Family Services Specialist Disability Practitioner

FAMILY SERVICES SPECIALIST DISABILITY PRACTITIONER

• Full time (1.0 FTE)
• Fixed term to 27 June 2025

The Family Services team provides a range of support services for families including outreach support, referral to appropriate services, group work, and educational programs to parents and carers and the broader community. It comprises a large Family Services Team alongside smaller complementary programs. Family Services staff help families to identify goals which will assist families and children to reach their potential. Many of the families referred to the Family Services team have had, or are involved with the statutory system, which mean managing risk, advocating for children, and navigating the service system are all important functions of the team.

Bendigo Community Health Services has cared for the health and wellbeing of the Bendigo community for 50 years. We employ more than 280 people across a broad range of services. 

The success of BCHS starts with our staff, who have a high level of professionalism and dedication, allowing us to deliver quality services for the community, with a particular focus on vulnerable people. 

Added benefits of working with BCHS include:

• Salary packaging
• Purchasing leave 
• Study assistance
• Training programs 
• Novated leasing      

Families who are vulnerable and where there are disabilities may require considerable support from services to access and participate effectively in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).  The complexity of accessing and navigating the scheme can leave vulnerable families at risk of exclusion from the scheme or unable to optimise the funded disability supports they are entitled to receive. 

The Family Services Specialist Disability Practitioner role will assist vulnerable children and parents with disabilities to access disability supports and participate effectively in the NDIS.  The role is also designed to build both disability and NDIS expertise across the Family Services system. 

A key focus is to address challenges many vulnerable families face in accessing disability support needs, particularly those available through the NDIS. The role has the responsibilities of supporting families with NDIS access and participation, and assisting families to navigate systems of disability support, including the NDIS, disability advocates, disability service providers and mainstream services.  The role will also provide disability-related case consultations to the broader Family Services system within the Loddon Campaspe North Central Victorian area, with the aim of supporting practitioners working in Family Services to maximise disability supports and improve outcomes available through the NDIS for families where there is a disability. 

Key Selection Criteria

Essential:

1. A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Early Childhood Specialist and/or related behavioural sciences at degree level or associate diploma level with substantial experience in the relevant service stream.
2. Demonstrated experience and a strong knowledge of the NDIS and the disability sector, specifically regarding NDIS planning, advocacy and an understanding of the range of services that support children, young people and parents who have disabilities. 
3. A strong understanding of issues facing families where there is disability and demonstrated experience working with families who have children with a disability, including skills in engagement and holistic assessment of needs and action planning. 
4. Demonstrated awareness and commitment to working within the Best Interest Principles outlined in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, including demonstrated resilience to work with and support clients who have been exposed to trauma, violence or neglect.
5. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders to reach the best outcomes for children, young people and families.
6. Demonstrated computer skills in Microsoft Office packages and other statistical databases. 
7. Excellent written and verbal communication, time management and organisational skills.
8. Demonstrated understanding of diversity, inclusiveness and health equity as a human rights issue and how such issues might present in these teams.
9. Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, learning and innovation.
10. Maintain a positive team culture which embraces innovation and learning.

Probity requirements

• A current Driver’s Licence
• A Police Check (paid for by BCHS)
• Current Working with Children Check or willingness to obtain

For further information about the position contact Megan Staley on 5406 1200.

To view the full position description please go to https://www.bchs.com.au/careers/current-jobs

Applications addressing the Key Selection Criteria should be emailed to ***********@bchs.com.au by 10pm Sunday 30 June 2024.

Bendigo Community Health Services encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities.

Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt. Applicants are requested to contact Human Resources on telephone 5406 1312 if an automatic acknowledgement has not been received.