Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Worker (maternity leave contract)

Blacktown Women’s and Girls’ Health Centre Inc.

Job description

• Hours: 35 hours per week
• Date start: ASAP
• Award/Rate of Pay: SCHADS AWARD Level: 4.1 The specific level of remuneration is dependent on the worker’s experience. 
• Accountabilities: Manager & Assistant Manager at NWSWDVCAS
• Applications close: 2nd October 2023

Please note, this is a maternity leave position contracted until 30th June 2024 with the possibility of being extended for a longer period. 

ABOUT THE EMPLOYER

Blacktown Women’s and Girls Health Centre (BWGHC), is a feminist, non for profit charity meeting the needs of excellent health and wellbeing initiatives for women and girls and envisages a community in which women exercise equal rights, choose their own destiny and have a safe environment for themselves and their children. BWGHC work towards this by providing counselling, information and referral, advocacy, capacity building and support services to clients.

The organisation has been established in the area for over 30 years as one of 21 Women’s Health Centre’s across NSW. Over this time, the BWGHC has grown and evolved to run a range of programs including women only Doctor and Nurse Clinics, Early Childhood Clinics, Legal Services, Drug and Alcohol support and advice, Counselling (Generalist and Domestic Violence), Case Work, Group Work and Information Services and auspice the North West Sydney & Nepean Blue Mountains Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services. 

WDVCAS provides information, referrals and advocacy to women and their children who are or have been experiencing domestic and family violence, addressing their legal, social and welfare needs. WDVCAS assists women to obtain effective legal protection through application of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) at Blacktown and Mt Druitt local courts, assisting women before court, at court and after court. WDVCAS assist women with safety planning and case-coordination. 

A key component of WDVCAS work involves fortnightly Safety Action Meetings (SAM) which are attended by police, WDVCAS and local services to assist women and children who are at higher risk, as assessed by police and/or WDVCAS. 

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The work of the DFV Specialist Worker includes, but is not limited to, the following duties: 

1. Accepting electronic referrals from the CRP and non-electronic referrals direct from government agencies and non-government services;
2. Contacting clients referred to the NWSWDVCAS 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;
3. 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;
4. Providing relevant information and making warm referrals to a range of service providers to assist clients with their ongoing needs;
5. Liaising with clients in relation to Safety Action Plans developed at SAMs and/or support provided, or arranged, by the NWSWDVCASs;
6. Engaging in community development activities;
7. Attending court on AVO list days and other days as required to provide information, assistance and court advocacy for NWSWDVCAS clients as directed by the NWSWDVCAS Manager;
8. Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key NWSWDVCAS partners including the NSW Police Force, Local Courts, legal representatives and referral agencies, in order to facilitate client access to those agencies and services;
9. Complying with the SAM Manual and the Domestic Violence Information Sharing Protocol;
10. 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
11. Assisting the SAM Coordinator to develop and administer policies, systems and processes for the effective operation of the NWSWDVCAS and SAMs.

ESSENTIAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

1. Tertiary qualifications in relevant field such as Social Work/Social Science/Counselling/Case Management
2. A minimum of 1-year experience in a similar role (i.e. working with women in domestic/family violence specialist service/role)
3. Personal and professional commitment to working within Blacktown Women’s and Girls Health Centre’s mission, values and feminist framework
4. Strong understanding of domestic and family violence, its complexities and consequences (formal training in this area would be highly regarded)
5. Sound 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
6. Ability to work with the local community to promote awareness of domestic and family violence and NWSWDVCAS services
7. Excellent communication skills, particularly in negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution
8. Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with clients in crisis and provide appropriate, trauma-informed support
9. Excellent organisational and administrative skills; and
10. Computer skills and experience in record keeping and documentation skills with strong attention to detail and the ability to multi-task
11. Ability to provide clearance of an NSW Working With Children check (or willingness to obtain)
12. Ability to successfully complete the criminal background check (or willingness to obtain)
13. Current Driver’s Licence
14. Ability to deliver services in accordance with the WDVCAP best practice model of service delivery outlined in the WDVCAP Service Agreement, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program Policy and Procedure Manual 2020-2024, the SAM Manual and operational documents

The Blacktown Women’s and Girls Health Centre considers being a woman a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s.31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). 

If you have any questions or would like to talk a bit more about this job before applying, please feel free to call NWSWDVCAS Manager, Jane Attard-Taylor on 0499 226 239 or email, [email protected], using the subject line: DFV Specialist Worker (maternity leave position) SEEK