OOHC Carer Assessor

Join our wonderful team and make a difference in the life of children and young people. 

About us 

Creating Links is a leading medium sized boutique NFP organisation that delivers a diverse range of services in the areas of children & family, disability, financial counselling, fostering and youth across the Greater Sydney area. At Creating Links, we aim to develop resilient, productive and inclusive communities and families.

We are an evolving, forward-thinking organisation that values a socially and culturally diverse community and ability to create opportunities to provide services and programs to our community.

Benefits of working at Creating Links:  

• We have a diverse and inclusive culture, and you work with a passionate team.
• Salary Packaging Benefits - You can package up to $15,900 pa of you pre-tax salary to pay for everyday expenses and benefit from a $2,650 meals and entertainment card before income tax is calculated, increasing your take home pay.
• Work/Life Balance - Flexible work arrangements, hybrid home/office work arrangements.  
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development – internal and external training and development opportunities

About the Position

The OOHC Carer Assessor is responsible for the recruitment and support of all para-professional foster carers, general foster, and kinship carers. The Carer Assessor will work with carers to empower and assist them to navigate the care system, develop and maintain skills, facilitate networking, liaison and negotiation with other carers and service providers, provide and implement services and resources, and identify systemic advocacy issues for carers.  

Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Ensure that the process beginning with responding to potential carer enquiries through to authorisation is efficient and effective. 
• Undertake comprehensive assessment of carers using the approved Carer Assessment Tool 
• Facilitate Shared Lives Training for carer applicants, either in one-on-one or group sessions 
• In consultation with other staff and target groups, develop, implement, and evaluate program activities that meet clients’ identified needs. 

Essential Criteria:  

• Relevant professional qualifications (for example Social Work, Psychology) 
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of working in Out-of-Home Care  
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and experience of working with families with complex needs. 
• Experience in working with children, families, and Carers from CALD backgrounds. 
• Experience in working with children, families, and Carers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.  
• A well-developed understanding of child protection, the relevant legislation and knowledge of research and theoretical frameworks for working with children and young people who have experienced trauma through abuse or neglect.  
• Demonstrated experience in networking and negotiation. 
• Experience of developing, coordinating, and implementing group and individual educational and support activities 
• Experience of report writing, using analytical skills. 
• NSW Working with children check. 
• Current NSW Drivers Licence  
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and some weekends. 
• Current Criminal History Check 
• Current NSW working with children’s check. 
• Current NSW driver’s license 
• Covid-19 Vaccination 

Desirable Criteria: 

• Certificate IV in Assessment and Training  
• Experience writing Carer Assessments, either Step-by-Step assessments, Winangay Carer Assessment or something similar 
• Experience in facilitating Shared Lives Training  
• Fluency in a second relevant community language as well as English. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Applicants must have the right to work in Australia and be able to provide a current National Police Clearance Check.