Family and Domestic Violence Specialist

Family and Domestic Violence Specialist – Mobile Outreach Fixed Term

Macleod Accommodation Support Service Inc (MASS) has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, motivated female to join our supportive, small, professional team as Family and Domestic Violence Specialist – Mobile Outreach worker.The applicant should have a minimum or 5 years' experience in domestic and family violence or similar FDV environment. This role is permanent and available for an immediate start within a flexible working environment.

Position Purpose:

This role is to provide mobile support and timely responses to women and children who require immediate or crisis assistance, within the Gold Coast area.  You will promote each client's safety, strengths, and goals through individualized case plans and services, assisting them to live independent, safer lives with increased well-being and safety. Mobile outreach support will be provided to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence who:

• Are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Are housed but at risk of homelessness.
• Are in unsafe and/or temporary accommodation such as in motels and unfunded or privately owned refuges.

Within the role there is the requirement to engage in rostered on-call after-hours and weekend responses.

The successful applicant will –

• Have relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling or Social and Behavioural Sciences from a recognized tertiary institution or equivalent.
• Have minimum 5 years paid experience in the community and domestic violence sector and highly developed risk assessment, safety planning and case management skills
• Have highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Participate in consultative and collaborative strategies with other practitioners.
• Demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and integrity in working with clients, colleagues, and community stakeholders.
• Can support and work with diverse families with complex needs.
• Work to provide equitable service for clients.
• Work from a trauma-informed, strengths-based perspective.
• Understand feminist theory and contemporary family violence practice, including the gendered nature of domestic violence, social justice principles, and crisis intervention.

Skills and experience required:

• Demonstrated skills in completing comprehensive domestic violence risk assessments, intensive case management and coordination, referrals for additional services and advocacy to support client's transition into sustainable housing.
• Commitment to working within a feminist framework and a strong basis of knowledge of gender-based violence against women and children.
• Demonstrated understanding of state-based legislation as it pertains to family violence, privacy, and child protection legislation relevant to service delivery.
• Experience within the domestic violence sector with knowledge of practice standards and crisis intervention.
• Demonstrated understanding of the life cycle changes in a family violence context including the use of power and control, social, historical, political, legal, cultural and organisational / systems impacts on victims and survivors.
• Well-developed written work including case notes, data collection, report writing, data entry and computer literacy skills.
• Conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong commitment to critical reflective practice.
• High level of resilience and self-care.

All staff are expected to work within the feminist philosophy and guidelines of the MASS. All staff are required to comply with and utilise contemporary office management requirements and practices, including workplace health and safety, equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination policies.

Please note location of site is confidential and can not be disclosed publicly.

It is a genuine requirement of this position that it be filled by a woman as permitted in Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act, 1997.

Applicants should address the selection criteria within a cover letter of not more than 2 pages.

Selection Criteria:

1. Ability to articulate a comprehensive feminist analysis of FDV, and an understanding of trauma and the impacts of violence against women.
2. Demonstrated experience in providing crisis support and case management for women and their children experiencing domestic and family violence and/or trauma, including those from diverse backgrounds.
3. Demonstrated working understanding of relevant legislation, theory and practices related o the provision of family and domestic violence experienced by women and children.
4. Demonstrated understanding of evidenced based case management documentation, records and reports.
5. Demonstrated experience in undertaking family and domestic violence risk assessments and safety plan development for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.
6. Demonstrated capability to work autonomously, be self-motivated, flexible with changing work functions, possess a 'can-do' attitude and is an active team member.

Essential:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, Social or Behavioural Sciences, from a recognised tertiary institution.
• Current driver's license.
• Current blue card or eligibility to apply.
• Agree to an Australian Federal Police Criminal History Check.
• Have Australian Work Rights – Australian citizenship/visa documentary evidence to be provided at interview.

It is a genuine requirement of this position that it be filled by a woman as permitted in Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act, 1997.