Oohc Permanency Support Program Caseworker

Settlement Services International (SSI Group) is a community-based organisation and social business that supports newcomers and Australians to achieve their full potential. Taking an integrated approach how everyone can thrive within the community in which they live and the wider Australian society, we support children, young people and families; people living with disability; and asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Our programs include facilitating employment, multicultural foster care, creating community engagement, advocacy, and influencing government and international affairs and provide though leadership within our sector nationally and globally.

About Us
SSI is a national not-for-profit organization providing dedicated human and social services to a diverse Australia. With community at the heart of everything we do, our purpose is to create a world in which everyone has access to equal opportunities,
SSI supports individuals, children, families and communities via a range of vital human services from settlement support of newcomers and refugees through to programs in employment and education and health wellbeing and social supports for all Australians, new and old.

About the Team
Every child has a right to a safe, happy and permanent home connected to family, community and culture. When children under the age of 18 years, for safety reasons, cannot live with their family or carers we work with the Department of Community and Justice (DCJ) to support them be safe and work out the best options for their long-term care and wellbeing outcomes. This may include returning the children to their family’s care or being cared for by foster carers on a long-term basis.
SSI delivers a specialist out-of-home care and permanency support services that provides a culturally appropriate model for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds aged 0-18 years. We have a strong commitment to culturally responsive services. Wherever possible, as needed, we support children to be cared for by foster carers who share the same culture as the children or where this is not possible, we maximise opportunities for children to be connected with their family’s ethnic backgrounds, religion/s and language/s.

About You
The Caseworker provides casework support to children, young people, foster carers and their birth families within the Multicultural Child & Family Support Program, with the aim of achieving permanency care outcomes. The Caseworker works with DCJ and other government and non-government organisations to deliver culturally responsive services to children, young people, foster carers and their birth families in a manner consistent with the SSI Multicultural Child and Family Support Program model and internal policies.

**Responsibilities**:

- Undertake child and family case work including assessments, planning, placement support, monitoring and reviews.
- Understand current permanency planning principles
- Develop, implement and review children and young people’s case plans as per OOHC policies and procedures
- Match children and young people with foster carers as per the multicultural foster care model
- Liaise with Department of Communities and Justice, other government partners, non-government organisations and other stakeholders in relation to referrals and reportable activity as per OOHC policies and procedures
- Provide information, advice and support to foster carers
- As a team player, the OOHC caseworker will contribute to the cohesion and support of the team members as assisting with home visits, assessments and the use of his language if needed

Essential Criteria
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in child protection or OOHC and relevant tertiary degree or enrolled in relevant tertiary degree
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Well-developed analytical and organisational skills
- A valid NSW driver's licence
- Experience with culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Fluency in languages such as Arabic, Turkish and Vietnamese are highly desirable

Please ask us for a copy of the PD for the full responsibilities.

About our Benefits
- Salary packaging options to receive up to $15,900 of your salary tax-free meaning more take-home pay
- Industry leading flexible working arrangement supported to work from home and office, including 9-day fortnight;
- Access to in-house training and learning opportunities for professional development and growth.
- Access to our inhouse wellbeing programs
- Working alongside professional and dedicated team members all wanting to make a difference in our communities

About our Recruitment Process
At SSI we have a zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation where protecting children and preventing and responding to child abuse is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of all employees, contractors and volunteers.

To Apply
Applications close Friday