Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care Case Manager (Identified)
BDAC is an ACCO (Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation) registered as a member under the umbrella of VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) and represented nationally through NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation).
BDAC was founded to represent and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on Djaara Country.
BDAC has a responsibility to ensure growth of services, development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, better and improved health outcomes for our people, improved quality of life and be a lead agency in providing self-determination employment and career pathways for Aboriginal people.
What We Are Offering
* Full time
* Fixed term 12 months
* Access to Salary Packaging
* 12% Superannuation
* Supportive work environment
* Ongoing training and development opportunities
About the Position
Reporting to the team leader and supported by senior staff, working within the ACAC Wartaka program (a Dja Dja Wurrung name meaning "Come with purpose") Case Managers will lead investigations and make assessments if a child is in need of protection.
If the child is found to need protection the Case Manager will work directly with children, families and community to ensure the child's safety and wellbeing.
Where this is unable to be achieved voluntarily, it may include initiating legal proceedings and all work associated with making protection applications.
Case managers work in a statutory environment where they must exercise legal delegations and functions pursuant to the Children, Youth and Families Act (Vic).
The Act under Section 18 provides the legislative mandate for the ACAC programs to protect children and young people using best interest and decision-making principles.
This mandate involves receiving reports, conducting investigations, intervening if it is assessed that a child needs care and protection, taking matters before the Children's Court, supervising children on child protection orders, determining case plans (including stability plans, cultural plans and therapeutic treatment plans) for the safety and wellbeing of children, and delivering case practice and case management services for children and young people who are either living with family or in out of home care.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide quality, timely and effective case practice and case management services including risk assessment, working from a strengths based approach.
* Work with children, families, carers and community to implement the actions determined through planning to facilitate the changes necessary to improve the safety, stability and development of children.
* Lead investigations into reports of harm received by child protection about Aboriginal children and young people, this will include interviews with children and families and documentation of investigation.
* Conduct outreach visits to family homes and manage conflicts as they arise.
* Make assessment and recommendations if the child or young person needs protection.
* Engage families on a voluntary basis, working with children, families, and community to ensure the child's safety and wellbeing, working from a strengths approach.
* Provide case management, including ongoing assessment and leading a care team.
* Refer children and or families to appropriate services, work with services to ensure that referrals are responded to in a way that acknowledges the needs.
* Complete written records and reports using the Client Relationship Information System and keep files in line with program requirements.
* Actively participate in teamwork in a manner that ensures a coordinated approach to service delivery.
* Lead and attend meetings to support the work with families and advocate for children and families as required.
* Ensure work applies and adheres to legislation, policies and BDAC frameworks.
* Reflect on practice and articulate assessment outcome with their supervisor.
* Travel to meet with families and for training, some overnight and interstate travel may be required.
* Make applications, prepare documentation, give evidence, and make recommendations to the Children's Court on decisions and actions in the best interests of the child.
About You
* Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal history, Culture and the ACCHO environment.
* Understanding of the Children's, Youth and Families Act.
* Skill to engage Aboriginal families through a relational approach, maintaining professional boundaries.
* Knowledge of child and adolescent development and strategies for working with vulnerable children, young people, and their families.
* Experience or detailed understanding of completing investigations, interview strategies and documenting evidence.
* Strong reasoning skills, ability to make assessments and communicate rationale for assessments.
* Understanding of self‑care and resilience when working with children and families in crisis and who have experienced trauma.
* Strong computer skills, ability to use a range of software and IT-based reporting systems.
Mandatory Education
* A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably a practical component such as counselling or case work practice.
* A recognised Diploma of Community Services Work, or similar qualification studied over a minimum of two academic years of full time study (or part time equivalent) and includes a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma, supervised fieldwork placements (ideally completed within the child and family welfare sector) and at least one unit of study in case management, case work practice or counselling.
How to Apply
If this role sounds like the role for you then click on the link below and apply by attaching your CV and a cover letter detailing how you suit the role by Wednesday 31st of January.
Mandatory Requirements
Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (Police check, reference check and Working with Children's Check) will be completed prior to the candidate's employment being confirmed.
Please note :
This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act.
Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.
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