• Full Time role based at our Sefton Park site, Adelaide

Our Foster Care Service (FCS) is funded through the Department for Child Protection (DCP) to provide family based foster care services in the SA Metropolitan North, South, West, and East, the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa and the Murray/Mallee regions.

Lutheran Care (LC) has recently expanded the provision of services to include Specialist Foster Care. LC’s model of care is an enhanced version of LC’s current practice approach that is built on a therapeutic approach, quality supports and stable placements for children.

The Children’s Therapeutic Worker delivers specialised therapeutic services and other relevant programs to children and young people in care. The worker also works collaboratively with Case Workers and Foster Carers to ensure that the therapeutic needs of children who are in the Specialist Care program are met, providing advice, information and resources to families and colleagues on therapeutic approaches to play and trauma recovery.

The Children’s Therapeutic Worker is responsible for coordinating and facilitating activities for children and young people throughout the year, particularly during school holidays and special events. The Children's Therapeutic Worker will work collaboratively with the Therapeutic Support Lead to identify opportunities for specific training and events for carers and children within the Foster Care Programs.

The aims and objectives include:

• Process children’s referrals into specialist services, mapping services for children and identifying gaps in needs provision.
• Provide consultation to case workers regarding therapeutic needs for children and ensuring care needs are met for children with identified specialist needs.
• Provide information and psychoeducation tools to case workers and foster carers on therapeutic care provision to children and young people.
• Provide and facilitate training to develop carers’ knowledge of therapeutic parenting and managing complex behaviours.
• Deliver and facilitate therapeutic playgroups, workshops and programs to suit a range of ages, developmental stages and needs.
• Assist the Support Team in responding to the needs of LC Foster Carers.

Please refer to our website for the full position description.

Lutheran Care is committed to providing a child safe environment therefore you will require a valid DHS Working With Children Check and a current Safe Environments for Children & Young People certificate.

While the position is office based, travel for regular assessment visits with applicants and to other locations for intra and interagency meetings is required as well as some work outside normal office hours. You must hold a current and unrestricted South Australian Drivers Licence and possess a registered roadworthy vehicle available for work use (employees reimbursed for work travel).

Benefits:

Lutheran Care values all its staff, students and volunteers and ensure they are well supported through paid maternity and paternity leave, an Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service, access to internal and external training opportunities, annual staff conference and professional development days, annual volunteer celebrations and an innovative and caring culture.

About Lutheran Care:

Lutheran Care provides community services on behalf of the Lutheran Church in South Australia and Northern Territory through a range of programs. We support communities through responding to the needs of individuals and families, community development, learning opportunities, accommodation and support. Current programs include emergency relief, financial counselling, family support and education, foster care, housing and family shelter and refugee services

Applications must include a Cover Letter, Selection Criteria Response and a current Resume.

For further information and instructions on how to apply, including a Job Description please go to our website by clicking apply now.