Community Connector Practitioner

• Work locally in the Bayside Area and make a difference within our Community
• Enjoy flexible work options and a great team culture
• Full-time, fixed-term opportunity, 38 hours per week
• Level 5 SCHADS Award + Generous Salary Packaging + Super

Family Life is a recognised Employer of Choice. Work with us and be part of our supportive, people-focused culture

We are seeking an experienced Practitioner, preferably from within the Family Services and Community Sector, to join us as our Community Connector Practitioner.

The Community Connector Practitioner is a full-time, fixed-term role for 12 months. The role is based primarily at Family Life’s Sandringham and Frankston locations with a strong emphasis on working with other Family Preservation and Reunification Response (FPRR) providers in the Bayside/Peninsula region on Bunurong Land.

The Community Connector role will form part of the FPRR, providing support to families as they prepare to exit the program. Working alongside the family and care team to build connections to community and local support networks. The Community Connector Practitioner will work in a hands-on way to facilitate linkages and referrals to a wide range of activities and programs. The successful candidate will have strong relationships with FPRR Lead Practitioners, DFFH Navigators and care teams, supporting families to identify goals and work toward achieving these. They will develop a strong knowledge of the services available across the catchment and work to establish referral pathways for the client group.

The key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage a full caseload of families working with FPRR funded agencies across the Bayside Peninsula area, using trauma and evidence informed approaches to practice.
• Utilise evidence-informed tools to formulate strengths and needs assessments, safety plans, and community connection plans, approaching support from a strengths-based, attachment focused lens.
• Utilise systems and feminist theory to promote empowerment, independence and sustainable change.
• Deliver practical, targeted support to families consistent with their community connection plan, goals and recommendations from the care team.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the FPRR Lead Practitioners from funded agencies, ensuring collaborative and complimentary support to families.
• Participate in the identification and transition of families into the program as well as relevant meetings, care teams and reviews.
• Work alongside the Brief Support Team in building, updating and maintaining professional and support networks.
• Work flexible hours, which includes work outside of 9:00am-5:00pm and some occasional weekend work, determined by the needs of the family and service availability.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the FPR module based framework.
• Work as part of the broader Families and Community Team, sharing skills and resources with colleagues to promote a culture of learning, reflection and professional connection.
• Engage in regular supervision and critical reflection with the Team Leader and Reflective Practice with the Practice and Program Development Advisors.
• Carry a specialist portfolio such as group work to promote interventions designed to strengthen family capacity and provide psychoeducation, and reduce family violence in the community.

Growth Mindset –  You pride yourself for your commitment to resilience and continuous improvement. You see growth opportunities as opposed to failures, and you are always on the lookout for an improved workflow or process. You think creatively, value input and feedback from peers, and adapt to changing or unforeseen circumstances.

Curiosity – You naturally seek out learning opportunities and further information without being prompted to by your manager.  You clarify the ‘Why’ and like to investigate and explore further information.

Proactivity – You are a positive influence on your colleagues, you opt-in to support organisational projects, and always lend a hand to support others.  

The successful candidate will be motivated to make a change in the lives of vulnerable families, drawing on their knowledge of trauma informed practice. Approaching support from a strengths-based perspective, the key skills utilised in this position include rapport building, risk assessment and safety planning, always ensuring that the needs of the child are considered in their approach to support.

The Community Connector Practitioner will be required to work flexibly, with hours that are aligned with the needs of the client, which will include outside normal business hours and occasional weekend work. Additionally, whilst primarily based from Family Life’s Sandringham and Frankston locations, this role will involve working across partner agencies to deliver support to families engaged in the response.

We are seeking someone with experience in managing a complex caseload, with excellent time management and prioritisation skills. This role is funded to build on positive outcomes for families who have been linked to the FPR Response. The Community Connector Practitioner must come with an innovative and passionate approach to delivering positive client outcomes and a collaborative approach to working as part of the broader system.

At Family Life, we believe every child deserves to thrive in a safe and healthy family environment. Family Life is a specialist family services provider that has worked with children, families and communities for more than 50 years.  Our vision is to work with clients and partners to create capable communities, strong families and thriving children.

We are known for our innovation and whole-of-community collective impact approach. Our teams are committed to transforming the lives of our clients and communities to build resilience and healthy relationships. We are proudly purpose-driven, independent and not for profit. We support our community through our specialist family services, community strengthening programs, a network of op shops, a vibrant engaged volunteer community and passionate skilled staff.

It’s the feeling of knowing that your work is contributing to making the community in which you live a better place and working with others who feel the same way.
Additionally, you will have access to:

• Flexible work options and a great team culture
• Salary packaging (receive up to an extra $18,000 in tax-free pay per year)
• 3 days Paid Wellbeing Leave per year (pro rata)
• Gifted Leave for End of Year closedown
• Paid Study Leave
• Additional Purchased Annual Leave
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service for employees

A full position description please click here.

Please submit your confidential application including a CV and cover letter addressing the key selection criteria via our Application Portal.

For further information regarding the position please contact Bec D (Team Leader, Family Services) on (03) 8599 5***.

Applications close:  1st July 2024

*We will be reviewing applications as they are received, therefore this role may close sooner if we find the right candidate. Please apply now to ensure you do not miss out!

All offers of employment are subject to the Family Life Safety Screening process, including a Working with Children Check and Police Records Check.  Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with Family Life.

Family Life values diversity and welcomes applicants who meet the position criteria, irrespective of race and ethnicity, colour, age, gender, gender identity, disability, religion and sexual orientation.

Family Life is a child safe organisation.  We value, respect and listen to children and young people. We are committed to the safety of all children and young people. Family Life supports children to meet their potential and thrive. We do not tolerate neglect, mistreatment or abuse of any kind.