First Supports Worker

**Location**:
Dandenong

Employment Type:
PT - Part-time Temporary

Department:
Kinship First Supports

**OzChild have an interesting opportunity that has arisen in their Kinship team as a Kinship First Supports Worker**

First Supports was launched as part of the new kinship care model. First Supports aims to support newly established kinship care placements through the provision of early comprehensive assessments, brokerage and access to increased supports.

Kinship Care is the preferred home based care program for children and young people. It allows the child to stay connected to family or the extended family network.

The purpose of the position is to promote placement quality and support children and young people living with kinship families to thrive and to promote placement stability and reduce the likelihood of children and young people entering residential care.

**Duties**:

- Assess and meet the material and financial needs of a placement, through the early provision of flexible brokerage or advocacy with child protection under other funding sources.
- Build the capacity of kinship carers to better understand and respond to the needs of young people in their care, promoting their safety, stability, and development.
- Assist carers to promote connection to culture, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
- Engage with a variety of carers of all ages build rapport and gain trust
- Analyse information; needs, risks, living conditions, significant disadvantage
- Build the capacity of the kinship carers to better understand and respond to the needs of the children and young people in their care, promoting their safety, stability and development through the provision of targeted family services support.
- May be required to undertake and complete Part B assessments as directed by Assistant Manager.

**Who we are looking for**:

- A degree-level qualification in a discipline such as social work or psychology, a diploma will also be considered if backed by experience
- Knowledge and experience working within the out of home care sector would be highly regarded
- Demonstrated high levels of engagement with at-risk families
- Good communication skills and the ability to build relationships and rapport with families and young people
- Risk assessment and safety planning
- Current driving license

**OzChild offers**:

- Fixed term (12 months) 0.8FTE (4 days per week)
- Additional ex gratia paid leave - up to 4 days per year
- Evidence informed training and professional development through your employment
- The opportunity to work directly with families
- Salary packaging up to $15,900
- A Surface Pro and phone (tools of the trade)
- Modern facilities and equipment in an amazing open plan office environment
- A unique culture promoting diversity, cultural competence, your own personal values, and feel safe and supported to be yourself and express who you are
- Flexible work arrangements - Hybrid Working at home and in the office
- Be part of a great team of passionate people and the largest Kinship program in Victoria.

**HOW TO APPLY**

To be successful, you will be required to meet our Safety Screening requirements, and this will include relevant police checks and hold a valid and current WWCC for VIC.
- OzChild is committed to the employment of Aboriginal people and providing a work environment in which Aboriginal peoples' cultures, beliefs and values are acknowledged and respected, and in which the individual career goals and personal aims of Aboriginal staff are identified, promoted and achieved._
- OzChild is a child-safe organisation committed to protecting children and young people from all forms of abuse, bullying, exploitation and neglect, and to creating environments in all our programs and services where children are safe and feel safe._
- OzChild is an equal opportunity employer and encourages individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply._