2 X Advanced Child Protection Practitioner

Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan

Job type: Ongoing and Fixed Term

Organisation: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

**Salary**: $90,067 - $102,192

Occupation: Community Services

Reference: VG/DFFH/ND/404858D

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTQI+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

**THE ROLE**

The Advanced Child Protection Practitioner receives and assesses reports of alleged abuse and neglect of children and young people. They undertake investigations and develop plans to bring about the changes necessary to ensure the safety, stability and development of children and young people and to promote the achievement of case plan objectives within specified timeframes. This may include taking matters to court.

**ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE**:
**1.**Critical Assessment and Reflection**
- Risk assessment and analysis - gathers information through a variety of sources and technologies in order to identify, articulate, and plan for the risks relating to each situation. Applies a strong forensic lens, and professional judgement, to analyse the available evidence.
- Case planning review and case management - draws insights from assessment and analysis to formulate a meaningful and effective case plan, and reviews case progress and outcomes. Co-ordinates and leads the planning, review, and management of casework within DHHS and across other agencies and services.
- Critical enquiry - uses evidence based frameworks to investigate issues, and is able to understand the root cause of each issue as well as the potential implications.
- Standardised reporting - uses standardised reporting frameworks when recording case data, and when documenting care solutions provided.
- Reflective practice - critically reflects on what they are doing in their role, and uses this reflection to influence their practice.

**2. Engaging Others**
- Child centred and family focused relationship based practice - focuses on the child and incorporates the family and social network, to deliver timely and proactive solutions.
- Collaboration - engages, consults, and co-designs solutions with children and their families, other practitioners and teams, agencies, services and the community, in order to deliver the best outcomes for children and their families.
- Knowledge sharing - exchanging critical information across the system, both internally and externally, to ensure shared understanding, and timely and appropriate action for clients.

**3.Delivering Results**
- Problem solving - integrates knowledge and internal insight with leading practice and research to address problems.
- Culturally informed practice and safety - understands and applies culturally informed practice that is focused on the child in the context of their family, in a way that considers situations, activities, decisions, and outcomes from the perspective of each stakeholder's cultural background.
- Business operations - effectively uses business technology, systems, procedures, and financial and political nous, to achieve the best outcome(s) for clients.
- Evaluating and delivering program improvements - works with colleagues and key stakeholder to evaluate programs, identify opportunities, develop solutions, and identify and overcome barriers to continuously improve program outcomes.
- Packaging of support - is able to effectively plan for the purchasing of services, manage budgets, and allocate finances, to achieve the best outcome(s).

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

**VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY**

The department may require its employees to be fully vaccinated against preventable diseases such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19). The department's **COVID-19 Vaccination requirements policy**(Word) outlines the requirements for existing employees, other workplace participants and prospective employees. Please read in full prior to applying.

**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.