Why work with Salvos?
When you work for the Salvos you are making a difference to the community and lives of others. A career with purpose, where you can help society’s most vulnerable as we care for people, create faith pathways, build healthy communities and work for justice.

About the role
We are seeking a dedicated Specialist Children’s Practitioner! You will be responsible for the provision of a high quality, integrated assessment and response program for children supported by Salvation Army Youth Services. Salvation Army Youth Services (YS) is committed to working in partnership with young people to address the issues contributing to their unique experience of crisis & homelessness.

Responsibilities include

• Providing tailored and appropriate on-site parent education (including groupwork) to help young parents understand and build secure attachments, develop healthy routines for sleeping and feeding, and address any other parenting or discipline concerns as highlighted by case managers and/or parents
• Provide comprehensive family assessments with tailored goals and actions that aim to understand and address parent/child relationships, increase parenting knowledge of child development, determine parent strengths and areas for improvement, and promote child safety and wellbeing
• Provide secondary consults to case management and support staff regarding children with particular focus on parent skills development, taking into consideration any trauma history, intellectual disabilities, mental health concerns, CALD status, or any other needs or vulnerabilities
• Develop comprehensive support plans for parents that, in conjunction with case managers, provides education and practical support for aspects of child rearing including but not limited to: child development, infant feeding, diet and nutrition, providing a safe home environment including impacts of family violence, understanding how babies/children communicate, strengthening parent/child relationships, connection to community and services on offer such as playgroups, bonding and attachment, developing healthy behaviours and learning how to discipline, play, sleep and settling, and how to care for children if they are unwell
• Provide ongoing education and practical training as relevant to staff that is child focused and strengths-based, including strategies to enhance secure attachments and support healthy child development
• Recommend engagement and play techniques for infants and children to young people and staff and demonstrate a variety of attachment strengthening activities and games that can help parents bond with their children or strengthen child development
• Create bespoke parent education resources for parents as needed that are suited to their capacity and help increase parenting knowledge and/or service awareness

This is a permanent part-time position, based in St Kilda, VIC. Salary and conditions are in accordance with SCHADS Level 5.

What you will have

• Minimum degree qualification in social work or related discipline
• Experience or training in early childhood education or related discipline is preferred
• Experience working with parents to promote child development and/or parent education programs or tools
• Experience in service delivery with children and families who have experienced trauma
• A national police record check is required
• Compulsory Code of Conduct, WHS and Bullying and Harassment training modules are completed and up to date.
• Victorian Drivers Licence (if required for tool of trade car or pool car access)
• Working With Children Check (if required)

Benefits working at The Salvation Army

• (Maybe eligible to) NFP salary packaging ($15,900 tax free) plus meals and entertainment benefits
• Employee Assistance Program – Independent confidential counselling service
• Financial, retail and lifestyle discounts and benefits
• Discounted health and fitness programs through Fitness Passport
• Up to 8 weeks leave per year through our purchase leave scheme
• Generous Parental Leave offering of 12 weeks
• Up to 5 days paid leave per year to support a TSA program or activity
• An inclusive culture of dedicated, passionate, and professional team members
• Positively supporting and impacting the lives of others through your career contribution

Please send CV and cover letter addressing the following:

• Minimum degree qualification in social work or related discipline
• Experience or training in early childhood education or related discipline is preferred
• Experience working with parents to promote child development and/or parent education programs or tools
• Experience in service delivery with children and families who have experienced trauma

Applications will close as soon as a suitable candidate is secured. Do not delay in submitting your application today!

The Salvation Army is a Christian movement and one of Australia’s largest and most-loved charities, helping thousands of Australians every year find hope in the midst of all kinds of personal hardship. The Salvation Army offers the opportunity to use your professional skills and expertise to make a real difference in the lives of people who need help most.

The Salvation Army is an Equal Opportunity Employer who provides an inclusive work environment and embraces the diverse talent of its people. We value people of all cultures, languages, capacities, sexual orientations, gender identities and/or expressions. We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Salvation Army is a child safe organization and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. All child facing roles will require the successful completion of a Working with Children Check. Applicants for all roles require a mandatory National Police Check.

We value Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Diversity, and Collaboration.