Specialist Placement Support Worker

Specialist Placement Support Worker – Redcliffe 

• Employment Term: Permanent Full-Time 
• Location:  Redcliffe and greater Moreton Bay Region
• Remuneration: $93,865 + 11% Super + NFP Salary Packaging 

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare Community

An integral part of our Intensive Foster and Kinship Care program, as a Specialist Placement Support Worker you’ll be encouraged to grow, develop and feel empowered to make the everyday easier for the people we care so passionately about. 

Let’s make a meaningful difference together. 

Your part in our UnitingCare Community team

We are currently seeking an experienced Specialist Placement Worker to join our Intensive Foster and Kinship Care program based in Redcliffe.

This is a rewarding and challenging role where you will have a significant opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children, young people, carers and families who reside across Redcliffe and the Moreton Bay Region.

The purpose of the position is to perform the necessary casework and team functions required across UnitingCare’s Foster and Kinship Care services; in line with the organisation’s practice frameworks, policies and each service’s contract/s with the funding body.

The primary function of the role will involve delivering therapeutic support and case management to Foster and Kinship Carers and the children and young people in their care who may have complex trauma and behavioural needs. 

In addition, this role will also focus on completion of Foster and Kinship Care assessments, assisting with the targeted recruitment and training of new and existing Carer households to meet the growing need for children and young people requiring family-based placements and also assist with the intake/referrals and matching of children to carer households. 

• Demonstrated experience in child protection and delivering Foster and Kinship Care services to children and families.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in assessing the complex needs of children and providing Carer supervision and delivering therapeutic support and intervention strategies to Carers and children.
• Demonstrated experience in comprehensive assessment writing and case management.
• Demonstrated experience working with children and young people who receive NDIS funding as well as children with complex trauma and behavioural and medical needs.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain positive relationships with other service providers, government departments and community agencies to facilitate positive client outcomes and positively represent the service and organisation
• Demonstrated knowledge of computing concepts and ability to use Microsoft software including Word, Excel and database applications.
• Commitment to working within the beliefs, mission and values of UnitingCare and adhering to policies and organisational requirements and processes.
• Participate in the after-hours on-call roster to provide carer support 24/7.
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field (e.g. Social Work, Psychology or Social Science).
• Current drivers licence and willingness to travel within Redcliffe and the Moreton Bay region.
• A current Blue Card or willingness to make an application for one.
• A current First Aid/CPR certificate or willingness to obtain one.
• Must also be willing to undergo a personal history check under the provision of the Child Protection Act 1999 in relation to Licensing of Care Services.
• Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training is desirable.
• Training and qualifications in therapeutic interventions are desirable. 

At UnitingCare we are committed to supporting people with disabilities and their families to work toward their future life goals. Right across Queensland, we support thousands of people living with a disability to imagine and build personally meaningful lives.

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum
• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs
• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others
• Eligible employees are entitled to 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme
• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events
• Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference 

We’d love you to be part of our UnitingCare family

Our Family and Child Services team are passionate about their work with parents to ensure children remain safe in the home and parents have the skills, resilience and capability to effectively parent and meet their children’s developmental, educational, health and well-being needs. We also provide targeted services to men who are seeking to change their behaviour.

Child safe, Child friendly

UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will: 

• provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children 
• implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services
• appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur

Diversity & Inclusion 

Our approach is simple –everybody is welcome here.  At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.  

Safe workplace 

We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.