Kinship Engagement Coordinator

**THE ROLE**
**Kinship Engagement Cooridnator**

This innovative position will drive positive changes and enhance the life outcomes for children and young people across each of the Department of Families Fairness and Housing areas. The Kinship Engagement Coordinator will work under the new model of kinship care that was rolled out across Victoria, in the early identification of potential kinship carers in a child or young person's network and supervising staff providing ongoing kinship placement support.

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 December 2017, the Minister for Families and Children announced the rollout of a new model of Kinship care throughout Victoria to commence on 1 March 2018. The model will focus 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 great emphasis on assessing the needs of carers, children and young people.

The new kinship care model will include 17 dedicated Kinship Engagement Coordinators as well as these Kinship Engagement Worker positions employed by the department. There will be additional investment to provide better support to placements from commencement and identifying the needs of carers, children and young people. There will also be additional support to Aboriginal agencies to strengthen supports to Aboriginal children and young people.

Situated in the Placement and Support Planning Unit in the North Division, the Kinship Engagement Coordinator will play a pivotal role to implement the new model of Kinship Carer in Victoria. In the new model, the Kinship Engagement Coordinator, supported by the Kinship Engagement Worker, will undertake the initial search for a child or young person's extended family network. The Kinship Engagement Worker will promote placement quality and stability and support children and young people by being a key contact point for Kinship carers. The Kinship Engagement Worker will report to the Kinship Engagement Coordinator. The Kinship Engagement Coordinator and the Kinship Engagement Worker will work closely and Child Protection to support the case plan goals.

The role requires a strength bases 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 and ready to contribute to the ongoing development of services.

**ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE**
- Forge strong connections across the department and with external stakeholders to facilitate a partnership approach.
- Provide advice and professional expertise to key internal and external stakeholders in areas of responsibility including critical policy, funding and program development.
- 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.