disclosed to any other person other than in accordance with the instructions of each such service.

• to inform any client who wishes to make a complaint about the organisation of their right to do so, and to assist them to initiate a complaint

Service Delivery

• Provision of information, advice, and consultation, and where appropriate referral for victim survivors, their family members or service providers. Provision of telephone-based family violence crisis intervention to clients who are at serious risk of harm due to family violence
• Respond to victim survivors through the Safe Steps’ webchat service and respond by email
• Assess and respond to family violence risk within the MARAM service delivery framework to support the safety of victim survivors
• Contribute to project and other activities designed to improve the statewide family violence crisis response service
• The role requires that services delivered are of high quality, and in line with the Code of Practice for Specialist Family Violence Services and the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework
• Provide ad hoc support to cover shift vacancies to Safe Steps residential overnight teams as required.

Team Support

• Participates in team activities, attend staff meetings when scheduled, and demonstrate a supportive approach to colleagues which contributes to the overall team effectiveness

Professional Development and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and develop theoretical knowledge and practice wisdom in (family/domestic violence, feminist theory, intersectional feminism and working with trauma) and meet core values and behaviours of Safe Steps
• Demonstrate a commitment to reflective practice, professional debriefing and supervision

Essential

• Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent qualification, or a willingness to work towards an equivalent qualification
• Demonstrated experience within the specialist family violence sector or working with those who have been impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence (telephone counselling advantageous)
• Understanding of the specialist family violence sector in Victoria
• Completion of the Multi Agency Risk Assessment (MARAM) Framework training and a demonstrated understanding of its application in the context of Crisis Services or the willingness to undergo training at employment start
• Understanding of feminist theory and contemporary family violence practice including the gendered nature of violence, social justice principles, crisis intervention and working with trauma.
• Understanding of state based legislation as it pertains to family violence, privacy and child protection legislation relevant to service delivery
• Demonstrated ability to work in a challenging and demanding environment, including working within agreed timeline parameters
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills including ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of cultural and social groups
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, with a flexible and positive approach
• High level of resilience and self-care practices in place
• Willingness to commit to the living expression of Safe Steps values; courageous, feminist, empowering, inclusive, respectful, reflective
• Right to work in Australia
• A current Working With Children Check
• Willingness to undergo a National Police Check
• Completed Covid 19 vaccinations

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• This role is exempt from the provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 which would otherwise require the appointment to this position to be on a non-gender specific basis. Applications for this position will be considered from people who identify as women (Exemption H135/2022).

• Safe Steps is a child safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. All Safe Steps services, programs and practices are in compliance with Victoria’s Child Safe Standards.

• Safe Steps recognises that risk management, and the sound and effective implementation of a risk management strategy with associated tools and plans, is a key process in a best practice framework at all levels of the organisation. We are committed to the implementation and maintenance of a formal risk management system in order to provide a sound quality and governance framework that aligns with the Australian Standard for Risk Management (AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018) and ensures there are linkages between risk management and decision making, there is clearly articulated accountability, and there is mandate and commitment from all key staff in the organisation.

• Safe Steps is committed to the principles of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in all aspects of its operations, service delivery and governance. We place the highest priority on the safety and wellbeing of those we support and provide services to.

• All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check (including an international police check if resided continuously in an overseas country for 12 months or more in the last ten years), Working with Children Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.
• Where background checks are not to the satisfaction of Safe Steps in its absolute discretion, the offer of employment may be retracted or terminated.
• If you are offered employment with Safe Steps and are not currently an existing employee, you will be required to disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or illness that may be affected by the work and/or undergo a health assessment. The disclosure/health assessment is conducted to ensure you have the health and mental capacity to meet the requirements of the position and to identify any adjustments that may need to be made in the workplace. Failing to notify or hiding a pre-existing injury or illness which might be affected by the nature of the proposed employment, could result in that injury or illness being ineligible for future compensation claims.