Domestic and Family Violence Caseworker

• Permanent Part time (21 hours per week)
• Bankstown office location
• Community Legal Centre incorporating domestic and family violence services
• Salary range: SCHCADS L5 + super and leave loading
• Flexible work conditions by negotiation, salary packaging to increase take home pay, 5 weeks’ annual leave plus leave loading, additional leave at Christmas

About Justice Support Centre

Justice Support Centre is a not-for-profit community legal centre.

Our legal services include information, advice and legal representation for people in South West Sydney whose access to justice is denied or constrained and includes specialised legal services for victim-survivors of DFV.

Our DFV services include court support and advocacy, safety planning, case management, and financial counselling.

Both the legal and DFV teams offer tailored training and workshops to community members and community organisations.

We give our clients the guidance, legal advice, support services and strength they need to claim their rights, know their options, and choose their next steps.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced caseworker for the Staying Home Leaving Violence Service throughout SWS local government area of Canterbury/Bankstown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Strathfield and Inner West (if required by Service Manager, Liverpool, Fairfield and Bankstown LGA’s). You will be part of a team delivering a best practice, specialist, trauma-informed model of service delivery to women affected by domestic and family violence (DFV) and committed to empowering women and children to break the cycle of DFV.

Our caseworkers collaborate with colleagues to provide an effective and streamlined service to adult and child victims of domestic and family violence with support to recover from abuse. The SHLV team provides practical and emotional support to women who are affected by domestic and family violence, including those who are still living in an abusive relationship. Child clients are considered as clients in their own right and direct services are provided to children. Services to children are negotiated and agreed on by the parent client of the service.

The successful applicant will have strong interpersonal and organizational skills, demonstrated understanding of the dynamics, complexities and legal and social welfare consequences of domestic violence and experience supporting people impacted by domestic abuse. Responsibilities include face to face consultation, home visits and facilitation of client group work.

Applicants must have a commitment to empowering women and children affected by DFV, an understanding or willingness to learn the principles of a trauma-informed approach to service delivery, have demonstrated ability to engage effectively with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and have demonstrated ability to engage effectively with clients in crisis. Proficiency in a language other than English is desirable.

This position is open to female applicants only. Justice Support Centre considers being a woman to be a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s. 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

Principle Duties

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

• identifying key case management needs, providing comprehensive intake, support needs assessment, risk and safety assessments for each client (mothers and children). Developing case management plans that support client needs
• providing high level expert advice, information and appropriate referrals to women and their children as required
• participating in the development and delivery of community education to enhance the skills, knowledge, competencies and performance of those who work in the domestic and family violence sector and otherrelevant support agencies
• liaising with the DFV Casework Services Manager (the Manager) and case management team to ensure that child clients identified as at risk of harm or as having safety concerns, are identified and supported/managed appropriately
• liaising with the Manager to identify and provide resources that may be useful to case management staff for ongoing professional development
• providing high level expert advice and assistance to the Manager to develop and implement strategies aimed at making our case management services relevant, accessible and responsive to the needs of children impacted by domestic and family violence
• liaising with the Manager to develop good working relationships and referral networks with local services that respond to the needs of women and children impacted by domestic and family violence
• liaising with the Manager to promote our case management services
• in consultation with the Manager, identifying suitable partnerships with external stakeholders. Participating in and contributing to effective community awareness raising/ education initiatives and activities as directed by the Manager
• adhering to our policies and procedures when undertaking the work, in particular those relating to client confidentiality and privacy, referrals to and from the teams, client and worker safety, staff professionalism, child protection notifications and follow-up assistance
• collecting data and any other information, as directed by Manager
• undertaking all necessary training as negotiated with the Manager and program service agreement or required by our policies and procedures.

General Duties

• undertaking all your own word-processing as well as clerical and administrative duties for your role
• attending and actively participating in team and staff meetings
• cooperating with other members of staff in the provision of effective services in accordance with our aims and objectives
• adhering to and working within codes of practice relevant to your role and position in the community and community sector
• maintaining an up-to-date working knowledge of the law and practice and procedure relevant to the position
• maintaining a working familiarity with office equipment required within the position.

Accountability and Administration

• Case Management Workers report directly to the Manager
• Case Management Workers are accountable to the Manager for the efficient and effective delivery of services
• Case Management Workers will communicate key issues, innovations or solutions to the Manager.

Common team functions and responsibilities

• working collaboratively with other team members by sharing skills, resources, projects and ideas
• respecting and working within the codes of behaviour, policies and procedures of SHLV and BDVS and Justice Support Centre
• encouraging and maintaining an atmosphere of harmony in the workplace by promoting and observing ethical practices and professionalism
• Case Management Workers must achieve complex objectives through working together cooperatively. This involves sharing information, resources and supporting each other. The SHLV & BDVS Teams work closely together in running client groups and the development of skill sharing, this is done through being flexible in approach and customer focused.

Closing Date: Applications are open and will be reviewed progressively

Contact Person: Enquiries about the role should be emailed to Nicole Humphries, (Manager Domestic Family Violence Casework Services), nicole.humphries@jsc.org.au

The preferred applicants will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and a National Police Records Check.

How to apply for this position:

1. apply online with your cover letter, detailing how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria along with your resume
2. please address the essential and desirable criteria in full. Applications that do not address the essential criteria will not be considered.