Specialist Family Violence Practitioner

• Full Time, 38hrs/Week, Maximum Term Contract until 30-06-2024
• SCHCADs Level 5, $93,860.00 per annum + Super + Salary Packaging
• Bayside Peninsula Location
• Job Ref: SR0137

About the Role:

The Specialist Family Violence Practitioner (SFVP) supports women and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and entered high security refuge, crisis accommodation and other accommodation options. The SFVP delivers high quality client-centred short term intensive case management in refuge, as part of an integrated team response, working closely with the therapeutic practitioners and support workers to address identified goals. Longer term support is also provided for women and young people in a diverse range of accommodation options.

This role implements Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework and undertakes a comprehensive risk and needs assessment of women and children through trauma informed, systems and developmental frameworks. The SFVP develops agreed case plans with women and young people with multiple and complex needs, bringing about outcomes promoting safety, stability and recovery from family violence through a coordinated care team approach.

About the Responsibilities:

• Facilitate a multi-disciplinary team approach, providing a collaborative and holistic response for women and young people impacted by family violence, working toward identified goals
• Undertake comprehensive risk assessment, needs assessment, safety planning and case planning with women and young people
• Coordinate referrals for support and liaise with specialist services as required
• Ensure the MARAM framework and the FVISS/CISS information sharing scheme are embedded practice
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Child Safe Standards
• Understand the impact of family violence on families, facilitating strengths-based positive parenting strategies and applying protective behaviour techniques, reducing the vulnerability of young people
• Provision of high-quality intensive case support work for complex needs, including the co-ordination of community and specialist supports, exit planning and case closure
• Assist clients with transitioning into alternative suitable accommodation
• Facilitate financial independence and access to material as needed
• Work in partnership with families to develop and regularly review individual case and safety plans, ensuring clients are actively engaged in all decision making and planning
• Participate in meetings as required, including team meetings and care team meetings
• Provide advocacy on the client’s behalf to link in with other relevant supports
• Assist in maintaining security on site at the refuge and respond to issues appropriately as and when required
• Participate in OHS and compliance activities
• Report property maintenance Issues for the refuge
• Provide an afterhours response to the women and children as required at the refuge
• Prepare reports and other written documentation such as minutes, applications, correspondence etc to meet professional standards
• Perform other duties as required

About You:

• Appropriate tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, or a related tertiary discipline is essential to meet Rec209 Mandatory Qualification requirements
• Deliver high quality case management services to women and children who have experienced or are experiencing family violence through trauma informed, systems and developmental frameworks
• Experience working in the family violence sector
• Experience providing case management in a complex and dynamic environment, supporting families through crisis and recovery Experience working with high-risk clients is highly desirable
• Demonstrated experience working with women and children presenting with complex needs and behaviours (e.g. trauma, substance abuse, mental health, parenting issues, disability) and/or from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) or indigenous backgrounds
• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of family violence and the capacity to apply appropriate theoretical frameworks to practice
• Demonstrated success in maintaining external networks and collaborative relationships with professionals both internal and external
• Demonstrated experience in preparing written reports, maintaining records, including case notes and data base reporting
• Demonstrated success working as part of an effective and productive team, along with the ability to be self-directed
• Experience working with in a high security refuge environment is desirable
• Ability to apply protective behaviours techniques which reduce children’s vulnerability
• Demonstrated commitment to personal professional development including knowledge of the Royal Commission into Family Violence Recommendations and the broader impact of the current reforms on the family violence sector
• Solid administrative and organisational skills, with accurate record keeping and strong attention to detail
• Ability to take direction and apply sound judgment
• Capacity to multi-task and manage the prioritisation of urgent tasks
• Adherence to the Privacy Act and related legislation in regard to sensitive client information
• Experience working with in a high security refuge environment is desirable
• A current Victorian Driver’s Licence

Minimum Mandatory Qualifications Requirements (Rec209):

The minimum mandatory qualifications requirements are in place in Victoria and have been since the 1st of July 2021 are available on /www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family-violence-practitioners. 

Please contact us on [email protected] using the subject line: Specialist Family Violence Practitioner enquiry via EthicalJobs if you have any questions about these requirements.

About Good Shepherd:

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.