Senior DFV Caseworker, with child support specialisation

The Senior DFV Specialist Caseworker will join a team of social workers and provide casework support to Mary's House Services clients: women and children impacted by domestic and family violence. The Senior DFV Caseworker is a tertiary qualified social worker, with six or more years' work experience and will also provide child-focused support to mothers and children, including providing support and referrals to enhance children's wellbeing and to ensure that children's unique risks and needs are addressed. (Paid at Level 5.1 in the first year of employment).

Principle duties

The Senior Domestic and Family Violence Caseworker's duties include but are not limited to the following:

Case Management

• Facilitate a service model to support women (and their children) to safely remain in their home or a home of their choice following domestic violence.

• Strengths-based case management and case coordination with women (and their children), working towards independent living, free of violence and abuse; note – as a senior caseworker you are more likely to be allocated women with children, more complex needs, and/or hold a higher caseload, always subject to capacity and consultation with you. You will be supported with ongoing professional development, including for child-focused casework.

• Assessment of women and their children's support needs (including legal, psychological, health, housing, income maintenance and debt, immigration, education, employment and safety).

• Independently initiate, develop, prioritise and review case plans for women and their children.

• Provide individual support to children to address family violence-related trauma and promote recovery. Refer children aged 16 to 18 to specialised services for young people.

• Support mothers in rebuilding or maintaining good relationships with their children through evidence-based strategies.

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships and referral pathways to achieve case plan goals, meet clients' support needs and empower women to mobilise community resources independently.

• Comprehensive risk assessments and safety plans, using the Domestic Violence Safety Assessment Tool, liaising with police, Women's Court Advocacy Service, Safety Action Meetings and protective services ensuring technological, home and personal safety.

• Identify home and personal safety needs and possible solutions.

• Conduct child-specific risk assessments and case management, ensuring children's voices are heard and considered.

• Provide trauma informed support and crisis counselling.

• Respond to client requests for information, advice, referral and other assistance.

• High-level record-keeping and file maintenance, including data entry.

• Collaboratively develop and deliver education activities for clients, sector colleagues and/or community.

• Adhere to NSW's Child Safe Standards in all casework practices.

Teamwork and Community Support

• Provide support to the Refuge and Casework Manager for project work, and other management-related tasks such as generating reports on service delivery.

• Collaborate with team members and external service providers to deliver integrated support to women and their families.

• Provide authoritative direction and secondary consultations to staff on child-focused practices.

• Provide mentoring, supervision and guidance to team members, including on matters such as making mandatory child protection reports, and provide support on completing administration related to client services.

• Manage direct reports if allocated to you; if allocated direct reports, your caseload will be reduced accordingly.

• Participate in internal group supervision or other supervision as required.

• Attend relevant community meetings and interagency events as directed by the Manager, to work with local communities and services to promote awareness of our casework support.

Position Summary

• Attend and participate in team and planning activities and organisation-wide meetings

• Undertake ongoing professional development, as approved by the Refuge and Casework Manager.

• Adhere to Mary's House Services policies and procedures, services standards, values and code of conduct and meet all required health and safety requirements.

• Adhere to and work within codes of practice relevant to your role at Mary's House Services and your position in the community sector.

• Be familiar with, and comply with all administrative, work, health and safety and human resources procedures and processes relevant to your position.

• Attend regular meetings with the Refuge and Casework Manager and constructively participate in dialogue about your performance, professional development and work goals.

• Other duties as requested by the Refuge and Casework Manager that are within the scope of this position.

Key internal relationships

• Refuge and Casework Manager and team

• Community Programs Manager

• Direct reports, if allocated

Key external relationships

• Referring agencies and networks

• Community support services

Essential attributes

• Working with Children Check

• Police Check

• You must identify as a woman. Mary's House Services considers identifying as a woman to be a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s.31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

Essential experience, skills, and qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Social Work, at a level eligible for membership of the AASW.

• Six years' experience or more as a social worker.

• Two years' experience or more working in the domestic and family violence sector and demonstrated understanding of the complexities and dynamics of domestic and family violence.

• Two years' experience or more providing casework support to children and demonstrated understanding of the unique needs of children affected by domestic and family abuse.

• Demonstrated ability and willingness to mentor, supervise and guide other team members.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to leadership in a team environment and/or demonstrated experience managing a small team.

• Experience completing initial assessments, crisis intervention, risk and safety assessment and planning.

• Demonstrated ability to accurately record client data, including data of a sensitive nature.

• Demonstrated high level skills, knowledge, and experience working from trauma-informed, person-centred, strengths-based, and feminist perspective.

• High level interpersonal and relationship-building skills, and a friendly disposition.

• Strong administration and organisational skills with good attention to detail and accuracy.

• Good time management and prioritisation skills and an ability to work autonomously.

• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience networking with multidisciplinary services and agencies and ability to build and foster relationships within a changing sector climate.

Desirable experience, skills, and qualifications

• Specialist tertiary or other qualifications in providing support to children who have experienced trauma.

• Experience conducting intake and referral for a domestic and family violence service.

• Fluency in a community language other than English.

Key Performance Indicators

• Casework services are delivered in a trauma-informed, safe, kind and effective manner, consistent with organisational values.

• Data relating to intake and referral is entered into the client database in a timely and accurate manner.

• Communicate and collaborate effectively within the casework team and with the Community Programs team.

• Provide effective support and contributions to project work and tasks delegated to you by the Refuge and Casework Manager.

• Contribute effectively to team projects and discussions.