Senior Practitioner – Intake and Assessment

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.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Within the parameters of our constitution, service philosophy and the policy framework established by the Board, and under the direction and supervision of the Manager Intake & Assessment, the Senior Practitioner – Intake and Assessment will provide real time management of resources to meet demand, best practice leadership, supervision and coaching to staff working on the frontline of service.

The role also includes phone-based services to callers seeking information, referral, assessment and support in managing safety due to family violence as well as undertaking triage, brief and comprehensive family violence risk assessments and the planning of immediate crisis responses to manage caller safety.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

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 Senior Practitioner (Intake and Assessment) is based at the Safe Steps head office in North Melbourne, however, working across all sites may be required.

The Senior Practitioner (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
• 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

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.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Practice Leadership

• Best practice leadership in the Family Violence Crisis Response Intake and Assessment team including risk and needs assessments, risk management, debriefing, supervision and coaching
• Responsible for integrity of service responses and referrals during in-shift period

Service Delivery Leadership

• Responsible for the day-to-day productivity, wellbeing of team members and quality control through adherence of Code of Practice for Specialist Family Violence Services for Women and Children
• Actively support management in meeting prescribed service levels and key performance targets.
• Provision of ongoing skill development for team members from induction facilitation and support to supervision and coaching
• Engage in direct practice as needed, delivering a telephone and webchat-based family violence service response within agreed guidelines and practice standards
• Assist the phone team by handling additional calls from queues during periods of high demand

Team Support

• Model and lead a team-based approach to service delivery encouraging shared responsibilities and teamwork as key to meeting service objectives
• Be an active, engaged, and collaborative team member

Professional Development and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and develop theoretical knowledge and practice wisdom in relevant areas (complex trauma, childhood abuse, family/domestic violence, sexual assault, supervision frameworks) and meet core values and behaviours of Safe Steps
• Contribute to service monitoring and development through participation in a range of meetings with internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to professional debriefing and supervision for both skill development and reduction of risk of vicarious trauma or stress related ‘burnout’

Occupational Health and Safety

• Meet Occupational Health & Safety obligations in line with Safe Steps’ Policy & Procedures as well as relevant legislation

Other

• Perform other duties consistent with the position where required and/or requested by management from time to time
• Complete mandatory and other training as required
• Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures, including all workplace health and safety measures
• Adhering to and supporting change and actively embracing and advocating for growth within the organisation. This includes being open to new ideas, approaches, and perspectives by demonstrating flexibility and resilience.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent qualification, or a willingness to work towards an equivalent qualification
• Understanding of feminist theory and contemporary family violence practice including the gendered nature of violence
• Extensive experience in the provision of family violence response services, including experience leading a team in a social service setting
• Experience in undertaking comprehensive risks and needs assessments and risk management responses
• 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
• Proven track record in working in team setting in a family violence, mental health, alcohol and drugs, child protection or disability setting
• Experience and confidence in managing risks including suicide, self-harm and child safety
• Understanding of federal and state-based legislation including child protection legislation relevant to service industry
• Understanding of intersectionality as it relates to diverse and marginalised populations experience and commitment to working with same
• Demonstrated ability to work in a challenging and demanding environment, managing competing demands, and maintaining composure in times of stress – employing effective engagement strategies with staff and with clients in crisis
• 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
• A current Victorian Drivers Licence and Working with Children Check
• Willingness to undergo a National Police Check
• Completed Covid 19 vaccinations

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EXEMPTION

• 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).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• 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.

CHILD SAFETY

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.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to ensuring diversity, inclusion and equity are embedded throughout our organisation for the benefit of all our clients and our staff. We believe our people are our greatest asset and by supporting and incorporating their diverse talents, knowledge, perspectives and experiences, we can strengthen our relationships with the communities we work with.

Our focus is on eliminating discrimination in the services we deliver and the workplace we provide. Being a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports and enables equity, goes to the heart of our work and supports our strategic intent – “Building an organisation and culture that is supportive, responsive and sustainable”.

INTERESTED? APPLY TODAY!

If this sounds like the role for you then click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.

Please ensure that you:

• Submit your resume and cover letter.
• Complete all application questions.