Family Life – Transforming lives for stronger communities

• Work locally in the Bayside Area and make a difference within the Community
• Enjoy the benefits of flexible work through our Hybrid Working Model
• Part-time, Fixed-term 30.4 hours (0.8 FTE) opportunity 
• Level 5 SCHADS Award $93,860.00 + Generous Salary Packaging + Super 
   

Family Life is a recognised Employer of Choice. Work with us and be part of our supportive, people-focused culture.

Who we are

At Family Life, we believe every child deserves to thrive in a safe and healthy family environment. Family Life is a specialist family services provider that has worked with children, families and communities for more than 50 years.  Our vision is to work with clients and partners to create capable communities, strong families and thriving children. 

We are known for our innovation and whole-of-community collective impact approach. Our teams are committed to transforming the lives of our clients and communities to build resilience and healthy relationships. We are proudly purpose-driven, independent and not for profit. We support our community through our specialist family services, community strengthening programs, a network of op shops, a vibrant engaged volunteer community and passionate skilled staff.

The Opportunity

The Brief Intervention Practitioner is a part-time (0.8 FTE), fixed-term role until 31 July 2024 with opportunity for extension pending refunding of the Early Help Program. 

The aim of the Brief Intervention Practitioner is to provide short-term, predominantly phone support to vulnerable families and their children aged 0-17 in an effort to increase parenting capacity, promote safety and wellbeing and to identify appropriate resources and linkages to ongoing services to better manage family challenges. The Brief Intervention space aims to provide this support in an effort to minimise the likelihood of families entering the service system in future, with higher needs and level of risk.

As part of Family Life’s hybrid working model, the successful candidate will be based at our Sandringham and Frankston sites with some work from home days and off-site work, as required.

Our Ideal Candidate

This is an exciting opportunity for a professional with Bachelor level qualification in Social Work, Social Welfare, Social Science or similar who has experience working with children, adolescents and their families particularly where there are complexities such as Mental Health issues, Alcohol and Other Drug misuse, Family Violence, Adolescent Violence, Sexual Abuse and Trauma. Our ideal candidate will be a skilled and passionate individual who embodies the Family Life Way principles to deliver trauma informed support to our clients and is looking to achieve positive outcomes for communities in addition to holding a vested interest in continuous improvement with the aim of bettering the overall experience of service users and relevant stakeholders, both internal and external.

A typical day in the life of the Brief Intervention Practitioner includes:

• Typically, the Brief Intervention Practitioner will conduct a number of phone calls with their allocated referrals utilising a child-centred, strengths-based approach. At times, there will be capacity to conduct this support face to face with the client. 
• Conducting safety and needs assessments for a range of families presenting with varying complexities and issues of risk and safety, aligning with Family Life policy and process. 
• Addressing any immediate safety needs and providing clients with brief support around their presenting and assessed needs, with a lens of Early Intervention. Cementing linkages to ongoing supports to build on parenting capacity.
• Working closely with other key stakeholders including Maternal and Child Health Nurses, schools / the Department of Education, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (formerly known as DHHS) and other relevant professionals.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Increase parents’ capacity in meeting their child’s health, safety and developmental needs, and to build self-efficacy through psychoeducation and linkages to community, support and education.
• Utilising a trauma-informed approach to promote family safety and stability through strong assessment, case plans and application of appropriate risk assessment frameworks utilising the Best Interests Framework and MARAM Risk Assessment tools.
• Work effectively with parents from a range of backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ and people with a disability.
• Respond to L17 referrals which may include medium-high risk/risk assessment, safety planning and/or referral to relevant services, with support.
• Provide a collaborative response to Family Violence, if identified, and utilise this lens when providing the brief support and completing referrals for ongoing Family Violence support.
• Carry specialist portfolios such as group work to promote interventions designed to strengthen family capacity, provide psychoeducation and reduce family violence within the community.

Working at Family Life is More Than Just a Job

It’s the feeling of knowing that your work is contributing to making the community in which you live a better place and working with others who feel the same way. 

Additionally, you will have access to:

• Flexible Work Culture through our Hybrid Working Model
• Salary packaging (receive up to an extra $18,500 in tax-free pay per year)
• Paid Wellbeing Leave
• Paid Study Leave
• Additional Paid Leave for End of Year Closedown
• Purchased Annual Leave Scheme
• Rostered Day Off Scheme for Eligible Employees
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service for employees

How to Apply

A full position description is available on our career page: Family Life Careers page.

Please submit your confidential application including a CV and cover letter addressing the key selection criteria via our Application Portal. 

For further information regarding the position please contact Roxanne, Family Services Team Leader on (03) 8599 5433. 

Applications close: 25 September 2023

*We will be reviewing applications as they are received, therefore this role may close sooner if we find the right candidate. Please apply now to ensure you do not miss out!

All offers of employment are subject to the Family Life Safety Screening process, including a Working with Children Check and Police Records Check.  Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with Family Life.

Family Life values diversity and welcomes applicants who meet the position criteria, irrespective of race and ethnicity, colour, age, gender, gender identity, disability, religion and sexual orientation.

Family Life is a trauma informed organisation and recognises the unique skills, contributions and insights that come from lived experience.

Family Life is a child safe organisation.  We value, respect and listen to children and young people. We are committed to the safety of all children and young people. Family Life supports children to meet their potential and thrive. We do not tolerate neglect, mistreatment or abuse of any kind.