About Open Support

Open Support is a community service organisation committed to providing assistance to families in need across New South Wales. Open Support offers services that are professional, flexible and responsive to emerging community needs.

As one of our key service areas, we provide crisis accommodation, transitional accommodation support, case management and child specific case support to CALD and migrant women and children who have experienced and are escaping family violence. In addition to our crisis facility, support is also offered to clients who are transitioning or have transitioned from crisis accommodation to longer-term housing and in an outreach capacity.

The Open Support DFV Program aims to ensure that women and children are supported in ways that leave them empowered to make choices that prioritise their own safety & wellbeing and that lead them to experience and increased sense of control and hope for their futures.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney provides the payroll and human resources services for St Vincent’s Clinic and as such your legal employment entity is St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney.

The Role

An exciting opportunity exists for a motivated and proactive community services worker with experience working with families impacted by Domestic and Family Violence. As a DFV Case Worker you will provide a crisis response to women and children staying within our crisis facility as well as providing ongoing outreach support to clients who have transitioned to living more independently in the community. You will be responsible for carrying out day to day activities associated with the provision of safe and comfortable crisis accommodation and for working with case managers and clients to action case plans and ensure clients can reach their individual goals. You will also assist with client intake and exit planning. Duties are varied but may include accompanying clients to appointments, assisting them with paperwork, liaison with other agencies, helping clients to find suitable housing and providing them with support that enhances their capacity to live safely and independently.

As the successful applicant you will demonstrate your high level communication and active listening skills with women and children of diverse capabilities and backgrounds and will have the ability to work both independently and effectively as part of a team. You will develop a shared understanding with clients of the power and gender issues involved in family violence and their effects. Your ability to prioritise and safely manage risk in a change rich environment will be critical. As in this role, no two days are the same, you will have excellent time management skill and demonstrate a willingness to be flexible according to the needs of the service at all times.

Essential Criteria

· Qualifications in community work, social work, welfare or related discipline

· Experience working with families impacted by Domestic & Family Violence

· Current NSW drivers’ licence, Current Working with Children Check and NSW Police Check clearance

· Current First Aid Certificate & Mental Health First Aid or willingness to work toward the same

· Demonstrated ability to provide a flexible, trauma informed and client centred approach to service delivery

· Strong interpersonal, active listening and negotiation skills and experience in effectively managing difficult situations

· Demonstrated ability to work independently, plan, prioritise workload and show initiative.

· Ability to effectively assess and manage risk to ensure the safety of staff and clients, particularly within a Domestic and Family Violence context

· Strong written & verbal communication skills, including:

· Maintaining concise and accurate client files

· Advocating on behalf of others to a range of agencies and support services

· Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds

· Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications and the ability to acquire knowledge of other online computer programs and applications as required

· The ability to manage service obligations including confidentiality, duty of care, mandatory reports, WHS, other relevant legislation and professional conduct standards.

Desirable Criteria

· Ability to speak a second language (other than English)

· Experience in working in a residential setting

· Knowledge of some of the specific issues facing migrants and people from CALD backgrounds, and children who experience DFV.

· Experience in using electronic client record management systems

Benefits

If you are looking for a career with an organisation that is committed to making a difference to the most vulnerable in our community, then this is the role for you. Open Support offers a supportive and flexible working environment and unique opportunities for professional and personal growth. In addition, a competitive salary packaging arrangement through Smart Salary is available to all permanent employees.

To Apply

Please ensure your application includes:

· Cover letter

· Up to date resume with 2 current referee contacts

· Response to the all criteria outlined above

Please direct any enquiries to Karen Devins, DFV Program Manager, Open Support [email protected]