The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTQI+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated. All jobs can be worked flexibly, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities. .

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)

POSITION SUMMARY

Are you?

• Committed to working with children, young people and families?
• Able to effectively engage to provide families with the optimum capacity for change?
• Continually improving your skills and knowledge to further develop your professional practice?

An exciting opportunity exists for a Senior Child Protection Practitioner CPP5.1 - Family Violence on an ongoing basis in Goulburn Child Protection Branch.

The Senior Child Protection Practitioner – Family Violence is responsible for supporting and developing Child Protection Practitioners in the integration of theory and practice whilst demonstrating their expertise through case practice and the supervision of child protection practitioners. The Senior Child Protection Practitioner – Family Violence will work collaboratively with the Team Manager to strengthen case practice, to provide effective service delivery and to support other practitioners to develop plans to bring about the changes necessary to ensure the safety, stability and development of children and young people and to promote the achievement of case plan objectives within specified timeframes. The position will also support child protection practitioners in the implementation of contemporary methods, systems and approaches to enhance the capacity of child protection teams to better respond to risk for children exposed to family violence. The Senior Child Protection Practitioner – Family Violence may have a portfolio lead with key family violence services and stakeholders to establish and maintain effective working relationships

As our ideal candidate, you will be required to demonstrate:

• Hold specialist knowledge and experience in working with families where family violence is prevalent, including the implementation of contemporary methods, systems and approaches to enhance the capacity of child protection teams to better respond to risk for children exposed to family.
• Provide leadership in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with key family violence services and stakeholders. This includes the Specialist Family Violence Workers that are part of the Child Protection Family Violence Partnership, embedded within the child protection program.
• May have supervisory responsibility for child protection practitioners and carry a caseload that is commensurate with other duties, with a focus on cases where family violence is present

Rural Incentives Program (Shepparton)

External applicants relocating to a regional area could be eligible for up to $20,500 worth of incentives.

Internal applicants relocating to a regional area could be eligible for up to $15,500 worth of incentives.

If you live and work in an area classified as ‘remote' by the Australian Tax Office, you may also be eligible for additional salary packaging arrangements, such as mortgage interest, rental costs, and residential utilities.

Mandatory

• A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes:

(a)   a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably

(b)   a practical component such as counselling or case work practice or

• A recognised Diploma of Community Services Work, or similar qualification which is studied over a minimum of two academic years of full-time study (or part time equivalent) and includes:

(b)    a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma

(c)    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

and

• A valid driver's licence.
• A current Working with Children Check (WWCC) card.

For more information on the accountabilities and key selection criteria and qualification requirements for the role please refer to the Position Description attached.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its workers and clients.  The department may require its employees to be fully vaccinated against preventable diseases such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19).  The department's COVID-19 Vaccination requirements policy (Word) outlines the requirements for existing employees, other workplace participants and prospective employees.  Subject to exceptions, only employees or other workplace participants with up-to-date vaccination status (see definitions section of the policy) against COVID-19 and who provide evidence of their Vaccination Status are permitted to work for the department outside their ordinary place of residence.  For this role, you are required to submit proof of vaccination prior to commencement.  Please refer to the above link for more information. 

HOW TO APPLY

All VPS employees (and ex-VPS employees with extended access to the Jobs and Skills Exchange website) MUST apply via the Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) <https://jse.vic.gov.au/user/login?destination=/new-home-page> portal.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria. 

Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including a national police check and misconduct screening.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process. 

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)

Click 'Apply Now' to submit your interest in this position.