Therapeutic Residential Care – Senior Practitioner

At Brophy Family & Youth Services, we believe every child and young person deserves a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where their strengths are recognised and their potential is celebrated. We're seeking a Therapeutic Residential Care - Senior Practitioner to coordinate shifts, provide hands-on therapeutic care, and ensure the home feels safe, structured, and welcoming. We currently have multiple part-time 0.8EFT positions available.

You'll be a consistent carer and positive role model for the young people in your care. You'll create a home where they feel valued, support them to stay connected to education, family, and community, and help them to build resilience, trust, and healthy relationships. You'll walk alongside our care team, encouraging consistent, trauma-informed practice that focuses on opportunities and possibilities. This is deeply rewarding work where you'll be supported with ongoing training in trauma-informed care, regular supervision, and the backing of a values-driven organisation that believes in the potential of every child.

We know this role also requires resilience; there will be times when you're called to respond calmly and professionally to behaviours that reflect the impact of trauma, such as aggression or emotional dysregulation. A full overview of responsibilities, safety considerations, and OVA risks will be provided during the interview process. You'll be joining a skilled and supportive team that values collaboration, reflective practice, and seeing the strengths in every child and young person.

If you're ready to bring your empathy, energy, and belief in young people's potential, we'd love to hear from you.

• Passion for supporting children and young people to reach their full potential.
• Resilience, patience, and the ability to respond to behaviours including aggression and emotional dysregulation.
• A genuine interest and demonstrated empathy for children & young people in care, with an open minded and non-judgemental manner and the ability to bring a flexible, passionate & innovative approach to your work.
• Ability to work within a therapeutic team, embracing reflection, supervision, and ongoing professional development.
• Demonstrated understanding of Therapeutic Residential Care and the complex needs of the children and young people who access the service.
• Commitment to child safety, equity, cultural safety, and wellbeing.
• Physical capability to respond to crisis situations.

• A minimum qualification of a Certificate IV in Child Youth and Family Intervention, Diploma of Community Services or Bachelor of Social Work or other similar/relevant tertiary qualification. Qualifications must be approved by recognised professional bodies (e.g., AASW, Community Services Council, APS, etc.).
• Completion of, or willingness to complete, the following mandatory units of competency:
• CHCMHS007 – Work effectively in trauma informed care
• CHCPRT009 – Provide primary residential care
• CHCCCS009 – Facilitate responsible behaviour
• CHCPRT010 – Work with children and young people with complex trauma and attachment issues and needs
• A Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI 7) certification or willingness to upgrade to TCI 7 if a lower-level TCI certification is currently held. Where TCI 7 (or lower level) certification is not held, evidence of successful completion of Risk Assessment and De-escalation Training and willingness to undertake internal TCI training within the first six months of employment.
• Willingness to undertake before employment and maintain valid First Aid and CPR Certificates.
• A current Drivers Licence.

This role may include shift work across a 24/7 roster and may include sleepover shifts. A full list of key duties can be found in the Position Description.

Brophy Family & Youth Services has supported children, young people, families, and the southwest Victorian community for almost 50 years. We live here; this is our community; we believe in people and in their ability to create the life they want. At Brophy, you will join a team of just over 170 employees delivering over 40 programs and services across areas including youth engagement, mental health, family violence, foster care, housing support, employment support, and disability services.

At Brophy our Vision is not just focused externally on our community – we feel just as passionate about our employees being meaningfully connected through their roles with us to create the life they want, and that as a workforce we achieve this together through innovation and healthy relationships, and by positively contributing to building an advantaged community.

Brophy is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that ensures safety and a sense of belonging for everyone. We embrace individuals of diverse races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, religions, abilities, and nationalities, recognising the richness that varied experiences bring to our efforts in supporting individuals and building stronger communities. Our commitment extends to actively listening, learning, and evolving to become an accessible, inclusive, and secure organisation for all, encompassing First Nations peoples, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, individuals with disabilities, and those with culturally diverse backgrounds.

Please contact Majella Sheppard - Manager Residential Care Services on 5561 8888. Applications are now open. We're excited to hear from interested candidates and will be reviewing applications as they arrive. To give yourself the best opportunity, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as suitable applicants may be invited to interview or offered the role during the recruitment process.