Foster Care Case Worker

Base/Location:Family Services Unit, Echuca
Reports To:Program Manager ACAC & Kinship
Hours:Full-time (37.5 hours week)
Award:SCHCDS Level 2- 3
Position Scope:
Our foster care program provides a stable home environment for children and young people aged between 0 and 18 years. Children enter foster care for many reasons and can stay with our carers for as short as one night or several years.

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

To be actively involved in matching children with caregiver families, taking into consideration the best interests of the child and capabilities of the caregiver family.
To liaise between the service user family, caregiver family and the referring worker providing consultation, advice, support, supervision, direction and management regarding the child’s placement to maintain a quality service.
To provide case management and support to children in Out of Home Care Foster Care placements.
To maintain accurate and up to date file notes and provide other reports in relation to placements where necessary; for example, Court Reports, Post Placement Reports and Best Interest Plans.
To provide a high level of supervision and support to carers.
To perform other duties as required.
To participate in an afterhours on call roster as required and additional evening work as required.

Program Duties

To provide children with family-based placements that will support their development and meet their needs in a safe and secure environment.
To ensure the provision of a high-quality service to children, young people and their families/significant others.
To ensure that the placement goals established with the child (where appropriate), the child’s family, the caregiver family, and the case manager are achieved.
To ensure a high level of quality service and support is offered to foster carers.
To ensure that practice procedures, as documented in program Referral Guidelines, Practice and Policy Manuals, including Department of Health and Human Services Minimum Out of Home Care Standards are followed.
To be familiar with DHHS Out of Home Care, Child Protection and to comply with the relevant legislation (Children, Youth and Family Act 2005).

Key Selection Criteria

Minimum Diploma of Community Service or other relevant qualifications for child protection is mandatory
Demonstrated case work experience in Foster Care, Family Services or within the community services sector including assessment intervention strategies.
Demonstrated understanding of the Department of Health and Human Services with a emphasis on the Child Protection function and the ability to develop strong working relationships within the protective services field.
Demonstrated ability to devise, utilise and implement a range of casework and assessment intervention strategies.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a range of people, including clients, caregivers and professional staff.
Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, manage competing demands and respond/support a client and carer in a crisis situation.

Other relevant information

The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory pre-employment checks, including providing at least two professional referees, completion of a medical declaration, Police Records Check, Working With Children Check, Victorian Driver’s License, and proof of identify and qualifications.
Commitment to equal opportunity and occupational health and safety principles and practices are required.
You will need to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury you know about which could be affected by the described work duties. Under section 82 (7) of the Accident Compensation Act, failure to disclose such a pre-existing illness or injury will mean that, if employed, you will not be paid compensation for that condition.

All applications close: 7th Feb 2020

To be eligible for an interview applicant MUST address the Key Selection Criteria and include a recent resume.

Written applications should include a covering letter. Please include the names and telephone contacts of at least two referees.

Address your application marked: “Private & Confidential”

To:		HR Manager
		Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
		84 Hare Street,
		(PO Box 201)
		Echuca Vic 3564

Email:		jobs@njernda.com.au

Please check the closing date to ensure your application is received within the specified time. Applications may be posted, emailed, hand delivered or faxed (provided that a hard copy is posted on the same day).

Applications may be posted, emailed, hand delivered or faxed (provided that a hard copy is posted on the same day).