Position Title / Senior Child and Family Worker
Program / Family Services
Employment Status / Part Time (0.9FTE)
Award / Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Industry Award 2010
Position reports to / Team Leader, Family Services
Location / Thomastown
HISTORY
The Children’s Protection Society (CPS) was founded in 1896 and is one of the oldest and most experienced independent child welfare organisationsin Victoria. The Agency holds a unique place in the history of Australian child protection.
CPS is an evidenced based, dynamic and diverse independent and voluntary child and family servicesorganisation with no political or religious affiliations, governed by a Board of communitymembers, servicing vulnerable children, young people and families.
With offices in Heidelberg and Thomastown, CPS provides a range of services across metropolitan Melbourne and in regional Victoria including family support, sexualabuse counselling, adolescent sex offender treatment services, fathers support services,support for grandparents raising their grandchildren, an award winning child and family centre and evidence and competency based professional development across all of the aforementioned domains.
For further information regarding CPS services, please refer to our website
OUR VISION
All children and young people thrive in resilient, strong and safe families and communities
OUR MISSION
To nurture, support and strengthen the life chances for vulnerable children, young people and families
OUR VALUES
  • Hope – that change is possible and achievable
  • Respect – for all people
  • Empowerment – belief in the ability of all people to make positive changes in their lives
  • Leadership – advocate for the rights and wellbeing of children and young people
  • Integrity – our actions are underpinned by our beliefs
  • Accountability – in everything we do

ROLE PURPOSE
CPS INTEGRATED FAMILY SERVICES (IFS)
CPS Family Services covers the local government areas of Banyule, Nillumbik, Darebin and Whittlesea and is a member of the North East Metro Child & Family Services Alliance (NEMCFSA). The NEMCFSA has been established to support the effective operation of ChildFIRST in the North East catchment, which includes local government areas of Yarra, Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Darebin. CPS Family Services works closely with all DHHS funded Family Services providers in the catchment, including;
  • Anglicare Victoria
  • Berry Street Victoria
  • Brotherhood of St Laurence (Ecumenical Migration Centre)
  • Darebin City Council
  • Kildonan Child and Family Services
  • CoHealth
  • Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
  • Yarra City Council
The primary purpose of the Senior Child and Family Worker position in Family Services is towork directly with individuals and families to provide complex case management support. This work will include utilising a therapeutic approach to all work with parents, children and family systems, and may include a component of group-work sessions. The individual will be responsible for delivery of services including community outreach, engagement programs, and to ensure early intervention and accessibility of family support to most vulnerable children and families is achieved.
Apart from direct service delivery the role will also be responsible for providing senior casework consultancy to Family Services team members as well as direct supervision and support to nominated Child and Family Workers. The incumbent will also be required to undertake other leadership tasks or portfolios as assigned by the Team Leader Family Services.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal Relationships:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Executive Team
  • Child and Family Services Team
  • All staff
External Relationships:
  • Child Protection (DHHS) and Community Based Child Protection workers
  • Alliance partner agencies
  • Partners in project work, eg Groupwork
  • Professional networks

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Manage an allocated Family Services caseload to effectively support children and families.
  • Participate in program assessments, develop care plans with clearly articulated goals which are needs led and are in partnership with families and other key stakeholders.
  • Participate in regular case review processes and complete closures in line with CPS standards.
  • Provide best practice case consultation, support and regular supervision tonominated Family Workers.
  • Ensure service standards, program administration procedures, and client information systems are maintained both for own cases and nominated supervisees in accordance with CPS requirements including well documented client case notes, assessments etc.
  • Engage in appropriate networking opportunities and build partnerships to develop effective collaborations with other organisations in order to offer best practice services to children and families.
  • Lead and Participate in other projects or portfolios as agreed to with the Team Leader e.g. staff training and induction, attendance at Alliance Panel meetings, develop new program proposals etc
  • Take up higher duties or act as Team Leader during periods of absence as needed
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • Adherence to all CPS policies and procedures as outlined in individual work plan performance management and review documents
  • Active and regular participation in supervision as per CPS Supervision Policy

CAPABILITY PROFILE –Key Selection Criteria
Formal Education / Required
  • Relevant tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, child and family social welfare or related discipline.

Skills and Experience /
  • Demonstrated experience, expertise and commitment to working in the child and family services welfare sector.
  • Demonstrated skills and ability to conduct comprehensive casework risk and needs assessments with clearly articulatedrecommendations
  • Demonstrated personal value set that is aligned with CPS’ organisational values and a commitment to personal professional development
  • Skills and experience in providing high level case consultation and supervision to staff
  • Demonstrated understanding and capability for working with diversity of clients and staff.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply organisational practice models, procedures, risk management protocols, and relevant legislation when working with clients
  • Demonstrated robustness, resilience and level of maturity that supports flexibility as well as independent practice
  • Demonstrated capability to network and build productive relationships with others both inside and outside organisational boundaries
  • Demonstrated capacity to lead andsupportchange, innovationas well as contribute to quality improvements at anorganisational / operational level.
  • Demonstrates responsibility for work outputs and supports other team members to achieved desired results.
  • Highly developed written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Other criteria
  • A good understanding of or willingness to learn about Aboriginal culture, values and protocols and a demonstrated capacity to work in a culturally informed and respectful manner.

COMPETENCY DEFINITION
Teamwork / Maintains enthusiasm and understands own role in achieving organisational mission. Shares information and contributes to team discussions. / Essential
Leadership / Creates and/or embraces a vision for the future. Works to model and fulfill vision for self and/or others. / Essential
Build and Maintain Relationships / Utilises own community networks and collaborates internally and externally to achieve client outcomes / Essential
Compliance and Governance / Ensures compliance with the organisation’s work practices. Ensures safety of self and others in the work environment. Ensures that own work meets the organizations quality requirements. / Essential
Communication / Establishes open communication channels. Able to express own ideas and opinions in an appropriate manner. Receptive to others’ communications. / Essential
Reflective Practice / Applies organisational practice models procedures and relevant legislation when working with clients. Maintains awareness of client needs. Demonstrates sensitivity and respect for diversity and differences in clients / Essential
Results Orientation / Takes responsibility and accountability for achieving required actions or outcomes. Clarifies roles, responsibilities and objectives and is committed to achieving positive outcomes. / Essential
Change and Responsiveness / Maintains a positive approach to change and adapts to new or different ways of working. Takes advantage of opportunities for learning and developing new skills. / Essential
Innovation / Comes up with new and imaginative ideas. Looks at things from different perspectives and recognizes novel alternatives or solutions. Identifies fresh approaches and is willing to break away from tradition. / Desirable
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
  • All CPS staff and volunteers are required to adhere to the values of CPS and act at all times in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
  • Terms and conditions of employment shall be laid down in a Contract of Employment to be entered into by CPS and the employee.
  • Under Victoria WorkCover legislation, it is the applicant’s duty to advise the CPS of any pre-existing medical conditions, which could be aggravated by the type of employment for which they are applying. Failure to do so seriously jeopardises any entitlement the employee might have for a work-related aggravation of that non-disclosed pre-existing condition.
  • The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory pre-employment checks, including 2 professional referees, completion of a pre-existing injury/disease declaration, Working with Children Check, National Police Check, International Police Check and proof of identity and qualifications.
  • The successful applicant should possess and continue to hold a full Victorian Driver’s Licence, a photocopy of which is held on file at CPS. The agency requires that staff use agency vehicles for work-related activities whenever possible. However, if you are authorised to use your own vehicle for work-related purposes, mileage will be paid in accordance with CPS policies. The agency will not accept liability for any damage incurred to staff vehicles whilst being used for work-related activities.
  • CPS is a smoke free workplace.
  • Salary will be in accordance with the Social, Community Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, Level 7 (commensurate with experience). Superannuation and the opportunity for remuneration packaging in line with CPS’s Remuneration Packaging Policy will be offered.
  • In accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009, either party can terminate employment within the initial 6 month period of employment by providing one week’s notice. The position is ongoing position subject to funding. CPS provides flexible working hours in accordance with its policies and operational requirements. CPS does not pay any overtime and your supervisor must pre-approve any Time in Lieu (TIL).
  • All other terms and conditions of employment will be in accordance with the Social, Community Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, Level 6 (commensurate with experience) and CPS policies and procedures. CPS policies and procedures do not form part of the contract of employment and may be amended from time to time to meet organisational requirements.

Approved:Date:
Aileen Ashford
Chief Executive Officer

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