Family Liaison Officer

**The Opportunity**

A rewarding opportunity to be involved in a Dementia Centre initiative looking to support people living with dementia who are transitioning from hospital settings back to their homes or into residential care.

This role offers the chance for professional growth and exposure to a new project, making it a perfect fit for those looking to advance their career.

**The role**

Offer compassionate pre
- and post-placement support and counselling for families and care teams, while assessing clients' needs, abilities, and behaviours to inform personalised care plans. Collect valuable data to ensure a seamless transition for clients with dementia from acute care to residential or home settings, enhancing understanding of their social history and support networks.

This role is offered as a Fixed Term Contract until July 2028. This role is based out of Malvern, Victoria.

**Benefits**
- Market leading remuneration
- Salary packaging; $15,900 annually for living expenses, plus up to $2,650 each year for entertainment benefits.
- Flexible hybrid work arrangements in a friendly workplace with an emphasis on work life balance
- Additional training & career development opportunities
- Leave benefits - purchased additional annual leave
- Reward and Recognition Program
- Fitness Passports: Full facility access can include gyms, group classes and pools for yourself and your family.
- Free independent and confidential counselling sessions and free wellbeing resources and webinars available through our Employee Assistance Program in multiple languages.
- Exclusive discounts at MyCar; Servicing, Brakes, Repairs, and Tyre Care Plans
- Exclusive commercial discounts for JB HI-FI and The Good Guys

**Responsibilities**
- Contribute to assessing clients’ needs, abilities or behaviour using a variety of methods including validated assessments, semi-structured interviews with key support network, and direct observation of behaviour as needed.
- Build rapport and a working relationship with families/representatives participating in the program.
- Facilitate conversation between families/representatives, Hospital Staff and aged care staff, during the pre and post placement phase. This is consultation with the other DSA team members.
- Exploring and understanding opportunities and challenges around the transition and placement of someone living with dementia.
- Support families and manage expectations around placement of someone living with dementia.
- Participate in family and case conferences.
- Providing emotional support and practical advice for families in relation to obtaining a placement and supporting the person living with dementia to transition out of hospital.
- Collection of data sets to aid in better understanding what is needed for successful placement of someone living with dementia.

**What do we need from you?**
- Social Worker or registered Psychologist experience essential
- Strong experience and knowledge in dementia care and mental health for older persons
- High level of communication and interpersonal skills to lead and influence
- Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills
- High level of communication and interpersonal skills to lead and influence.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Commitment to engage and align with HammondCare’s Christian Mission, Motivation and Mission in Action.
- A current Australian drivers licence and willingness to travel intrastate and interstate

All short-listed applicants will be asked to consent to a criminal record check and references.

DSA is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity and inclusion. We strive on creating an equal employment environment where everyone from any background can be themselves.