Safeguarding And Individual Advocacy Officer

About this role

• Utilise your disability advocacy expertise to provide support and advice to the Office of the Public Advocate branch
• Fixed-Term (until the 31/12/2025), Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 4: $92,332 - $104,762 plus superannuation.

About Us:The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory office accountable to the Victorian Parliament which has been established to protect the rights and enhance the position of people with disabilities in Victoria.The Advice and Response Program is a key OPA program and currently comprises the Intake and Triage, Advice and Education, Investigations, and the Medical Treatment Decisions teams. The Individual Advocacy team is a new team in the Advice and Response program.About the Role:The Safeguarding and Individual Advocacy Officer reports to the Coordinator, Safeguarding and Individual Advocacy. The team also includes an Administrative Officer. The Safeguarding and Individual Advocacy Officer will assist in carrying out the Public Advocate's safeguarding functions in response to residential notices served on people with disability under the Disability Act 2006 or the Residential Tenancies Act 1977. This includes screening and triaging notifications received, providing Individual Advocacy, making referrals, and providing information and education to protect the rights of people with disability.Some of your duties will include:

• Maintaining records of residential notices provided to the Public Advocate under the Disability Act 2006 and the Residential Tenancies Act 1977.
• In consultation with the Coordinator, Safeguarding and Individual Advocacy, providing Individual Advocacy on behalf of people with disability who have received a residential notice in a manner that promotes their human rights and dignity
• Liaising with and assisting the Safeguarding, Inclusion and Volunteer Programs in relation to Individual Advocacy concerning vulnerable persons with disability in precarious or inappropriate residential settings.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.About You:As an ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Content knowledge has knowledge and understanding of –

• The life and experience of people with disability, in particular cognitive disability
• The various settings in which people with disability may live or move between, the systems through which people with disability may receive services and support and the applicable regulatory models
• Positive behaviour support and other strategies to reduce risk, the use of restrictive practices and/or to promote the positive outcomes for people with disability
• Sector knowledge and experience – applies specialist content knowledge to propose outcomes for individuals with disability that promote their rights. Can demonstrate excellent advocacy skills through experience.
• Written communication – able to write a range of documents which are clear, provide concise and relevant information, and meet the needs of the target audience.

Qualifications:

• A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable but not essential. Relevant qualifications would be in law, policy, advocacy, human rights, disability services or social work.

How to Apply:Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Applicants are required to address the Technical Expertise Criteria as part of the application. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.
• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.