Position: Intake and Referral Officer

Position: Intake and Referral Officer

South Eastern Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SEWDVCAS)

Applications Closing: 5pm Wednesday 25th January, 2017

·  22 Hours per week

·  Permanent position

·  Based in Queanbeyan; other locations as required.

Contact Details:

Contact Name: Brit Culyer, Coordinator, SEWDVCAS

Contact Email:

Contact phone: (02) 6299 3835

Location: 274 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan NSW 2620

Application Process

Please mark applications ‘Private and Confidential’.

Written applications should state the position title and include:

-  An address of the selection criteria;

-  Your resume, detailing for example your employment history, including a brief statement of duties; education history;

-  Your current contact details;

-  Contact details for 2 professional referees (at least one current).

Applications should be received by 5pm Wednesday 25th January, 2017.

You may submit your application by either:

-  Email: or

-  Post: PO Box 1230 Queanbeyan, NSW 2620.

The Position Context, Position Summary, Selection Criteria and Other Information are included below.

Position Title: Intake and Referral Officer

Award: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (38 hour week)

Employer: Molonglo Support Services Ltd

Responsible to: Coordinator, South Eastern Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service

Hours of work: 22 hours per week

Position Context:

The South Eastern Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SEWDVCAS) provides advocacy, support and information for women and children who have experienced domestic violence and/or are obtaining an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order at Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Cooma and Yass Local Courts. The service includes proactively contacting women who are victims of domestic violence in the area covered by the above Courts and those referred to SEWDVCAS through the Central Referral Point (automatic referrals from NSW Police).

SEWDVCAS is expanding its service to become the Local Coordination Point (LCP) for the Hume and Monaro area as part of the new Safer Pathways roll out. The LCP will provide victims, if needed, with case coordination, risk review and referral to a Safety Action Meetings.

Position Summary:

The position of the Intake and Referral Officer is accountable to the Coordinator, SEWDVCAS and will work with a small specialist domestic violence advocacy team to provide clients with an effective and timely service based on human rights principles.

Key responsibilities include, for example: receiving automatic electronic referrals through the Central Referral Point, and voluntary referrals from other agencies and other services; proactively contacting and undertaking safety planning with clients and advocacy to address their immediate needs as required; assisting in the administration and coordination of the LCP.

This position requires the establishment and development of strong working relationships with:

·  Small staff of SEWDVCAS

·  Women in our local communities

·  Organisations, services and networks within the Queanbeyan/Goulburn/Cooma/Yass regions.

Position Description:

The position of the Intake and Referral Officer (IRO) is accountable to the Coordinator, SEWDVCAS.

The Intake and Referral Officer reports directly to the Coordinator, SEWDVCAS and assists in the overall administration and coordination of the Local Coordination Point responsibilities; and works in partnership with other SEWDVCAS workers, including the Safety Action Meeting Coordinator, to provide clients with an effective, streamlined service based on human rights principles.

Duties

The work includes, but is not limited to, the following duties:

·  Engaging effectively with clients in crisis and provide appropriate, informed support;

·  Accepting electronic referrals from the Central Referral Point as well as telephone and paper referrals from government agencies and non- government services;

·  Contacting clients referred to SEWDVCAS and the Local Coordination Point in a timely and appropriate manner to offer a service, such as information, support, court advocacy;

·  Conducting a threat assessment with clients (in LCP area) to ascertain current risk status;

·  Undertaking safety planning with clients to address their immediate safety needs;

·  Making warm referrals to a range of agencies and services to assist clients with their ongoing needs, such as counselling, legal advice and representation, accommodation;

·  Assisting the Safety Action Meeting Coordinator and SEWDVCAS to develop and administer policies, systems and processes for the effective operation of SEWDVCAS, including the Local Coordination Point and the Safety Action Meeting;

·  Complying with the Safety Action Meeting Practice Manual and the Domestic and Family Violence Information Sharing Protocol;

·  Liaising with victims in relation to safety action plans developed at Safety Action Meetings or with regards to support provided, or arranged, by the Local Coordination Point;

·  Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key SEWDVCAS partners such as NSW Police Force, Local Courts, legal representatives and referral agencies, in order to facilitate client access to those agencies and services;

·  Liaising with the Safety Action Meeting Coordinator regarding clients at serious threat to ensure these clients are placed on the agenda for the next Safety Action Meeting;

·  Fulfilling data entry and reporting requirements for the SEWDVCAP Database and the Central Referral Point in line with the SEWDVCAS Service Agreement, WDVCAP Principles, Polices and Standards and operational documents;

·  Under the direction of the SEWDVCAS Coordinator, undertake a variety of tasks in relation to the SWDVCAS.

Required knowledge and skills:

·  Completed post-secondary studies in social work, psychology, welfare, community social services, administration, communications or similar;

·  Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in the domestic violence sector and/or program coordination and management;

·  Established excellent communication and interpersonal skills particularly in negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution;

·  Demonstrated sound organisational, administrative, and program management skills;

·  Demonstrated understanding of the dynamics and complexities and legal and social/welfare consequences of domestic violence;

·  Ability to engage effectively with women and children experiencing domestic violence;

·  Has an understanding of the particular needs of and challenges faced by clients; and shows a capacity to engage effectively with clients from diverse communities, such as rural, ATSI and CALD clients;

·  Demonstrated understanding of the criminal justice response to domestic violence including Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) applications and criminal prosecutions and related matters such as family law, care and protection, migration and victim’s compensation issues;

·  Ability to implement service delivery strategies aimed at ensuring the relevance, accessibility and responsiveness services, particularly LCP services, to a diverse range of women and children;

·  Ability to deliver services in accordance with the SEWDVCAS Service Agreement, WDVCAP Principles, Polices and Standards and operational documents;

·  Knowledge of and ability to work effectively with interpreter services and other support services for victims with specific needs;

·  Commitment to and understanding of human rights and feminist principles;

·  NSW Driver’s Licence and own vehicle;

·  Ability to travel to all courts covered by South Eastern WDVCAS where required.

Essential Criteria:

·  Recognised (or working towards) Degree in Social, Human or Behavioural Sciences;

·  Demonstrated understanding of Domestic and Family Violence;

·  Well developed verbal, written and communication skills;

·  Strong administration, organisational and computer skills;

·  Own car and ability to travel as required.

Desirable:

·  Experience working in the Criminal Justice System;

·  Experience working within a small team.

This position requires the establishment and development of strong working relationships with:

·  Small team of staff at SEWDVCAS

·  Molonglo Support Services Ltd

·  Women in our local communities

·  Organisations, services and networks within the Queanbeyan/Cooma/Goulburn/Yass region.

Other Information:

Being a woman as a genuine qualification for this position under Section 31 of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Women from diverse cultures, with diverse abilities and practising diverse lifestyles, are encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant will be expected to perform the duties specified in the Statement of Duties in accordance with the following: WDVCAP Service Agreement (2015-2018) and Principles, Policies and Procedures (2015), and Safety Action Meeting Practice Manual; and the Molonglo Support Services Ltd Policies and Procedures.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant criminal record checks; and will be required to travel to Sydney in February 2017 for training (costs covered); and attend WDCAP forums in Sydney where required.

SEWDVCAS is auspiced by Molonglo Support Services Ltd and through the Womens Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program is funded by