While this position is based in Cairns it is a requirement to travel to Cape York and Torres on a regular basis.

• Are you a Social Worker looking to make a real difference in the community?
• All experience levels encouraged to apply.
• Enjoy an attractive remuneration $100,001 gross per annum plus 11.5% super and 17.5% leave loading
• Full-time role (38 hours per week).
• Eligible employees may also benefit from salary sacrifice options to further increase their take-home pay.
• Time off in lieu arrangements available.
• 3 days ex gratia leave available over the Christmas/New Year period.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Up to $1,000 relocation costs

About the Organisation

The Cairns Community Legal Centre is committed to providing free legal and social justice services to a range of people in the community experiencing disadvantage, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those experiencing financial difficulties or homelessness.

The Centre operates a number of services including the Cape York and Torres Strait Seniors Legal and Social Support Service. This Service provides legal and social work services to seniors experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse and or exploitation, often at the hands of family members or others that they know, and depend on, for care and support. This includes guardianship and administration matters, housing, neglect, intimidation, harassment and physical and financial abuse. Support for clients is provided though a multi-disciplinary practice consisting of practitioners committed to working together to provide legal and social work services needed to provide a holistic approach to assisting clients.

About the Opportunity

The social worker in this service works with older people who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing abuse. The social worker will assist with risk assessment and safety planning, relationship issues, financial and other hardship challenges, psychological wellbeing, case management and improving their access to aged care and specialist services. Objectives of the service are to improve wellbeing, protect human rights, reduce isolation, and build the client’s capacity to participate actively in any legal processes they choose to pursue.

The social worker will also be working closely with the service’s dedicated Client Support Officer, who facilitates the service’s objectives by assisting with client communication and support, stakeholder liaison and community education.

About You

The successful candidate will require a Bachelor of Social Work (or Masters of Social Work (qualifying)) with relevant experience.

You must also be the holder of a Class C driver’s licence, and able to travel as required. While this position is based in Cairns it is a requirement to travel to Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands on a regular basis.

The successful candidate will also be an adaptable and agile individual, with the ability to respond to emerging demands. A strong team player, you'll demonstrate a positive attitude and enthusiastically accept new challenges as they arise. Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills will be key to your success, as will the ability to effectively manage competing priorities.

Importantly, you'll be passionate about the work, and will have a genuine interest in working to help people who are experiencing disadvantage.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide social work services to clients based in the Cape York and Torres Strait region in accordance with Cairns Community Legal Centre’s policies and practices.
• Provide an effective intake, safety planning, crisis response and capacity screening service for clients, or prospective clients.
• Assist clients safety plans, access to services and support, advocacy, negotiation with relevant parties, and referrals (via phone, appointments at outreach locations, home visits and on-site at the Centre, as appropriate).
• In conjunction with their line manager and colleagues, ensure their caseload remains manageable.
• Collaborate with relevant agencies and entities to provide information, problem solve and develop referral pathways for services to clients.
• Provide high quality written reports, records, and/or collect data as required for evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Developing and maintaining community education materials.
• Initiating and providing community education and training to service users and providers; and

As a member of the Centre’s team, you’ll also share workloads with your colleagues, and be actively involved in promotional and other activities aimed at the ongoing development of the Centre and services and which seek to meet its corporate goals.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. The Centre’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Retention policy sets out our commitment to:

• Fostering a culturally inclusive workplace where people feel welcomed and valued,
• Promoting and enhancing cultural safety and respect, and
• Promoting permanent career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers, including retention.

Applying

Please address the following criteria with your application:

Please provide a response to the selection criteria:

1. Demonstrated ability to undertake client need and risk assessment and connect clients to required services.
2. Demonstrated high level written and oral communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to:
   1. convey complex information to vulnerable clients experiencing disadvantage.
   2. work effectively with management, staff and stakeholders to affect the goals of the Centre and meet the needs of its clients
3. Highlight your case management experience in preparing, developing, and implementing client support plans which seek to address an identified need.
4. Please provide an example where you have organised and delivered community education activities to raise awareness, using workshops, meetings or related mechanisms. What was the activity and the outcome?
5. Knowledge of, or ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of legal processes and legislation.
6. How many years' experience do you have as a social worker?
7. Are you available to travel for this role when required?

As part of your employment you will be required to undertake a criminal history check.

To submit your application, please click Apply Now below.

A full position description is attached below.