Organisational Values

A goal of the Njernda Aboriginal Corporation is to be a leader in the care and protection of children and young people and in working with families and communities to build capacity, resilience and independence.

Case Managers will embrace Njernda’s vision for empowering our Aboriginal community and the organisations values:

• Professional Integrity – We treat all our people with dignity and respect.
• Quality – We always strive to do our best and improve the way we do things.
• Responsibility – We commit to the actions we take to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
• Client Focus – We work toward improving the health and wellbeing of our clients and community.

Key Responsibilities

a. Casework

• Convene and lead a care team for each family, including planning and leading family and care team meetings.
• Undertake assertive outreach and employ active engagement strategies to support young parents to sustain their participation with the program over the four-year service period.
• Undertake comprehensive risk and needs assessments of all family members, including infants, children and young parents, using the Best Interests Case Practice framework and other relevant assessment tools, as prescribed by the program.
• Conduct ongoing risk assessments, identifying potential for harm and protective factors, and where appropriate, implement risk management strategies.
• Lead the development of flexible, individually tailored child and family action plans, in partnership with the family and care team, and involve young parents in goal setting and decision-making processes.
• Coordinate the implementation of agreed actions and monitor progress against the plan.
• Actively support young parents to connect (or reconnect) with family, Community, land and culture.
• Provide intensive support to families at important developmental milestones and life transitions and during periods of crisis.
• Actively implement strategies to prevent premature closure.
• Make appropriate referrals and facilitate the family’s access to, and engagement with, relevant universal, targeted and specialist services.
• Plan and directly deliver services to all family members (including fathers), as identified in the child and family action plan, including in-home and community-based activities, individual and group activities as well as social and cultural activities.
• Teach and guide young parents to build skills and confidence in antenatal care, child development, parenting, routines, boundary setting, attachment, relationships, home safety, financial literacy, household management, problem solving and independent living. Use a range of methods such as coaching, role modelling, mentoring, observation, feedback and self-reflection techniques.
• Provide information, advice, advocacy and support to empower young parents to independently access and use community services.
• Participate in the duty intake system.
• Where required, consult with child protection and report any concerns that may place the young parent or (unborn) child at unacceptable risk.

 
b. Partnerships and collaboration

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, sharing individual skills and knowledge.
• Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with infants, children, parents (including fathers), extended family and the Community.
• Build strong relationships with universal, secondary and tertiary child and family services, including local, state and federal government departments, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, community health services and community service organisations.
• Work in close collaboration with child protection, placement services, Child FIRST and program partners, Melbourne City mission and Queen Elizabeth Centre.
• Support Cradle to Kinder programs in other locations in their capacity to deliver culturally competent services to Aboriginal families.

 
c. Professional development

• Participate in orientation and induction, formal supervision, reflective practice, annual performance appraisals and professional development activities, in accordance with Njernda Corporation’s supervision framework and related policies.
• Participate in external clinical supervision, as required.
• Maintain a good working knowledge of resources and services available to vulnerable children and their families.

 
d. Quality assurance

• Provide services in accordance with the departmental standards, program requirements for family and early parenting services in Victoria, Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder practice guide and program framework.
• Actively encourage feedback from children and their families.
• Participate in model development, review and service improvement activities for the Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program.
• Manage client information, data, expenditure, incident reports, client records and files, in accordance with legislation and Njernda Corporation policies.

 
e. General

• Participate in organisational and team meetings.
• Adhere to Njernda Corporation’s Code of Conduct, Occupational Health and Safety and all relevant policies.
• Fulfil other duties, as required, commensurate with the capacity, qualifications and experience associated with the position and classification level.

Key Selection Criteria

Skills, knowledge and attributes

The successful applicant will possess:

• Demonstrated experience in Case Management of Aboriginal families
• a sound understanding of Aboriginal culture, values, protocols, inter-generational factors and complex kinship systems, as well as the issues facing vulnerable Aboriginal families that may impact on their capacity to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their children, and a demonstrated capacity to work in a culturally competent, sensitive and respectful manner
• ability to support and mentor staff in case related work
• A clear understanding of child and adolescent development, trauma, attachment, child abuse and neglect, with good knowledge of the services and interventions that:
  • promote child health, safety and wellbeing
  • strengthen parenting capacity
  • improve family functioning
  • address underlying risk factors for vulnerable families
• A proven ability to work successfully with Aboriginal children, young people and their families with a range of complex and diverse needs
• An excellent understanding of the principles of casework practice, with a demonstrated capacity to:
  • actively engage with families that may be unwilling to receive services
  • build confidence, motivate and sustain change and influence positive outcomes
  • undertake quality assessments and coordinate planning processes
  • work effectively and flexibly as a member of a team
  • proactively set priorities and manage timelines
• undertake quality case recording, data reporting and file management
• High level interpersonal and communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to:
• provide information and feedback to Aboriginal children and families in ways that are constructive, respectful of Aboriginal styles of learning and sensitive to the needs of individuals with learning difficulties
• effectively advocate on behalf of families
• a demonstrated commitment to establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with families, colleagues, government departments, sector partners and the Aboriginal Community.

 
Highly desirable

• Experience in working with adolescent parents (including fathers), young people in out-of-home care and/or young people with a learning difficulty or disability will be highly regarded.
• Experience in using the Family Outcomes Star and/or NCAST Parent-Child Interaction Teaching Scale will be equally well regarded.

 
In addition it is expected that the incumbent will:

• Seek opportunities for personal and professional development which will add to Berrimbas’ overall capabilities.
• Undertake travel as required.

 
Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in Case Management
• Diploma of Community Services

Other relevant information

Conditions of employment

• This is an ongoing, full time position comprising 37.5 hours per week. In order to perform the duties of this position effectively you may be required to work additional hours or vary your working times, on any day of the week, as appropriate and necessary from time to time. There is no paid over time, however, time in lieu arrangements will be negotiated as required.
• The position is currently based at 94 Hare Street, subject to change, based on strategic and operational needs of the organisation and program.
• Terms and conditions of employment will be included in an Employment Contract.
• The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory pre-employment checks, including providing at least three (3) professional referees, completion of a medical declaration, Police Records Check, Working with Children Check, Victorian Driver’s License, and proof of identify and qualifications.
• The successful applicant must have and continue to hold a full Victorian Driver’s License.
• The successful applicant will be required to disclosure any pre-existing injury/injuries and/or medical condition/s, which could be aggravated by the type of employment they are applying for. The existence of an injury/injuries and/or medical condition/s will not preclude the applicant from employment, unless they are unable to perform the inherent requirements of the position. However, failure to disclose any relevant information may affect a claim for Worker’s Compensation.
• Njernda Aboriginal Corporation has a smoke-free workplace policy.

All applications close: 25th Oct 2019