Carer Assessment

Join to apply for the Carer Assessment & Placement Manager role at CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning.

Lead our Carer Assessment & Placement team, driving safe, stable and permanent homes for vulnerable children and young people.

• Lead our Carer Assessments & Placements (CAP) Team, overseeing carer recruitment, assessments, authorisations, training, and placement matching to ensure processes meet legislative and best practice standards.
• Review and approve documentation, manage referrals, and make placement decisions prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Provide leadership and supervision to CAP Team (Foster Carer Recruitment Consultant, Intake Worker and Carer Assessments & Placements Co-Ordinators) ensuring compliance with legislation, policy and best practice standards in Rel/Kin&FC authorisations.
• Oversee day-to-day CAP Team operations, including tasking, documenting, placement referrals and placement matching within service provision guidelines and timeframes.
• 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 while supporting a positive experience for prospective and authorised carers.
• Contribute to the leadership, culture and professionalism of CatholicCare Social Services in the Hunter-Manning region.

• Receive an attractive salary with salary packaging available
• Paid parental leave for eligible employees
• 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

• A commitment to work within the Mission, Vision and Values of CatholicCare
• Working knowledge of legislation, policies and standards relevant to child protection, statutory out-of-home-care, PSP and child safe organisations
• Lead and manage the CAP Team with effective supervision to deliver accountable outcomes respectful of children, young people, families and carers
• Task and supervise CAP Team to deliver transparent, accountable and compliant Rel/Kin&FC Authorisations
• Ensure team and client recording and reporting compliance through review, auditing and feedback mechanisms
• Provide authoritative practice through ongoing professional development and collaboration with key partners including OoSG, the DCJ and the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian
• Engage in continuous learning to keep practice knowledge current, ethical and evidence-based
• As a member of the management team, contribute to operational and policy issues and change management strategies
• Demonstrated flexibility to work hours to meet the needs of children, young people, their families and carers
• Ability to demonstrate and work within the key accountabilities of this position

• Tertiary qualifications (or working toward) in Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Welfare, or related discipline with commitment to ongoing professional development
• NSW Driver Licence
• Registered Assessor, ACWA Step by Step 2016, or willingness to obtain
• National Criminal History 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
• NSW Office of the Children's Guardian Residential Care Workers Register check (as required)
• Diploma of Leadership and Management or willingness to obtain (Desirable)

Please provide a current copy of your Resume and a Cover Letter addressing two criterion points:

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

For further information regarding this position, please contact: Lauren Fisher - lauren.fisher@catholiccare.org.au

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and preventing abuse or neglect. It implements NSW Child Safe Standards and National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of children or vulnerable persons. Employees must comply with the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy and Code of Conduct, and undergo a National Police Check and a valid NSW Working with Children Check where necessary.

All who work in the name of the Diocese must comply with the Safeguarding policies.