Child Protection Practice Leader Positions

Location: North West Region | Bendigo

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

**Salary**: $114,830 - $125,735

Occupation: Community Services

Reference: VG/DFFH/ND/581745

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.

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- Practice Leader - Case Planning
- Practice leader - Navigator
- Practice Leader - Aboriginal Family Led Decision Maker (AFLDM)

New opportunities exist for 3 Practice Leaders to join our Child Protection team in the Loddon Area. This is a great opportunity to work collaboratively with Practice Leaders and Child Protection teams to lead and implement approaches to manage demand and support service delivery to children at most risk.

The North Division Child Protection program prides itself on its commitment to making children safe, supporting stronger families, and protecting future generations. We offer a supportive team approach, regular supervision, a suite of expert training, access to Employee Assistance Program and a focus on employee health and wellbeing.

**WORKING** IN RURAL VICTORIA INCENTIVE**

External applicants relocating to a regional area could be eligible for up to $20,500 worth of incentives. Internal applicants relocating to a regional area could be eligible for up to $15,500 worth of incentives. If you live and work in an area classified as ‘remote' by the Australian Tax Office, you may also be eligible for additional salary packaging arrangements, such as mortgage interest, rental costs, and residential utilities.

**THE ROLES**

**Practice Leader (Case Planning)** is responsible for providing expert case advice and leadership, supporting and developing child protection practitioners in the integration of theory and practice while demonstrating expertise through case management. The Practice Leader supports practice to 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. The Practice Leader also undertakes case practice quality audits and provides regular practice forums and reflective practice sessions.

**Practice Leader Navigator**, dedicated to the Family Preservation and Reunification Response. The Child Protection Navigator supports activation of the Response and right time, with the right people and in the right place to promote and protect the rights and best interests of children and young people. The Child Protection Navigator will model and enhance trauma informed, culturally safe and responsive practice that is child and family centred, relational and evidence-informed and integrated to improve outcomes of child safety, wellbeing and development. The Child Protection Navigator provides a unique opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families and has a strong focus to develop a connected and coordinated practice culture and mindset shift of Response practitioners within child and family services and Child Protection practitioners working together.

**Practice Leader (Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFDM))** role will work collaboratively with practitioners and teams to strengthen case practice with Aboriginal children and families, in order to provide effective service delivery and to support other practitioners. This position is responsible for co-convening Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making meetings for Aboriginal clients to develop plans to bring about the changes necessary to ensure the safety, stability and development of Aboriginal children and young people and to promote the achievement of case plan objectives within specified timeframes; working in partnership with the community co-convenor and Aboriginal organisations in providing community education, training and consultation for child protection and Aboriginal agency staff.

**SPECIAL MEASURE PROVISIONS APPLY TO THESE ROLES**

**The **_Equal Opportunity Act 2010_**, provides for lawful 'Special Measure' provisions, therefore the following has been applied to this role.**

**Practice Leader (Case Planning) and Practice Leader Navigator - These are Prioritised roles - If you are an Aboriginal or