Child Protection Practitioner

Location: North West Region | Bendigo

Job type: Part time

Organisation: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

**Salary**: $72,751 - $88,336

Occupation: Community Services

Reference: VG/DFFH/COPL/00378350

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTQI+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

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The Child Protection Practitioner receives and assesses reports of alleged abuse and neglect of children and young people. They undertake investigations and develop plans to bring about the changes necessary to ensure the safety, stability and development of children and young people and to promote the achievement of case plan objectives within specified timeframes. This may include taking matters to court.

All out of hours urgent child protection matters are responded to and managed by the After-Hours Service (AHS). This includes receiving and assessing new reports and conducting urgent visits to assess the risk and safety for a child. Rural After-Hours teams support the AHS across the State. Urgent rural area visits are conducted by a Rural After Hours (RAH) team. This includes responding to cases where existing and new Child Protection clients are at significant risk and require an urgent out of hours response and consulting with AHS throughout the outreach about key decisions.

RAHS operates an on-call, re-call model and practitioners participate on a roster and conduct emergency outreach visits as required at night, on weekends and public holidays. In addition to conducting outreach visits, RAH practitioners will work a core number of days in the Child Protection office and undertake a variety of tasks that support Child Protection operations in the Area/Division
- Understands child development
- Identifies risks to children
- Understands the legislative and statutory framework
- Works confidently with families impacted by drug and alcohol abuse
- Works confidently with families impacted by family violence
- Works confidently with Aboriginal children and families
- Operates effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment
- Confidently prepares for court
- Communicates risk and risk-related concepts verbally
- Writes professionally and convincingly

**VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY**

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its workers and clients. The department may require its employees to be fully vaccinated against preventable diseases such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19). The department's **COVID-19 Vaccination requirements policy** **(Word) outlines the requirements for existing employees, other workplace participants and prospective employees. Subject to exceptions, only employees or other workplace participants with up-to-date vaccination status (see definitions section of the policy) against COVID-19 and who provide evidence of their Vaccination Status are permitted to work for the department outside their ordinary place of residence. For this role, you are required to submit proof of vaccination prior to commencement. Please refer to the above link for more information.

**Other mandatory qualifications or requirements for this opportunity include**:

- A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes:
(a) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably

(b) a practical component such as counselling or case work practice

or

(a) recognised Diploma of Community Services Work, or similar qualification which is studied over a minimum of two academic years of full-time study (or part time equivalent) and includes:
(b) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma

(c) supervised fieldwork placements (ideally completed within the child and family welfare sector) and at least one unit of study in case management, case work practice or counselling

For more information on the accountabilities and key selection criteria, qualifications and/or requirements for the role please refer to the attached Position Description.

**HOW TO APPLY**

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suit