Family Contact and Support Worker

ABOUT SSI

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands and waters and we welcome the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal people of Australia. We value relationships with our local Aboriginal community and appreciate applications from its members.

SSI is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. We work with people with a refugee and asylum-seeking background, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, people with disability, youth and children and more to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.

SSI draws on its expertise and experience to advocate for the people and communities it serves. Through the work we do, we empower people to change their lives. Through our advocacy and representation, we influence ideas and policy.

ABOUT THE MULTICUL TURAL CHILD AND FAMILY SUPPORT (MCFS) PROGRAM

The Multicultural Child and Family Support (MCFS) Program provides a range of services to assist children and young people who have been found to be in need of care and protection to meet their permanent care plan needs – safety, stability and wellbeing through a culturally aware and responsive lens.

The MCFS Program uses a client centred, strengths-based, trauma informed framework to guide its service delivery and facilitate sustainable and practical outcomes for children, young people, families and carers; working in partnership with member agencies and local ethnic and sector partners. Its cultural lens aims to link children and young people with a bilingual worker and/or carer and/or community based matched bilingual support worker.

The MCFS Program has contractual responsibilities with FACS and regulatory responsibilities with the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG).

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

You will provide transport to children in OOHC and supervise contacts between children and their birth families as scheduled and as directed by Court Order. You will then be required to write a report regarding the contact’s progress.

Responsibilities:

• Provide transport to children and young people in OOHC for contacts or for appointments
• Prepare a brief report on the visit and submit this to the SSI Caseworker within one week (SSI will provide a format for this report.)
• Liaise with young person’s Caseworker to ensure high quality service delivery
• Alert Caseworker and Casework Manager regarding any significant issues, and problem solve with them where relevant
• Sign a confidentiality statement relating to the specific issues involved in the Multicultural Foster Care Program, including the understanding that they must not reveal to anyone the address or location or nature of the foster family they visit.
• Provide first aid if required.

ABOUT YOU

This is a fantastic entry level position for people who are looking to start a career in Community Services or Child Protection. We are looking for individuals who are studying or have completed a Bachelor of Social Work or have life experience working with children in care and foster parents, to join our growing team!

You must have a Certificate II in Community Services or equivalent Life Experience and First Aid Certificate. You are required to have a current unrestricted driver’s licence (own care with comprehensive insurance would be an advantage) and the ability to work well both in a team and autonomously. Strong communication, negotiation and dispute resolution skills are also required for this role.

Please respond to the “ABOUT YOU” section in your cover letter

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer the opportunity to engage in meaningful work that makes a real difference to the lives of our clients, their families, carers, and communities.

We have a fantastic benefits package that promotes work/life balance; something we are very passionate about! This includes generous salary packaging options so you can increase your take home pay!

SSI is passionate about social justice and diversity and is committed to being an EEO employer. We embrace diversity in our workforce and encourage applications from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including those from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island heritage and people with lived experience of disability.

We strongly believe in protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable communities and take child protection very seriously. All employees will undergo a National Police Clearance and a Working with Children Check as a condition of employment.

SSI will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. If you require a reasonable adjustment please email

SSI will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.

If you require a reasonable adjustment please email or contact the talent team on 8799 6700.

Applications close date: 2nd June 2020