BDAC is an ACCO (Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation) registered as a member under the umbrella of VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) and represented nationally through NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation).

BDAC was founded to represent and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on Djaara Country.

BDAC has a responsibility to ensure growth of services, development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, better and improved health outcomes for our people, improved quality of life and be a lead agency in providing self-determination employment and career pathways for Aboriginal people.

What We Are Offering

• Full-Time Ongoing
• $49.28 per hour
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 11.5% Superannuation
• Supportive work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

About The Program

The Loddon region is the location for an exciting and innovative partnership to provide early intensive supports and intervention to young people entering care for the first time. The program aims to support reunification and/or stabilising placements.

The Loddon Care Hub is being funded by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. This trial model brings together placement options, family services and outreach support to minimise the time a child or young person spends in care, and maximise the likelihood of successful reunification with family, by coordinating and enhancing:

• Placement options (foster and residential care);
• Therapeutic and cultural support;
• Family work and outreach support.
• Mental health and alcohol and other drugs support.

The Care Hub will provide early assessment, planning and wrap around supports by a single integrated team (formed from a consortium of organisations) for children and young people who are first time entrants into care.

The Position

The aim of the Key Practitioner role within the Care Hub is to undertake assessment, coordinate the care plan including the placement plan and be the one point of contact for the Care team.

The role will coordinate the multidisciplinary team in coordinating assessment, planning and support children and young people in the hub.

The Key Practitioner will provide quality interventions and services that are focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families experiencing vulnerability as well as the safety and wellbeing of child/ren and young people.

This role will provide case coordination and a key point of contact for the Care Team and will work across the multi-disciplinary team including Child Protection to coordinate assessment, planning and support child/ren, young people and families.

Some of the Key Responsibilities

• Undertake regular risk and needs assessments and case coordination; utilising the Best Interest Framework and other contemporary frameworks and theories; across the Loddon region. Focusing on the safety, stability and wellbeing of children and young people in their family home.
• Coordinate the Care Hub team via weekly care team meetings and develop assessments and plans in consultation and collaboration of the care team.
• Actively engage (including outreach visits) children, young people and families, including those who may be resistant, by being flexible, responsive, strengths-focused and creative.
• Make an active commitment to the development and maintenance of a learning environment and cohesive multi-disciplinary team across the consortium, through staff meetings, team meetings, staff development, supervision and reflective practice.
• Develop good working relationships with consortium partners including Aboriginal services to ensure cultural safety in our practice, strengthening outcomes for aboriginal children and young people.
• Work within a collaborative care team approach with consortium members and relevant stakeholders, including Child Protection to promote best outcomes for client.
• Fulfil the program obligation regarding case load requirements, targets, case recording, statistics, and other data collection.
• Liaise with Cultural Support Worker to ensure children, young people and families cultural needs are identified early and embedded in practice.
• Work alongside Anglicare Victoria Key Practitioners to provide a coordinated and collaborative approach to Care Hub practice.

Ideally the preferred candidate will have the following skills and/or experiences

• Resilience to work with and support clients who have been exposed to trauma.
• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Culture and the ACCHO environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Children’s, Youth and Families Act 2005.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive safety and wellbeing assessments and work within the Best Interest Principles ‘as outlined within the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.
• Sound understanding of the Child Protection and welfare system, and experience in collaboration with a range of professionals in a care team approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to prepare plans, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language. Ensure written communications contain necessary information to achieve their purpose.

Mandatory Education, Training and/or Competencies

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Early Childhood Specialist and / or Community Services or related behavioral sciences at a degree level or associated diploma level with substantial experience in the relevant service stream.

*If you don’t meet these requirements but strongly believe and are able to demonstrate you have the knowledge and capacity to fulfill this role, please contact us.

How to Apply

If this role sounds like the role for you then click on the "Apply Now" link and apply by attaching your CV and a cover letter detailing how you suit the role.

Mandatory Requirements

Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (Police check, reference check and Working with Children's Check) will be completed prior to the candidate’s employment being confirmed.

For more information about this position please see the Position Description which can be accessed via our website www.bdac.com.au or contact our human resources team on (03) 5442 4947 or send an email through to [email protected] using the subject line: Key Practitioner - Loddon Care Hub - Bendigo enquiry via EthicalJobs.