Position type and location / Casual – up to six months
SCHCADS Award / Grade 4
Reporting and Working Relationships / Responsible to: Service Manager (SOH) and Practice Manager (WAGEC)
Context
Stepping Out is a specialist agency providing a valuable service to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse through support, case management, information, group work, counselling, advocacy and referral.
Given SOP’s history of specialist work with survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), the agency’s contemporary focus is placed on establishing and providing therapeutic support through the delivery of case management and case coordination services. This focus emphasises trauma informed care and practise, a solution based focus, building on client strengths and a client centred approach as best practice.
Stepping Out is also a partner in a consortium led by WAGEC for case management services to homeless women who are CSA survivors in the City of Sydney local government area as part of the broader Going Home Staying Home reforms.
This role is based in Leichhardt and works with both WAGEC CSA and Stepping Out clients.
Provision of specialisedcase management services for women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
This includes:
- case management including initial assessment and case planning
- capacity to provide outreach to engage with new and existing clients
- support with group programs
- advocacy for Stepping Out with other services
- early intervention /prevention strategies
- crisis response
- supported transitional accommodation
- rapid re-housing strategies
- intensive response
Duties and Responsibilities
Support and Advocacy
- Provide case management with a respectful non-judgemental and inclusive attitude and manner.
- Demonstrate a commitment to understanding the needs and experiences of women who are marginalised, in particular women who are experience or at risk of homelessness and domestic and family violence
- Conduct intake assessments for new clients of the service
- Refer clients to external or internal services a required and determined by client needs
- Maintain and adhere to confidentiality procedures and policies at all times
- Advocate on behalf of clients as required
- Attend to any duty of care or urgent issues in relation to clients
- Arrange for interpreter services s required
- Ensure that the client knows her rights and responsibilities and is aware of complaint processes
- Assist clients in providing feedback to the service
- Dispense material assistance as required within the limits of the service resources
Case Management
- Conduct holistic assessment of client needs
- Develop, implement and review client centred, holistic support plans
- Provide clients with a range of options and resources
- Meet with clients on a regular or as needs basis to work on case plan goals and other associated issues
- Assist clients to locate or maintain appropriate affordable accommodation
- Write support letters where needed to advocate for a client’s housing or other needs
- Maintain appropriate client records
- Feedback progress or difficulties in relation to case management at staff meetings, supervision sessions with the Manager and external supervisor
- Liaise with other services in the development and execution of support plans where applicable
- Maintain and update housing options and other resource folders
- Attend and participate in client case conferences
Outreach Support
- Provide outreach support to clients in their homes, transitional properties and at various locations
- Accompany clients to appointments as needed
Organisation/Administration
- Comply with all WAGEC and SOH policies and procedures
- Attend and participate in staff meetings, internal and external supervision
- Participate in performance reviews
- Maintain all files and records
- Complete data collection requirements
- Complete timesheets and related employee documentation
- Attend meetings and seminars as required
- Promote the organisation to other services in the community
- Participate in professional development activities
- Contribute to program evaluation, and policy development and implementation
- Participate in service planning activities
Skills and Experience Required (selection criteria)
- Tertiary qualification in welfare or related services and/or at least 2 years’ experience working in the welfare sector and case management
- Demonstrated ability to establish and utilise referral pathways and use trauma-informed and strengths based approach and to achieve client outcomes
- Demonstrated experience and sound knowledge of case management theory and best practice principles particularly in relation to Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Demonstrated working knowledge of Specialist Homelessness Services and domestic and family violence
- Proven ability to work with clients who have challenging behaviours
- Demonstrated ability to work with culturally and linguistically diverse clients and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage clients respectfully and show empathy
- Good written communications skills
- Ability to provide detailed reports on outcomes and collect statistics for program evaluation
- Demonstrated planning, organisational and time management skills
- Driver’s License
- Computer literacy
Desirable
- Current First Aid certificate
- Crisis counselling skills