Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice provides services to to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities in NSW

Job description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Casework Specialist

1 x Ongoing Casework Specialist Role in St Marys

We are also recruiting for a talent pool for Sydney Metro locations – Sydney, South Sydney, Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains, Help Line Liverpool

• Salary – $116,211 – 119,479 p.a. + Super and leave loading
• 4 weeks annual leave
• Flexible working conditions

Please Note

The ongoing Casework Specialist role is a targeted recruitment, whilst all applicants are welcome, to apply, preference will be given to candidates who meet the established standards of the role and are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander descent, The Department acknowledges lived experience contributes a perspective critical to the success of this role.

The Talent Pool will be created for future ongoing and temporary roles for both targeted and non targeted roles in Sydney metrpolitan area and is valid for 18 months. .

Your role

As a Casework Specialist you will work alongside casework teams to promote good practice and support continuous improvement in service delivery. You will achieve this by supporting quality practice and building the skills and capabilities of our caseworkers and managers.

What you’ll do

Your day will include but not limited to the following:

• Working alongside caseworkers directly with children, young people and their families to model/coach best practice.
• Providing specialist consultant advice to all levels of management and staff on case practice matters and specialised assistance in complex or sensitive cases.
• Taking on the Consultant role in group supervision.
• Providing one to one and group support to new caseworkers upon their completion of the Caseworker Development Program (CDP).
• Working with caseworkers and managers, modelling, coaching and mentoring them to develop case practice skills and knowledge that are responsive to the changing needs of children, young people and families.
• Developing and maintaining networks and relationships to influence good practice
• Drawing on contemporary evidence-based practice research and resources to inform your work.
• Facilitating learning packages on a range of practice approaches and standards.

What we’re looking for

• Demonstrated skills in putting the child at the centre of your work
• Someone recognised as a practice leader in child protection and works collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with a variety of people to influence and guide good practice.

• The ability to deal with sensitive, complex issues appropriately and confidentially.
• A strong ethical approach to practice and your role as a practice leader.
• Previous experience in a Human Services role where you have had experience in providing comprehensive advice on complex case reviews.
• The ability to work independently and in a team.
• An ability to show initiative, set priorities and manage a workload.

Essential Requirements:

To be eligible to apply you must have:

• Extensive experience in applying best practice casework with children, young people and families.
• A degree in social work, social welfare, related discipline or identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• A valid driver’s licence.
• A Working with Children Check clearance number prior to commencement in the role.

Appointments are subject to reference checks and the following pre-employment checks:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014.
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

Download the role description

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We’re focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

1. Please describe a scenario within your practice where it was necessary for you to act with integrity. Provide detail as to what you did to create a positive outcome for a child/family and also examples as to what you may have done differently after reflecting on the scenario and your responses.
2. Casework Specialists use their relationship building skills, influence and knowledge of child protection practice to support caseworkers and managers to deliver good practice and sound decision making for families we work with. Please provide an example of how you have successfully influenced others, the approach you used and the outcome.

Applications close – 30th July 2023 @ 11.30PM AEST

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Amy Dunshea on 0421610983 or [email protected]

Got a question about applying or require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please, contact Ghislaine Abel on [email protected] or 97653313.

Inclusion and Diversity lie at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit our careers site.

Other Information

A Talent Pool will be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic some interviews and assessments may be performed using alternative methods. For more information visit Our Process.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

Profile description:

As a Casework Specialist you will work alongside casework teams to promote good practice and support continuous improvement in service delivery.