Children’s Contact Service Worker

Better Place Australia has a vision of “An Australia where all people experience positive relationships, truly value each other and live safer, more confident lives”. As a community-focused not-for-profit organisation with an ever-growing range of psychological and community support services, Better Place Australia is taking a leadership role in the provision of high-quality, effective services for a wide range of community groups across 25 locations in Victoria.

This is an opportunity to join our expanding team of highly experienced and passionate people who want to make Australia a better place.

The Role

The primary focus of Better Place’s Children’s Contact Service (CCS) is the safety and well-being of children and young people. The program maintains a clear commitment to prioritising the needs and welfare of children and will actively intervene to ensure that the best interests of children are protected and promoted at all times.  The CCS provides safe neutral, onsite facilitated changeovers and supervised visits for children and their separated parents with a trauma-informed and child-focused approach. These contacts are often court mandated due to high conflict familial circumstances and often exist within a broader suite of family law services.

Children’s Contact Service Workers serve as a facilitator and observer of clients during scheduled visitation.  As part of this, there will be a requirement to greet clients, support their participation in the service and document observations during the provision of service. Key work tasks include:

• Facilitation of supervised visits and supervised changeovers
• Undertaking intake assessments and planning to make decisions around client suitability to access services
• Maintaining all case notes and client records with a high standard of accuracy and in accordance with best practice, confidentiality and privacy requirements
• Liaising with parents, family members, legal representatives, court staff and other case workers
• Provide information and support to all the parents who would like to access Better Place services and to ensure referrals are provided where required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Prospective candidates must possess a demonstrated commitment to child safety principles and evidence of active involvement in child safety activities, initiatives and education/training.  Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as Social Work, Community Services or alike are required as is direct experience working with a service operating supervised contact visits for children and young people of separated parents.  Other essential criteria include excellent written and verbal communication skills, well developed interpersonal skills and the ability to apply initiative to the resolution of problems with minimal supervision.  Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of child development, family violence, strengths-based assessment and trauma informed practice would be a distinct advantage.  Prospective candidates with case work or case management experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

Workplace Flexibility

Here at Better Place Australia, we embrace flexible ways of working including work from home.  We encourage you to talk to us about what flexibility might look like for you and your individual needs.

Better Place Australia offers a workplace culture reflective of a vibrant, learning organisation where our people are highly engaged in their work and committed to making a difference.  As an equal opportunity employer, we aim to create an inclusive environment where differences including gender, age, culture, disability, sexuality and family and caring responsibilities are valued.  We invite you to be part of a not for profit organisation that fosters a diverse workplace.

Apply Today