Role Details
The Family Practitioner is a role within Community and Family Services and is accountable to the Supervisor, SFS Program for:
- Identifying and assertively engaging children and families at high risk of entering the child protection system through the provision of assessment, case management and therapeutic intervention.
- Working collaboratively with parents, other SFS programs and key partner agencies such as Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS), Department for Child Protection (DCP) and Children’s Centre staff, to strengthen parents/carers ability to effectively support their children’s safety, healthy development and wellbeing.
- Providing case management and targeted interventions to improve outcomes for families with children up to six years old, experiencing safety concerns related to parenting and child safety.
Key outcomes and accountabilities:
- Undertake proactive family engagement and provide high quality and specialised psychosocial assessments and interventions to young children and their families where risk has been identified, including providing case management support for high risk children and families experiencing multiple complexities.
- Provide culturally responsive, family focused intervention approaches that are child centred, strengths based, and informed by both evidence base and practice wisdom and developed in partnership with families.
- Actively engage families in the development of goals and strategies relevant to their desired outcomes to address increased child safety.
- In partnership with early childhood services, provide consultation and liaison with key partners to support strengthening child safety, parenting, parental/child relationships, and early child development outcomes.
- Deliver proactive, targeted and intensive assessment and planning in partnership with services and children and parents, which support sustained engagement over the early life course of the child.
- Utilise flexible service delivery modalities to respond effectively and promptly to individual family circumstances that support child safety and the parent child relationship.
- Manage electronic client files and documentation in accordance with Departmental guidelines, policies and practices, maintain high quality case notes, undertake regular case reviews, clinical supervision and ensure all relevant data is entered into the appropriate systems.
Note: Any other responsibilities in line with the classification level of the role as assigned by Line Manager and/or the Department. The responsibilities as specified above may be altered in accordance with the changing requirements of the role.
Special Conditions
- National Police Check required.
- Employment-related Screening Check required.
- Some interstate and intrastate travel may be required.
- Must hold a current Australian issued driver’s licence (equivalent to minimum class C).
- Covid -19 – will be required to be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination status prior to engagement with DHS, unless it would be medically unsafe for the employee to do so.
- Role Status: Term up to 08/03/2024. (Potential for this contract to be extended beyond March 2024.)
Essential Qualifications:
- An appropriate Social Work qualification from a recognised tertiary institution giving eligibility for full membership with the Australian Association of Social Work; or
- Persons of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not hold the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department of Human Services.
- An appropriate degree or equivalent qualification which entitles registration with the Psychology Board of Australia: or
- An appropriate degree or equivalent qualification which entitles registration as an Occupational Therapist.
Desirable:
- Certification in Infant and Perinatal Mental Health.
- Circle of Security – suite of trainings.
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working, including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
About the Business
Community and Family Services supports vulnerable people and families to participate in social and economic life and build stronger communities. This division comprises three key areas:
Safer Family Services (SFS) provides a wide range of intensive family support services to children, young people and families experiencing a high risk of statutory intervention from the child protection or youth justice systems. Services also include family support, community development and parenting and youth programs.
The Office for Women works across government and the community towards achieving gender equity and positive change for women in South Australia by developing policy and advising on issues affecting women to improve their safety, wellbeing and economic security. The office also oversees the Women’s Information Service to support women over the phone, online and in person, as well as regional safety hubs across the state.
Communities and Justice works towards building community safety and wellbeing by providing support and services to children, young people and families in the youth justice system, building the capacity of communities through community development projects and working in partnership with the community services sector to respond to people with complex and exceptional needs.
Contact Us
Enquiries to Sabina Jackson, 0428962155 Email: [email protected]
Application Instructions
Resume and Cover Letter
You are required to submit a cover letter, up to a maximum of two pages, addressing how your skills and experience align with the role specific capabilities and attach your current resume via the online application form. For more information about applying, refer to our Job Application Guide
Screening Checks
If you are new to the department and are invited to an interview, you will be required to produce a National Police Check, which has been issued within six months of your application for the role. National Police Checks can be applied for via the South Australia Police or through an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission accredited body.
If the role you are applying for also requires an Employment-related Screening Check, you will be required to undergo such assessment as is advised by DHS, including periodic assessment during your employment.
to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equitable services to all South Australians. This ensures that all people feel welcome to work with us and access our services, including people identifying as Aboriginal, living with disability, LGBTIQA+, youth, mature age, and from different ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural backgrounds.