• 2x Full time positions
• Flexible day, afternoon and weekend shifts
• Competitive salary (SCHADS Level 5) plus shift allowances
• Generous salary packaging benefit up to $15,900
• 5 weeks annual leave, plus 17.5% leave loading
• Opportunity for professional growth and development
• Friendly and inclusive Rainbow Tick Accredited Organisation 
• Hybrid working arrangements available
• Vibrant Dandenong location, close to public transport

Wayss is the largest provider of homelessness, housing and family violence services in the South East Melbourne area.  We exist so people can live a life free from family violence and have access to safe, sustainable and affordable housing.

Our vision is to be the major provider of social housing services and leading edge client support programs in the Southern Melbourne Metropolitan region.  
  
We deliver funded services and programs across the local government areas of Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Casey and Cardinia.
  
Wayss Family Violence program delivers a range of services in response to women and children experiencing or escaping family violence.  They include:   

• Family Violence Refuge
• Rapid Response, including after hours support
• Risk Assessment and Safety Planning
• Case Management
• Women’s Outreach Program
• RAMP oordination
• Personal Safety Initiative
• Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS), based at Family Court
• Secondary consultation to Child Protection

About the role
Reporting to the Team Leader Rapid Response, the Practitioner provides vital face to face response and phone support for women and families who are leaving or have recently left their home due to family violence, providing short term interventions that support and assist during an immediate period of crisis.  Rapid Response also provide an immediate interim response and manage the Active Hold list.  Rapid Response is delivered via a mix of permanent or rostered shifts which include outreach, office based and on call arrangements.  Practitioners work a flexible mix of daytime, evening and weekend shifts.  Working as part of a team the position responds to requests primarily from Safe Steps, Victoria Police, The Orange Door, hospitals, SECASA and internally from other Wayss programs.

Duties include:

• Assessing the immediate situation, safety risk and support needs of women and accompanying children using the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM)
• Facilitating comprehensive safety planning with clients
• Providing assistance with accessing crisis accommodation in the Southern Melbourne area
• Providing a short term crisis response to women and children that includes:

         – emotional support
         – providing replacement mobile phones and material aid
         – assessment of housing and social support needs
         – follow up support the next day
         – advocacy and liaison with The Orange Door and Safe Steps as required

•  Providing advocacy and support activities such as:

         –  Culturally appropriate support for clients facing specific barrier
         –  Promoting the rights, responsibilities and dignity of client
 
At times, the role may be required to support other functions of Wayss Specialist Family Violence Teams.

About you
We are looking for a motivated and flexible individual who will work as part of a team to achieve best practice outcomes for women and families.
  
Successful candidates will bring the following:

• Relevant tertiary qualification(s) in social work, or a related discipline.
• Compliant with Family Violence Minimum Qualifications (Rec 209) https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family-violence-practitioners
• Relevant experience working in the community services sector in family violence services
• Demonstrated experience and capability in:

         – Responding to requests for services.
         – Facilitating a family violence risk assessment using MARAM.
         – Safety planning.
         – Short term case management.
         – Providing advocacy and support.
         – Working autonomously and under limited direction.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to improving service delivery and practice that support better outcomes for clients who have experienced family violence
• Highly developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills to effectively respond to women and accompanying children in crisis
• The ability to work collaboratively and build strong, authentic and supportive working relationships
• Computer skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

This role requires a current Driver’s Licence and valid Working With Children Check Card.  The candidate will need to have successfully completed Wayss pre-employment screening, a police check and provide evidence of full Covid-19 vaccination compliance.

Candidates please note:

Family Violence Minimum Mandatory Qualifications under Recommendation 209. As per the minimum mandatory qualification’s requirements set by the Victorian Government (refer to https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family-violence-practitioners)  
all candidates wishing to apply for this role must be able to demonstrate that they meet one of the following requirements:  

1. are considered EXEMPT under the policy;
2. hold a Bachelor of Social Work or other equivalent qualification;
3. have a minimum 5 years relevant professional experience;
4. have a related qualification as per the mandatory minimum qualification requirements;
5. hold significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience, and have faced barriers to educational pathways.

Please note that candidates wishing to enter the specialist family violence workforce via a related qualification or 5 years related professional experience pathway, or the significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience pathways will be required to work towards an equivalent qualification within specified timeframes (as per the mandatory minimum qualifications policy). If you believe these pathways may apply to you and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Wayss People Enablement to discuss this further.  

Applications
Applications close 9am, 02 November 2022.
  
Please ensure you include a covering letter, outlining your experience in relation to the “About You” section in the Position Description.  Enquiries about the position can be directed to Brenna Johnstone, Manager, Family Violence Response program on 8797 1607.
    
The Position Description can be obtained by visiting https://www.wayss.org.au/careers-at-wayss/ 

Working for Wayss
Our people are our greatest asset. Without them, we would be unable to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people facing homelessness and family violence. This is our motivation in offering a range of benefits to ensure we hire and retain great people.
  
To hear what our people have to say about working at Wayss go to
https://vimeo.com/334095504/488eb4fc30

What is important to Wayss must be important to you.

Wayss is proud to be an inclusive and child safe organisation. 
  
Wayss is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being an organisation that embraces a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion within our workforce and approach to service delivery. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic communities, people of all ages and LGBTIQ people.  Wayss is a proud Rainbow Tick accredited organisation that welcomes everyone across the LGBTIQ community.