Parenting Partner

**Introduction**:
Join Us and Make a Difference to the Community

CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning is a not-for-profit organisation and an agency of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. We offer whole-of-community support and empowerment options to those in need regardless of religion, age, gender, physical and intellectual capacity, or ethnicity.

We work together with local communities to build a stronger, fairer, and kinder society that values children, young people, families and individuals.

Benefits of Working With Us
- Directly contribute to improving the lives of many in the community;
- Receive an attractive salary with PBI salary packaging available;
- Receive up to 3 additional days paid leave, between the Christmas and New Year period annually;
- Paid parental leave;
- Flexible working arrangements;
- Staff Birthdays & Anniversary Recognition;
- Ongoing training and development opportunities;
- A great friendly environment of dedicated and passionate co-workers;
- Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport;
**Description**:
The Opportunity

This position will be responsible for the support and education of up to 7 young parents (or pregnant women) aged 16-20 in the Supported Independent Living Program alongside the client’s case manager. There is a strong emphasis on relationship development, support, mentoring and teaching these vulnerable young parents or parents to be while also having challenging conversations as necessary.

**Key Tasks**:

- Focus on the safety and protection of newborn babies and young children up to 2 years old.
- Maximise early childhood principles (the child’s social, emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing).
- Conduct strengths-based assessments, develop family support plans in conjunction with families, home visits, referring for or delivering parenting programs in home or in groups, referring and connecting the parents, babies and children into local health and community services.
- Thorough understanding of early childhood principals, child protection and the associated risk factors and the services available to support very young families.
- Build resilience in families with very young children at risk due to multiple vulnerabilities. (Parental DV, AOD Use, Mental Illness, Intellectual Disability or Significant Learning Difficulties, Lack of Parenting Skills).
- Build sustainable social structures for each young family to maximise outcomes for their babies.

The role requires an awareness of the history of Aboriginal dispossession and culture and the consequent impact and ongoing impact for individuals, families, community and culture.
The role also requires an understanding of issues impacting individuals from CALD backgrounds and the impact these may have on parental roles, family and community relationships.

**Skills and Experiences**:
Experience/Criteria
- A commitment to work within the Mission, Vision and Values of CatholicCare.
- Sound understanding and experience of early intervention programs and case management for vulnerable families, including delivery of parenting programs that support parent-child relationships, child inclusive practice and implementation of appropriate risk management strategies.
- Strong understanding of child development (birth - 5 years), relevant early childhood principles, frameworks and standards and child protection legislation, policies and standards.
- Ability to work collaboratively with caseworkers and external health and community services to support and develop sustainable social structures for each young family to thrive.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to maintain timely, accurate and relevant client records for reporting and information sharing.
- Contribute to continuous learning, professional networks, and relationships through the co-ordination of meetings and other information sharing activities.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team as well as independently in the provision of proactive and responsive casework.
- A demonstrated commitment to work flexible hours to meet the needs of children, young people, and adults.
- Experience working with, or a demonstrated knowledge of cultural competence principles, relevant to engaging clients from diverse backgrounds, including First Nation people and those from a CALD background.
- Significant experience in the provision of social services is desirable however applicants must be willing to complete formal training and obtain role specific training.

**Qualifications**:

- Degree qualifications (or working towards) in Social Work, Social Welfare, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Health (or a related discipline) or relevant high-level experience in a similar role with demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development.
- Current class C driver’s licence.
- Current paid Working with Children Check.
- Willingness to undertake a National Criminal History Chec