Address
Form of work
SalaryEmployer: Bonnie Support Services Ltd
Work Type/s: Permanent 35 hours per week and participate in the on-call roster
Classification/s: Women's Organisations & Services, Family Services, Social Work
Sector/s: Not for Profit (NFP)
Location: South-west Sydney
Job posted on: 30 January 2024
Applications close 12 February 2024
- Full time (35 hours per week) plus on call
- Location: Based in South-West Sydney
- Remuneration: SCHCADS Award, Level 4, year dependent upon qualifications and experience.Some above award conditions and salary packaging available.
About the Organisation
Bonnie Support Services Ltd (BSSL) was established in 1974 and supports women and children who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or are affected by Domestic or Family Violence. We have strong links with the local Aboriginal community and services and have a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in place. Our Board and staff team include strong Aboriginal and CALD women. Cultural safety is a high priority for the organisation.
BSSL services are based on a feminist model aimed at assisting women to safety and to maintain and sustain their tenancy in a violence-free environment. BSSL's aim is to be a leading provider of support services in Sydney's South-West to “at risk” women and their children.
BSSL operates its services on Darug land and has a history of working closely with local Aboriginal and CALD communities to provide holistic and cross-cultural, client centred support.
Training and professional development opportunities are available to all staff.
Family Worker (Domestic Violence)
Bonnie Support Services is a Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) and provides support and accommodation services to women and their accompanying children, who are experiencing domestic/family violence.
We currently have a position available for female, domestic violence specialists to provide case management and support services.
The successful applicants will have an extensive knowledge of the gendered nature of domestic violence.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The role of the Family Worker is to provide case management services directly to women and their children who access the service. Family Workers work within a person-centred framework and facilitate access to information and support over an agreed period of time.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- To provide direct case management and co-ordinated care and support for women and children
- In consultation with eligible clients undertake holistic assessments to determine individual needs for access to relevant health and community supports.
- Based on the outcome of assessments, develop, implement, monitor and regularly review appropriate and relevant individual care plans.
- Ensure that individuals are valued and respected and that care initiatives aim to promote independence and client self-determination.
- Organise and participate in case conferences and interagency meetings in a collaborative and consultative manner.
- Participate in the on-call service on a rostered basis
- Link women to services, supports and networks within the community
- Support women, once housed, into sustainable longer-term tenancy through linkages with appropriate community agencies and supports.
- In collaboration with the Program Manager, Child and Youth Workers and other Family Workers and relevant service providers, support and monitor appropriate and responsive support services.
- Promote BSSL and advocate for service options for the target group, in the wider community, through sound working relationships with service provider networks.
- Assist with administrative functions, including maintenance of client database and funding reporting requirements.
- Participate in the professional support and development of the service and maintain your own professional knowledge and skills.
- In conjunction with other team members, be responsible for ongoing development and evaluation of program practice, ensuring continuous quality improvement and compliance with the relevant standards.
- Maintain a safe work practice in accordance with Workplace Health and Safety legislation and BSSL.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Family Worker will report to the Program Manager. Other positions reporting to the Program Manager are the:
- Community Workers
- Tenancy Officers
- Child and Youth Workers
- DVRE Workers
- Specialist Children’s Workers
PERSON SPECIFICATION
These are the essential qualities and skills the incumbent should possess. They are not the essential criteria for the position but an overview of the functional requirements of the position. Please note that this position is part of a team of Family Workers, Child and Youth Workers, DVRE Workers, Tenancy Officers and Community Workers. The team is focussed on safety, support, rapid rehousing and sustaining tenancy post homelessness.
General
Family Workers will come to the position with different levels of knowledge and skills.
(a) Community Resources
General knowledge of the local service system and more generally government and non-government services that are relevant to the target group. These would include legal, housing, health, education, police, children’s, child protection, counselling, immigration, family support and Centrelink.
(b) Cross-cultural and Indigenous issues
It is important to have a strong understanding of the issues that impact on minority groups in the community and how that can disadvantage individuals. Cross-cultural understanding is essential for the role.
(c) Domestic Violence
Knowledge of the impact that domestic violence has on women and children is essential. This includes physical, sexual, emotional, financial and social abuse. A commitment to strengths-based trauma-informed practice which is woman-centred and child focused, as that promotes informed choice and self-determination, is fundamental.
(d) Mental Health
An understanding of mental health and illness and the connection between emotional instability and abuse is desirable.
(e) Drug and Alcohol issues
Some knowledge of the effects of drugs and an understanding of the connection between violence and abuse and the use of drugs and/or alcohol is desirable.
(f) Issues of homelessness
Knowledge and understanding of the issues of homelessness and the connection between domestic violence and abuse with homelessness is desirable.
(g) Needs of children
It is desirable that Family Workers have some knowledge of the needs of children so they can work together with the child support staff to ensure the safety, security and appropriate support for the mother and child/ren.
(h) Child Protection
As BSSL is a mandatory reporter of child abuse and neglect it is essential that all staff have knowledge of risk factors and indicators of child abuse and neglect which includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Being a female is a genuine requirement as specified under section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)
Selection criteria:
Essential
- Commitment to feminist philosophy.
- Relevant qualifications and experience in the area of domestic violence.
- Demonstrated understanding of trauma and how this impacts mental health & well-being, addictions, cycles of homelessness & poverty.
- Demonstrated understanding and experience of trauma on child development, attachment and the mother-child relationship.
- Ability to identify and assess significant risk of harm and enact mandatory reporting responsibilities.
- Competency in Aboriginal and cultural diversity.
- Ability to work collaboratively with client co-case management with other agencies.
- Willingness and ability to participate in the on-call roster, involving rostered Saturday work (approximately one Saturday in 8 weeks) for face-to-face and telephone crisis response to domestic violence.
- Ability to work effectively in a team.
- Computer literacy in MS Word and MS Office products.
- Current Driver’s Licence
Desirable
- Skills and understanding of how to facilitate group work and community education and other capacity-building workshops and programs for woman and for children.
(See attached for full Position Description)
To apply for the position please send a covering letter and a response to the selection criteria; with your resume and any other relevant material that demonstrates your suitability for the role.
A Working with Children Check and a National Police check are requirements of the role.
Enquiries: Please call 9729 0939 or email: ************@bssl.org.au
