Snr Child Protection Worker Community/Snr Community Child Protection Worker

The Department of Communities brings together the services and functions of disability services, Child Protection and family support, housing, community initiatives and regional services reform.

Communities is a nationally recognised Accredited Carer Friendly Employer through the Carers + Employers program. The program defines best practice standards by creating a carer friendly workplace, enabling staff to balance work and care, while continuing to contribute to the wellbeing of individuals, families and the community.

The Opportunities

The Senior Community Child Protection Worker works with Aboriginal children, families and communities to ensure the safety of children in Aboriginal families and their communities in accordance with the principles of inclusiveness, engagement, capacity building and collaboration.

Working within the areas of Child Protection, children in care and family support and will responsible for:

• Undertakes community and casework activities of a complex nature.
• Provides advice and expertise to District staff on child safety and protection issues and family and domestic violence.
• Assists and encourages District staff and others to develop community and family capacity to provide safe environments for children and other vulnerable people.
• Develops and maintains a high degree of knowledge and skills in providing services and supports to families and communities to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children and other vulnerable members of the community.
• Provides community education and information that promote child safety within family community and residential settings.
• Applies the provisions of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 and other relevant legislation to ensure the safety and protection of children.
• Investigates serious concerns about the welfare and safety of children and takes action appropriate to the situation.

The Senior Child Protection Worker Community works with Aboriginal children, families and communities using a comprehensive framework to ensure the safety of children in Aboriginal families and their communities. You will provide responses across a continuum of child safety, ranging from developing the community’s capacity to safeguard the wellbeing of its children, to providing support to families, and taking action when children have experienced substantial harm or are at risk of substantial harm.

Working within the areas of Child Protection, children in care and family support and will responsible for:

• Responding to concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children in accordance with provisions of the Children and Community Services Act 2004.
• Providing advice and expertise to District staff on the child safety and protection issues in a community context.
• Engaging and working alongside families to strengthen their capacity to provide care and safety for their children.
• Developing and providing community education and information that promotes child safety within family community and residential settings.
• Investigating serious concerns about the welfare and safety of children and takes action appropriate to the situation.

As a frontline Child Protection related role, this position is eligible for the Regional Attraction and Retention Incentive (RARI) Scheme. If you are appointed from this recruitment process during the effective RARI timeframe, you may be eligible for payments in addition to existing employment entitlements. For further information on RARI, we encourage you to take a look here.

Please only consider applying for this vacancy if you are interested in roles in the Goldfields District.

Deep in the heart of Western Australia, the raw beauty of the Northern Goldfields is where an outback adventure is waiting to be discovered. Against the backdrop of abandoned ghost towns and shimmering salt lakes you will find warm welcoming communities, wide open spaces, fresh air and opportunities for endless exploration. Home to a number of remote Aboriginal communities, the Northern Goldfields and Ngaanyatjarra Lands is rich in culture and history.

Working in the Goldfields The Department of Communities in the Goldfields covers over 740,000 sq. kilometres - stretching from the pristine white beaches of Esperance, in the south, to the natural beauty of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in our north. This expansive region is home to outback adventures waiting to be discovered, stunning landscapes, rich cultures and best of all welcoming and supportive communities.

Change your lifestyle, grow your career and make a real impact in the Goldfields!

Remote Location Benefits:

• Attraction and Retention Incentive – up to $38,398 per annum (paid fortnightly).
• Remote Location Allowance - $4,000 per annum (paid fortnightly).
• District Allowance – up to $9,582 per annum (paid fortnightly).
• Remote Location Leave - 4 weeks additional remote location leave per completed year of continuous service, to be taken at the completion of your tenure at the community.
• Free fully furnished GROH accommodation and utilities.
• Approved travel to Yulara NT every 3 weeks to shop for supplies, attend personal appointments and undertake required fleet vehicle maintenance with services.
• Annual Free Pass to the Coast and up to an additional 4 days leave.
• One week in Kalgoorlie every 8 weeks to undertake supervision, professional development and district connection. Accommodation, meals and travel time provided.

Goldfields District Benefits:.

Working in the Goldfields Region attracts great benefits (subject to eligibility) including:

• 5% Annual Leave Loading
• Generous Personal Leave Entitlements (15 Days per annum)
• 4 weeks annual leave per annum
• Salary Packaging Remote Benefits
• Cultural Leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Employees
• 11% superannuation, full employer contribution
• Free access to a confidential employee assistance program for you and your family, which includes psychology and counselling services

Information about general benefits for working at Communities can be found on our Careers website.

The attached Job Description Form (JDF) provides more information about the position. For further information we encourage you to contact Narelle Davey, District Director on (08) 6215 12***or via email *************@communities.wa.gov.au.

Suitable applicants will be placed in a pool from which appointments will be made for this or similar future vacancies (fixed term or permanent) that arise within the next 12 months across the Goldfields Region of the Department of Communities. 

Which Position Do I Apply For?

Under our Child Protection Workforce Model, priority will be given to qualified applicants in the first instance to maintain a qualified workforce. Should a qualified applicant not be identified then this selection process will be used to fill the vacancy.

If you have a Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology or relevant human services area, please apply for the Senior Child Protection Worker - Remote position. Refer to our website for information about the qualification requirements.

If you do not hold an approved qualification, please apply for the Senior Child Protection Worker Community position.

Eligibility Requirements

You must be an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident or hold an appropriate Australian work visa to apply for a role through the register. Migration information for international applicants can be found on the Migration WA website.

Join the Department of Communities

Apply online by clicking the ‘Apply for Job’ button (above and below) and provide the following documents in Word or PDF format only:

1. A current resume/CV.
2. A cover letter expressing why you are interested in a remote position and what attributes you can bring to the role
3. A two [2] page written application addressing the following criteria:

• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the area of Child Protection and approaches to enhance child safety and wellbeing.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and family structures,
• Sound assessment and analytical skills in working with vulnerable children and families.

1. A copy of your degree certificate and academic transcript (plus unit descriptors and/or overseas qualification assessment if applicable).
2. A copy of all qualification/s (regardless of the relevance to the role) as specified in your application or resume/CV (if applicable).
3. An application form (for hard copy applications only).

Applicants who are short listed will be assessed on all the Work Related Requirements (Selection Criteria) during the selection process.

For technical difficulties while applying online, general recruitment enquiries, or to request any document in an alternative format, please contact Kim Cleasby, HR Consultant via email *************@communties.wa.gov.au.

We can also be contacted via the National Relay Service on the following numbers:

TTY/voice calls - 133 677

Speak & Listen - 1300 555 727

SMS relay - 0423 677 ***

Integrity and Honesty

The public sector is built on a strong foundation of integrity where employees act ethically, and public sector bodies promote and maintain integrity. 

In line with Communities policies, applicants may be asked for consent to undergo criminal record screening and integrity checks during the application process. For more information on these requirements, click here. 

Equity and Diversity

The Department of Communities embraces diversity and firmly believes that the best services come from a workplace, where varied viewpoints are welcomed and encouraged every day. We are committed to creating an equitable and diverse workforce, where we encourage applications from people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women and youth.

If you have any access needs that may require adjustments to allow you to fully participate in the application and interview process, or alternative methods of communication, please contact Kim Cleasby. If you are an Aboriginal person who would like assistance with your application, please contact Jobs and Skills WA on 13 64 64.

Lodgement is system generated. Any emailed applications or late submissions on or after 4:00pm will not be accepted.