Therapeutic Parent Practitioner – Integrated Family Services

• EFT: Part time till 30/6/2024, may be extended subject to further funding
• First Nations People and people from public housing estates, Culturally Diverse Communities, LGBTIQA+ people and people with disability are encouraged to apply
• Applicants who have a lived experience are encouraged to apply 
• DS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.

About the role

Drummond Street Services (DS) is seeking applicants for a Therapeutic Parenting Practitioner, Integrated Family Services, in the Wyndham area. DS deliver early intervention case work, counselling and group support to individuals, families and communities, using a developmental and whole of family, life course approach.

This position in Wyndham is an exciting role, working with parents/ carers and their children (including from pre-birth up to the age of 18 years) who are being impacted upon by disadvantage including poverty, trauma, substance abuse, mental health and family violence and are potentially at risk of becoming involved with the Child Protection system or are already involved with Child Protection.

Your responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic parenting support for families that reduce risks and increase protective factors for a range of developmental outcomes. 
• Manage a caseload of allocated families providing comprehensive, whole of family assessment of presenting needs, strengths, risk factors and risk alerts.
• Work with the family to identify goals and develop a whole of family action plan, ensuring that children’s health and wellbeing is central to the goals.
• Provide psycho-social and skills-based educational one on one support and group programs for parents on a range of topics.
• Complete risk assessments in line with the Best Interests Case Practice Framework.
• Undertake comprehensive closure and exit planning with families to ensure that their goals have been achieved and additional supports are in place, as required.
• Develop resources and provide secondary consultation to other staff.
• Provide community engagement and development approaches to build supportive pathways for vulnerable communities and families. 

Selection Criteria

Please address the following in your application to be considered.

Essential

• Tertiary qualification Social Work or equivalent
• A minimum of three years’ experience in providing therapeutic parenting support and/or education and a thorough understanding of parenting education practice/Philosophy
• Experience and understanding of family relationship issues and the family life cycle (this includes relationship formation, enhancement, separation, family reformation and step/blended families).
• Demonstrated experience working with parents across the developmental stages from birth to 18, including an understanding of children’s developmental milestones and the ante and post-natal experience.
• Demonstrated high level written, oral and interpersonal communication skills and organisational skills including the ability to meet deadlines and prioritise work tasks
• A genuine interest and commitment to working with First Nations People, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of color and public housing residents
• This role requires the ability to drive a DS fleet vehicle, provide your own transport or have other transportation options to perform the inherent requirements of the position.  If you believe that you are unable to fulfil this requirement of the position then please discuss with the hiring manager

Desirable

• You identify as belonging to one or more of the communities with whom DS assertively engages

Application process

All applications will be directed to our careers portal via the ‘Apply Now’ link below. 

All applicants must include a resume and with a cover letter addressing all the key selection criteria for the position.

To discuss your application, please contact Karyn Kehagias, Senior Family Practitioner on 03 9663 6733 or [email protected] using the subject line: Therapeutic Parent Practitioner – Integrated Family Services – Wyndham enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.