Kinship Engagement Worker

**THE ROLE**

Located in the Placement Support Planning Unit North Metro, this innovative position will drive positive changes and enhance the life outcomes for children and young people. The Placement and Support Planning Unit provides a range of specialist knowledge and expertise to assist area-based service delivery teams. It also provides direct client services across the North Division, fulfilling a co-ordinating role and improving client access to services. The unit includes the Kinship Engagement Program, Placement Coordination Unit, Permanent Care program and Health and Education Coordinator.

Kinship care is provided by relatives or a member of child or young person's social network when a child cannot live with their parents. In March 2018, a new model of kinship care was rolled out across Victoria. The model focuses on: better and earlier identification of kinship carers; strengthening connections for Aboriginal children and young people with family, culture and community; providing increased, ongoing support for carers, children and young people; and a greater emphasis on assessing the needs of carers, children and young people.

The kinship care model includes dedicated kinship practitioners employed by the department. There is additional investment to provide better support to placements from commencement and identifying the needs of carers, children and young people. There is also additional support to Aboriginal agencies to strengthen supports to Aboriginal children and young people, including finding extended family, supporting carers and helping children and young people return to their parents where possible.

The Kinship Engagement Workers and the Kinship Engagement Coordinators have a significant role in the continued implementation and embedding of the model of kinship care in the North Metro area. The Kinship Engagement Worker may undertake the initial search for a child or young person's extended family network, and promote placement quality and stability and support children and young people by being a key contact point for kinship carers and providing flexible kinship support. The Kinship Engagement Worker will report to the Kinship Engagement Coordinator.

The Kinship Engagement teams work closely with Child Protection to support the case plan goals.

**Are you**
- A strengths-based practitioner who is child-centred and family-focused, with a commitment to securing positive outcomes and enhancing opportunities for children and young people accessing out of home care?
- Ready to contribute to the ongoing development of services?
- Comfortable with supporting new initiatives, policy and processes?

**ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE**
- Provide quality, timely and effective case practice and support services.
- Forge strong connections across the department and with external stakeholders to facilitate a partnership approach.
- Contribute to service development and implementation of new initiatives and policy.

**Please open the position description to read more.**

**COVID-19 VACCINATION**
The department strongly recommends (but does not mandate) that employees maintain their COVID-19 vaccination status in accordance with current **ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) advice**, given their individual circumstances. As of June 2023, DFFH does not require evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status.

**HOW TO APPLY**

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria.
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.