Carer Assessment

CatholicCare's Permanency Support Program (PSP) works to achieve safety and permanency for vulnerable children and young people within two years, either through reunification with parents or alternative legal pathways such as Guardianship, Open Adoption, or long-term care with authorised carers.

We are seeking a skilled and confident Carer Assessment & Placement Manager to lead our Carer Assessments & Placements (CAP) Team. This pivotal role oversees carer recruitment, assessments, authorisations, training, and placement matching, ensuring all processes meet legislative and best practice standards. You will review and approve documentation, manage referrals, and make placement decisions that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Success in this role requires more than technical expertise. You will need excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships while holding firm in challenging situations. Many carers come with complex needs, and you will balance empathy with clear communication and strong decision-making to ensure children remain at the centre of every outcome.

As part of the CatholicCare leadership group, you will collaborate closely with the NSW Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ), partner agencies, and community stakeholders. In return, you'll be supported with flexible work options, salary packaging, and professional development within a values-driven organisation that makes a tangible difference in the lives of children, young people, and carers.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

CatholicCare's Permanency Support Program (PSP) focuses on achieving safety and permanency for vulnerable children and young people within a two-year (2) timeframe, by promoting reunification with their parents, or by supporting an alternative legal pathway i.e., Guardianship, Open Adoption, or by providing long-term care with authorised carers. CatholicCare's Manager Carer Assessments & Placements Team (CAP) will lead and influence processes, practices and procedures associated with general and targeted carer recruitment, carer applications, assessments, authorisations and training.

They will provide leadership and supervision to the CAP Team; Foster Carer Recruitment Consultant, Intake Worker and Carer Assessments & Placements Co-Ordinators, ensuring compliance with legislation, policy and best practice standards in Relative, Kinship and Foster Carer (Rel/Kin&FC) authorisations.

They will oversee the day-to-day operations of the CAP Team, including tasking, reviewing and approving documentation, placement referrals and placement matching all within service provision guidelines and timeframes.

They will liaise with the NSW Department of Communities & Justice, (DCJ) and other stakeholders, partners and agencies to promote safety and permanency for children and young people, whilst promoting a positive experience for prospective and authorised carers.

The Manager CAP, contributes to the overall leadership, culture and professionalism of CatholicCare Social Services in the Hunter-Manning

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US

• Receive an attractive salary with salary packaging available
• Paid parental leave for eligible employees;
• Fantastic ongoing training & development, coaching & mentoring and career progression opportunities;
• A great friendly environment of dedicated and passionate co-workers;
• Discounted gym membership, Fitness Passport; and more.
• Onsite Parking

EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA

• A commitment to work within the Mission, Vision and Values of CatholicCare.
• A working knowledge of the legislation, policies and standards relevant to child protection, statutory out-of-home-care, the PSP and child safe organisations.
• Lead and manage the CAP Team through effective individual and group supervision to deliver accountable and collaborative outcomes that respects the culture and context of children, young people, their family and carer/s.
• Task and supervise the CAP Team to deliver transparent, accountable and compliant Rel/Kin&FC Authorisations.
• Ensure team and client recording and reporting compliance through effective review, auditing and feedback mechanisms.
• Provide authoritative practice through ongoing professional development and collaboration across CatholicCare and with key partners i.e., The Office of Safeguarding, (OoSG) the DCJ and the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian, (OCG).
• Participate and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and professional development to ensure practice knowledge and skills are contemporary, ethical and evidence-based.
• As a member of the management team, contribute to operational and policy issues and change management strategies which support CatholicCare's goals and objectives.
• A demonstrated commitment to work flexible hours to meet the needs of children, young people, their family and carer/s.
• Ability to demonstrate and work within the key accountabilities and inherent requirement of this position in Section 12.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Tertiary qualifications, (or working toward a qualification) in Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Welfare, or related discipline with demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development
• NSW Driver Licence
• Registered Assessor, ACWA Step by Step 2016, or a willingness to obtain
• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014.
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.
• This role is subject to a NSW Office of the Children\'s Guardian Residential Care Workers Register check.
• Diploma of Leadership and Management or willingness to obtain (Desirable).

To Apply

Please provide a current copy of your Resume and a Cover Letter which addresses the two criterion points below:

• Describe your experience leading carer recruitment, assessments, and placement matching, ensuring compliance with legislative and best practice standards.
• Provide an example of how you have balanced empathy with firm decision-making when working with carers who present complex needs

Additional information: The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and preventing those in our care from suffering abuse or neglect. It is committed to implementing and maintaining compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of children or vulnerable persons. All who work in the name of the Diocese must comply with the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy and act in accordance with the Diocese's Code of Conduct which includes the Diocese's Safeguarding Commitment Statement. Employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and retain a valid NSW Working with Children Check where necessary, in accordance with legislation.