Case Worker

**Find out below how you can make a difference to the lives of children in care**

An exciting opportunity currently exists in Toowoomba to join the Foster and Kinship Care Team at Mercy Community as a Full-time Foster and Kinship Care Practitioner. Use your highly developed case work skills to be part of a care team who are positively shaping the lives of children by working closely with foster and kinship carers and the children we support. In this role you will be actively supporting children’s care experience and assisting our carers to get children either back home to their families or working to stabilise their placements. The position will be required to

Duties will include:

- Assessing carers and helping to educate and develop their skills and knowledge regarding the support of children living in out of home care.
- You will be the first point of call for Foster & Kinship Carers.
- Build effective relationships with young people that are living in foster care and work to support them therapeutically with a range of stakeholders (Department of Child Safety, QLD Health and QLD Education).
- Support and educate carers about the Child Protection system and support them to understand the legislation and what this means for them and the children they care for.

This position offers a competitive salary of $70,682 - $83,486 plus superannuation (dependent on qualifications and experience). You will also have the opportunity to increase your take-home pay by salary sacrificing and other benefits (more information below).

**To be eligible for this position you will require**:

- Hold a 3- or 4-year tertiary qualification in Social Work, Human Services or related discipline.
- Knowledge of the child protection system with experience in the support and mentoring of children and young people in out of home care would be desirable.
- You will have a genuine desire to help people and willingness to learn and develop your skills.
- Be able to provide evidence of current vaccination against whooping cough or willingness to obtain prior to commencement, unless applicable exemption provided.
- You will hold a current Queensland Provisional Green (P2) or above Driver’s License.
- You must hold a positive notice in the Working with Children Check (Blue Card) and be able to obtain a positive Police Check and any other legislatively required personal history screening as required.

**Why choose to work at Mercy?**

Mercy Community appreciates the important work that each person contributes to the success of our programs and services. Being part of the Mercy team, means you have access to some fantastic benefits, such as we:

- Take advantage of free onsite parking in a beautiful working environment just a few minutes from the centre of Toowoomba.
- Pay for your Queensland Blue Card and NDIS Worker Screening Card when you need - saving you up to $144 if you need both cards
- Provide you and your immediate family free, professional and confidential counselling services. This includes specialised First Nations counsellors.
- Provide the opportunity to increase your take home pay through the use of salary sacrificing and other packaging benefits -up to $18,550 per annum is available to take advantage of
- Provide access to novated leases for a vehicle to help reduce your taxable income.

Depending on your role, you may also be eligible:

- For annual influenza and/or other vaccination reimbursements To receive pay bonus’ of $500 for successful employee referrals
- To cash out or purchase annual leave and to
- Take advantage of extra leave entitlements

We also ensure all our employees have access to a wide variety of excellent learning and development tools to continue your professional and personal development. This includes making sure you have access to plenty of other career pathways and opportunities in the broader Families and Young People programs, or in other programs and services across Mercy.

**About Us**

Mercy Community is a Catholic not-for-profit, compassionately inspiring and supporting people to live hopeful, connected lives within inclusive communities. We support families and young people, people living with a disability, and older people, and live by our values of Compassion, Integrity, Dignity and Empowerment. We have been providing services and support for over 150 years and our team operates across a network that encompasses urban, rural and remote communities. Please visit our website to find out more about our dedicated team and the work we do.

Mercy Community is delivering the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan to boost our commitment to First Nations deliverables and actions.

**How to Apply**
- Mercy is committed to Safeguarding - taking actions to promote and ensure the welfare of children and adults at risk, protect them from abuse or neglect and supporting an awareness of whole community responsibility to help and protect all in need._