Social Worker – Family Consultant

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.

Better Place Australia has been selected to provide counselling and mediation services by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing through the provision of service delivery across the Greater Melbourne, Gippsland and Barwon regions. The position holder will receive referrals from Morwell Orange Door and the local community, undertake assessment of clients’ needs and provide and coordinate service as required and where appropriate.

The Role

The appointee assumes responsibility for coordinating all client activity within the program with key work activities including the following:

• Undertaking high level client assessment, care planning and counselling for older clients who are experiencing or at risk from Elder abuse.
• Provision of counselling services for older clients where appropriate, and coordination of all referrals to services within Better Place Australia.
• Coordination of Elder Abuse cases.
• Promotion of elder abuse prevention services through liaison and networking with relevant community services organisations, Aged Care Services, hospitals and alike.
• Support with family meetings, mediation and conflict management within family context.
• Coordination of all referrals to external services.

Required Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for appointment to this role, prospective candidates must be a qualified Social Worker (AASW member or eligible for membership) or other equivalent registered Health professional preferably with experience in Community Services, Aged Care , or Counselling. The appointee will have extensive experience in undertaking high level client assessment, care planning and coordination in both community and hospital settings and will have experience in and an understanding of the Aged Care, Family Violence and/or Disability sectors. High level skills in screening and assessment of elder abuse are essential as is well developed knowledge of complex care options and services available to the aged. Other essential criteria include outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, excellent time management skills and highly developed problem-solving ability.

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.

Our Organisation

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.

Please note that pursuant to the Acting Chief Health Officer’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Direction (No 5), Better Place Australia requires employees to be vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 Vaccination and to provide evidence of vaccination by way of uploading a Digital Vaccination Certificate to our HRIS Information System (ConnX). You will be provided with relevant information including compliance dates during the recruitment process.

Apply Today

This position is available on a part time basis at 0.4 – 0.5 FTE (days and spread of hours flexible). This is an outreach role which can incorporate work from home and covers the Gippsland region including service delivery to the Latrobe City, South Gippsland and the Bass Coast Shire Council local government areas. Travel to other regions across Greater Melbourne may be required at times.

Enquiries from prospective candidates only may be addressed to Ms Mandy Strange – Clinical and Program Lead Elder Services via email mandy.strange@betterplace.com.au

Our organisation is committed to child safety and satisfactory completion of a Working with Children Check and National Police Check are mandatory for the preferred candidate.

Whilst we appreciate the interest of all prospective candidates, please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted. We look forward to hearing from you – apply today!