AddressSocial Worker – Regional, Rural & Remote Team Opportunity
Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) provides high quality legal and social support services to women, specialising in the areas of family law, domestic violence, child protection, financial abuse legal protection and sexual assault through our counselling notes protect program. WLSQ is committed to the creation of a society in which every woman:
Is safe from violence;
Is able to tell her story, have it heard and respected; and
Receives a fair and just outcome from legal and social welfare systems.
The Social Work role will sit within the multidisciplinary Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Team providing legal and social support services to women in identified target communities. WLSQ is looking to expand our reach into regional, rural and remote regions of Queensland in recognition of the unique vulnerabilities women in these communities experience, the scarcity of services and the distance women must travel to access domestic and family violence services. The RRR Outreach Program is a pilot project and will include a solicitor, Social Worker, financial counsellor and community legal education officer who will work collaboratively to provide integrated and holistic services that address a range of legal, financial, welfare and safety needs for women impacted by domestic and family violence in RRR areas.
The RRR team will travel on a rotating basis to high-need RRR regions across Queensland to deliver legal and social support advice clinics. The RRR team will also deliver community education workshops for community service providers (including police and key referral agencies) to increase their knowledge and understanding of domestic and family violence and the support available to women. The team will be responsible for providing face to face and phone appointments in relation to legal and financial assistance, safety planning, practical welfare advice and case work management where appropriate.
The Social Work role will also sit within the social work team at WLSQ which provides a critical point of intervention for women who have accessed WLSQ and been identified as being at risk due to domestic and family violence and have consented to receiving social work support. The Social Worker will provide time limited psychological and practical support including risk assessment and safety planning, brief therapeutic intervention, referrals for support and advocacy. Social Work intervention is client-led and can either be a one-off discrete intervention or ongoing depending on the needs of the client.
About this role
Key Responsibilities:
(A) Providing specialist trauma informed services to WLSQ clients experiencing domestic violence through in person and telephone appointments at outreach clinics in RRR priority areas and in accordance with WLSQ policy and requirements:
- Providing a range of social work services to clients including at outreach clinics in RRR communities including; client intake, domestic violence risk assessment and safety planning, practical support with legal applications/ victims assist applications, facilitated referrals and individual needs assessments.
- Providing case management support for legal casework clients in collaboration with WLSQ solicitors, depending on client need.
- Providing support to WLSQ clients presenting in crisis or at immediate risk of domestic violence or suicide.
- Working collaboratively with legal and other non-legal staff to provide relevant support and assistance to clients.
- Maintaining professional case notes and statistical records for reporting purposes.
- Fostering a collaborative team culture for staff and volunteers which is professional, productive, supportive and consistent with the WLSQ values and feminist principles.
- Travel to RRR outreach locations will be required at a minimum of one week every month to provide legal advice and assistance at outreach clinics; Travel between our office at Annerley, Caboolture, Southport, Ipswich, Brisbane CBD may also be required.
- Work outside office hours, including weekends will be required from time to time.
- Any other reasonable tasks as requested the the Practice Director – Social Work.
(B)Development and delivery of community education for employees, volunteers and external stakeholders including in RRR priority communities:
- Developing and maintaining stakeholder engagement with key agencies who work with priority access groups, including developing referral pathways and delivering appropriate community legal education.
- Contributing to law reform and legal system reform activities of WLSQ as required.
SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES:
1.High level social work skills including DFV risk assessment and safety planning, counselling, case management and advocacy skills; as well as demonstrated knowledge and practice experience in the areas of domestic and family violence, sexual assault and trauma informed practice.
2.Experience in drafting domestic violence protection order applications and high-level written skills in report writing and maintaining data records.
3.Knowledge of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (QLD) and other relevant acts, is desirable.
4.Ability to communicate effectively and work sensitively with clients from diverse backgrounds including vulnerable clients:
- Who may have experienced domestic violence and/or trauma;
- With a disability;
- From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and/or
- From Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
5.Well-developed relationship management and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to engage with a range of audiences and stakeholders internal and external to WLSQ with the ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment.
6.High level of knowledge and experience in establishing and maintaining relationships with referral agencies and formal community partners.
7.Ability to provide community legal education activities where relevant to community agencies and other stakeholders.
8.Ability to work under pressure, to set work priorities and to meet competing and tight deadlines.
9.Demonstrated a commitment to working for a community organisation within a feminist framework in a manner consistent with the mission, purpose and values of WLSQ.
10.It is a genuine occupational requirement for this position that the incumbent be a woman (section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld)).
Mandatory Requirements:
- This role requires the incumbent to have a clear National Police Check.
- This role requires the incumbent to hold a current Open Queensland Driver’s Licence.
- This role requires the incumbent to be a member or be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
In addition to having a meaningful and rewarding career, you will receive:
An attractive remuneration package from $93,860 to $98,108 plus super.
Generous leave entitlements with additional paid leave over Christmas and New Year.
Attractive salary sacrifices options.
APPLY NOW!
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this position.
To apply for this position, click on 'apply' and upload a copy of your cover letter and CV.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
