Details
Category: Social Work
Field: Domestic Violence, Advocacy, Community Welfare
Employment basis: Full-time
Award: SCHADS Level 5
Job Location: Burwood
About us
Be part of a vital service that makes a real difference to women’s lives and children’s wellbeing. Burwood Community Welfare Services Inc. has a long history of delivering quality services in the community, with an emphasis on women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Burwood Community Welfare Services. Inc auspices the Burwood Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS). The Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Specialist Worker undertakes key tasks at the
direction of the WDVCAS Manager. The DFV Specialist Worker assists the service in the day to day responses to referrals received and court advocacy for clients.
This is a fixed full-time position until 30 June 2023.
Employment conditions
Being a woman is a genuine qualification for this position and is exempted under s.31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.
Employment is under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award and is subject to a Working with Children and Criminal Record Check.
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 Coordinator 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 the WDVCASs;
- 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 the 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 Coordinator to develop and administer policies, systems and processes for the effective operation of the WDVCAS and SAMs.
Administration
- General administrative support, including file management, photocopying, organising meetings, organising incoming/outgoing mail and other administrative duties as required.
- Using WDVCAS database to generate statistics.
- Contribution to reports as required.
- Contribute to the preparation of appropriate resource and referral materials for the service.
Teamwork
- Comply with Burwood Community Welfare Services Inc. and Burwood WDVCAS Policies and Procedures.
- Attend team meetings as required.
- Always represent organisation in a positive and professional way.
- Contribute to a positive and cooperative work environment.
Essential Selection Criteria:
- Being a woman;
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work, community welfare and/or equivalent experience working in the domestic violence sector;
- Understanding of domestic and family violence, its complexities and consequences;
- Knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice response to domestic and family violence including AVO applications and criminal prosecutions and related legal matters such as family law, care and protection, migration and victim’s compensation issues;
- Ability to deliver services in accordance with the WDVCAP best practice model of service delivery outlined in the WDVCAP Service Agreement, this Policy and Procedure Manual, the SAM Manual and operational documents;
- Ability to work with the local community to promote awareness of domestic and family violence and WDVCAS services;
- Excellent communication skills, particularly in negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution;
- Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with clients in crisis and provide appropriate, trauma-informed support;
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills; and
- Current clearance in relation to Working with Children and relevant NSW Police Force checks.
- Knowledge of and an ability to work effectively with interpreter services;
- NSW Driver’s License and access to a car;
- Demonstrated administrative and computer skills.
- All applicants MUST be available on Thursday, 27th October 2022 for an interview.
Desirable Selection Criteria:
- Experience in working with trauma informed framework and the impact of Domestic Violence on Children
- Knowledge of appropriate referral agencies in service area.
Accountability:
The position is accountable to the WDVCAS Manager.
Contact details
Contact Name: Melissa
Contact Email: melissa@bcw.org.au
Website: www.bcw.org.au
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please email [email protected] with essential information below.
Your application must include:
- Cover letter
- Current resume
- Document containing your responses to the Essential Selection Criteria
Applications must be received by 16:00 on Friday, 21st October 2022.