Integrated Family Services Caseworker

0.6/22.5 hours, Permanent Part-time position, Camberwell
- Not for Profit with salary packaging benefits & work life balance
- Collaborative and highly supported team environment

**About Access Health and Community (AccessHC)**

With a history of 150 years and caring at our centre, our mission and commitment is to build healthier lives within our communities and to deliver excellent health and community services for all. We have a dedicated and experienced team of over 400 employees and 200 volunteers operating across 18 locations. Our people are the centre of everything we do, making a contribution to the wellbeing of the community every day through our work, making a difference every day to those that need it most.

**About the opportunity**

We have an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join our thriving community health organisation and work within a truly supportive and value based culture and engaged workforce. The IFS Caseworker positions provide specialised outreach case planning, case management and support to families where assessed as appropriate for the IFS program. The program aims to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people by addressing protective concerns and enhancing family functioning. This is a part time position (22.5 hours per week)

Camcare is a program within AccessHC that provides a suite of services - wellbeing counselling and case management, material aid, support for new mums, and information and advice to residents of the City of Boroondara and surrounding suburbs. Camcare's Integrated Family Services (IFS) program works across the Municipalities of Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse.

**What you will be doing**
- Key _Responsibilities
- Promote the safety, stability and development of vulnerable children, young people and their families, and to build capacity and resilience for children, families and community
- Work within a Child-focused, Family-centred approach to service delivery
- Undertake comprehensive strengths-based needs assessment of client families, with a particular focus on risk assessment for high need cases; incorporate both the individual and systemic perspective
- Utilize a full range of outreach strategies in order to engage with families who may be reluctant to use the service
- Work with families to strengthen parent capability to provide basic care, ensure safety and promote their child's development
- Work together with families to improve community connections and access to community resources
- Establish a working relationship with families that demonstrates respect and honest communication, particularly about protective concerns and consequences
- Negotiate realistic and achievable Child and Family Action Plans, in consultation with all family members ensuring active participation in decision making; and the inclusion of other relevant parties, which will be reviewed during the intervention period
- Liaise with agencies involved with the family, especially Child Protection and Inner East Integrated Family Services partners

**What you will bring**

**_ _**Key Selection Criteria**
- Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, psychology or related discipline/ eligibility for AASW, APS or an equivalent professional association
- Demonstrated experience in working with families in crisis, including a capacity to practice active engagement
- Demonstrated experience in the Community Services Sector, in the Child and Family Welfare System
- Sound understanding and working knowledge of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and other relevant legislation
- Demonstrated skills in risk assessment and understanding of the Best Interests Case Practice framework

**Attributes**
- Demonstrated theoretical understanding and experience of individual and systemic casework practice
- Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders
- Knowledge of attachment and trauma would be highly desirable
- Experience in working with families in crisis, including a capacity to practice active engagement
- Ability to think broadly in relation to child and family action planning, at the same time focusing on specific issues for resolution
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment
- An ability to work sensitively with people of diverse cultures, abilities, ages, sexualities and gender identities
- Demonstrated behaviours consistent with Access Health and Community values

**Access Health and Community Culture & Benefits**

At Access Health and Community, we offer more than just a fulfilling career: - we provide an environment where you can thrive in a culture of collaboration and support. Our team members share a common commitment and passion to make a positive impact, and we believe that this shared ethos creates a range of benefits for all who work with us. From opportunities for personal and professional growth to a sense of purpose and belonging, our culture promo