Domestic & Family Violence Specialist

**Full time permanent position based in Capalaba & Loganholme**:

- ** $86k - $92k + Super + Salary Packaging**:

- **Flexible Friendly organisation, Hybrid work options available**

**Our Organisation**

The Benevolent Society’s vision is to build a just society where all Australians can live their best life. For more than 200 years we have supported people at the margins of society: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; children, young people, and their families; older people; carers and people with disability. We are an independent, non-religious service provider which supports people to live life their way.

As part of The Benevolent Society vision, we are strongly committed to reconciliation with our First Nations people of Australia. We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting the economic, political, and social inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

**About this role**

Family and Child Connect services have been established across Queensland to support families who are at risk of entering or re-entering the child protection system. FaCC are local, community-based services that help families to care for and protect their children at home, by connecting them to the right services at the right time. Broadly, the FaCC service will undertake an initial assessment of family strengths and needs, determine an appropriate referral pathway for the family to help them achieve their goals, and follow up with services to ensure successful engagement. Typically, FaCC engage with families on a short-term basis (6 weeks).

We are seeking a** Domestic and Family Violence Specialist** (internally recognised as a Child & Family Practitioner) in our multidisciplinary team, working alongside case workers to undertake risk assessment and provide effective, flexible, and holistic intervention to families experiencing domestic violence.

**Your duties**
- Raise awareness of the nature and impact of domestic and family violence
- Domestic and family violence screening and risk assessment
- Specialist advice and assistance to team and inquirers
- Advice on safe engagement strategies
- Assist with assessment of client needs
- Assist with support and referral planning and decisions
- Efficient time management and organisational skills to balance competing demands and provide timely responses to clients
- Attend relevant High Risk Team meetings and DFV stakeholder meetings in the catchment
- Liaise with key stakeholders and agencies including QPS, Courts and specialist DFV services
- Share relevant information and participate in the professional development of the team (mentoring staff, seconding home visits, delivering information sessions to staff)
- Where required, hold a small case load of high risk DFV cases

**Our Benefits**

We support people to live their best life. That includes you, our employee. A ‘best life’ is unique to everyone and can change as life changes. Here are a few things you might be interested in:

- **Salary Benefits -** You can package up to $15,900 pa of you pre-tax salary to pay for everyday expenses before income tax is calculated, meaning you take home _even more pay_
- **Motor Vehicle Packaging Options - **to suit your lifestyle.
- **Work/Life Balance - **Flexible work arrangements including part time hours, hybrid home/office work arrangements, 1 accrued day off a month for full time employees.
- **Recognition and Reward - **Sector competitive remuneration, various recognition programs and access to long service leave after 5 years
- **Wellness -** Fitness passport + Employee Assistance Program + opportunity to purchase additional leave.
- **Professional development - **We tailor career development opportunities to all employees and volunteers for career enrichment, fulfilment, and growth
- **Our Reconciliation Commitment** - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees are entitled up to 2 days paid plus up to 10 days unpaid cultural leave, as well as the option to be a voice on** reference networking groups**,** the opportunity for cultural and professional development that supports career pathways and your social and emotional wellbeing.

**Skills and experience**
- A relevant tertiary (degree) qualification in social work, community services or similar
- A clear understanding of child protection issues and mandatory reporting responsibilities
- At least 3-4 years’ experience in a similar role
- Experience providing direct case work and intervention to parents and children affected by trauma, domestic violence, mental health, or other forms of adversity using a strength based, therapeutic approach
- Trained in Safe & Together highly regarded
- Ability to assess risk, experience in using risk assessment tools and developing appropriate safety plans
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice response to domestic violence including use of exclusion orders, DVOs, etc
- Current drivers licence essential