The Northern Rivers Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) is auspiced by the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre.

Northern Rivers WDVCAS provides women who experience domestic and family violence with the following:

1. Threat assessment and safety planning
2. Information and referral
3. Court advocacy
4. Case Management
5. Hearing Support

Northern Rivers WDVCAS also provides victim liaison and secretariat support for Safety Action Meetings (SAMs) in the Richmond and Tweed-Byron police districts.

We provide a service to women (transgender and cisgender women) and non-binary people who are aged 16 and over and who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence, and their children. Workers are required to apply trauma-informed and healing centred practice at all times.

Position title:     Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Worker,

Northern Rivers WDVCAS

Award:                  Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Service Industry Award (SCHADS)

Salary:                   As per SCHADS Award, Grade 5

Conditions:           Access to PBI salary packaging

Responsible to:  

1.            Manager, Northern Rivers WDVCAS

2.            Committee of Management, Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre (NRCLC)

Overview

The Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Specialist Worker undertakes key tasks at the direction of the WDVCAS Manager.

Responsibilities of the role

The work of the DFV Specialist Worker includes, but is not limited to, the following duties:

• Accepting electronic referrals from the CRP and non-electronic referrals direct from government agencies and non-government services;
• Contacting clients referred to the WDVCAS in a timely manner, conducting a threat assessment to ascertain their current risk status and undertaking safety planning to address a client’s immediate safety needs;
• Liaising with the SAM Coordinators to ensure all clients assessed as ‘at serious threat’ are placed on the agenda for the next SAM when necessary;
• Providing relevant information and making warm referrals to a range of service providers to assist clients with their ongoing needs;
• Liaising with clients in relation to Safety Action Plans developed at SAMs and/or support provided, or arranged, by Northern Rivers WDVCAS;
• Engaging in community development activities;
• Attending court on AVO list days and other days as required to provide information, assistance and court advocacy for WDVCAS clients as directed by the WDVCAS Manager;
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key WDVCAS partners including NSW Police Force, Local Courts, legal representatives and referral agencies, in order to facilitate client access to those agencies and services;
• Complying with the SAM Manual and the Domestic Violence Information Sharing protocol;
• Fulfilling reporting requirements for the WDVCAP database and the CRP in line with the WDVCAP Service Agreement, the WDVCAP Policy and Procedure Manual and SAM Manual, and
• Assisting the SAM Coordinators to develop and administer policies, systems and processes for the effective operation of the WDVCAS and SAMs.

Accountability

• undertaking work in accordance with NRCLC policies and procedures and WDVCAP Service Agreement;
• completing a report for the NRCLC’s annual report.

Supervision

• Supervised by WDVCAS Manager

Team work

• working cooperatively in a multi-disciplinary team;

• attending NRCLC Management Committee meetings as required;
• attending NRCLC Whole of Centre meetings and training;
• attending team meetings;
• attending relevant community meetings and networks.

Community liaison and networking

• Participating in local domestic violence committees and other relevant interagency groups, as required;
• Participating in local community awareness projects.

Training and development

• undertaking in-house and external training, including Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program (WDVCAP) forums and other training events;

Supervision

• attending external supervision as required.

Administration

• ensuring that client data is appropriately collected and recorded;
• Maintaining records and case file notes in accordance with the requirements of the WDVCAP policy and procedure manual and NRCLC policies and procedures.

Equal opportunity and work, health and safety

• complying with the Centre’s equal opportunity policies and procedures;
• complying with WHS policies and safe work practices

Applicants should apply in writing for the position, addressing the selection criteria. This means that you will need to specifically respond to EACH of the criteria in your application. If you do not address each of the selection criteria, it is unlikely that you will be considered for the position.

Also include a resume which sets out your personal details (name, address and contact details), education, previous positions and experience, and two or three referees (names, addresses and contact details).

1. Relevant experience working in the domestic violence sector;

2. Demonstrated negotiation and conflict resolution skills and the ability to work as part of a team;

3. Demonstrated understanding of the dynamics, complexities and social consequences of domestic violence;

4. Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with clients in crisis and provide appropriate trauma-informed and healing centred support; 

5. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;

6. Current driver’s licence and the ability to travel within the Northern Rivers region.

Applications close at 9am, 17 November 2022.

Enquiries should be directed to Kylie McKenzie at [email protected]