Child & Family Practitioner. Full-time - Mackay

• Monthly RDO
• Tool of trade vehicle available for personal use & fuel card
• Up to $15,900 annual salary sacrifice
• $2600 annual meal & entertainment card 
• Work for one of Australia's largest social purpose organisations

About the Organisation

Please note: To be considered for and appointed to a position at Life Without Barriers, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or hold a valid medical exemption certificate.  You will be required to provide evidence of your vaccination status during the recruitment process.

Every day, Life Without Barriers provides support and care to children and young people, as we work collaboratively with families, carers, and communities, to ensure they have the environment they deserve to grow. With a focus on ensuring safety and respect, this is an opportunity to make a positive and meaningful difference in these young lives and help pave a brighter future.

Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose organisation of 8,000 employees working in more than 500 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people, and people with mental illness. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers. Join a community of people dedicated to breaking down barriers.

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply.

About the Role

The purpose of the Child and Family Practitioner position is to provide a high level of skilled support and supervision to the placement of children and young people in a family-based care arrangement.

The chosen candidate will collaborate with foster families, children, government agencies, and stakeholders to create and execute personalised care plans. The goal is to consistently meet the ‘standards of care’ set by the QLD government, prioritising the safety and well-being of children and young people.

This position is being offered as permanent, full-time and can be based at our office in Mackay. Hours are 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with the option of working from home 1 day per week.  A Tool of Trade vehicle (including fuel card) will also be allocated to the successful candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake child focused casework practice (case planning and assessment) in partnership with the relevant government agency, children and their families, carers, and other stakeholders.
• Provide ongoing support and supervision to Foster Carers in relation to their caring for children and young people in their home.
• Provide support and supervision to Carers by telephone as well as through home visits.
• Support and supervise Foster Carers in the case planning process and assist them to implement the strategies outlined in the case plan.
• Provide supervision and support to youth workers.
• Ensure the necessary risk assessments, cultural support plans, safety plans and behavioural support plans are developed and implemented.
• Ensure all necessary documentation and information such as carer renewals, foster care agreements, file notes and other records are kept up to date, including inputting information into the CIRTS database.

Skills and Experience

• A Bachelor Degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology or another related field.
• Significant experience in the child protection and out of home care sector
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals, families and communities from a strength-based, culturally appropriate perspective that are part of the out of home care sector
• Demonstrated experience in identifying an individual’s strengths and areas for improvement within the context of providing foster and/or host care with an emphasis on permanency for children in care.
• Current Drivers Licence.

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check (where relevant to the role).

Benefits

• Monthly RDO.
• An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful applicant, including a mobile phone, laptop and Tool of Trade Vehicle with fuel card.
• Salary packaging tax benefits, meal entertainment benefit, novated leasing and more.
• Growing organisation with great career opportunities.
• Study Leave is available for students who are currently studying.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support employees, carers and their immediate family members in navigating life's many challenges.
• On going training including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training, CARE training, and many other trauma informed learning and development opportunities.

How to Apply

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts. For any enquiries including persons with disability that require adjustments, contact Joelene at recruitment@lwb.org.au with the subject heading ‘CFP Mackay’.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as applications are continuously reviewed prior to the closing date; and as such the closing date is subject to change without notice. Current application closing date is midnight Tuesday 19th March 2024. 

We are dedicated to playing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and bring continuity of care and support to our clients. If you are successful, we will discuss with you an alternative to a face to face interview.

Life Without Barriers supports the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. We believe people with disability need to be heard and for these experiences to influence how support services like ours are delivered. View our statement (https://bit.ly/2GzZGWA)