ABOUT MEN AND FAMILY CENTRE

The Men and Family Centre (MFC) is a community based not for profit organisation providing group programs, individual support and primary prevention activities for people who use violence and those affected by violence. MFC encourages the development of effective life skills and abilities that enhance safety, freedom from abuse, self-responsibility and well-being. It operates from two locations – Lismore and Tweed.

MFC PURPOSE

Our purpose is to contribute to the development of a society where all relationships are built on mutual respect, safety and equality

ORGANISATIONAL VALUES

Our values underpin our work and are fundamental to achieving our purpose and strategic directions. Staff and volunteers will uphold the following values:

• Accountability: We are accountable to the community, our clients, our organisation and ourselves for creating justice and positive change
• Collaboration: We commit to a relational and collaborative approach in all our work underpinned by dignity.
• Compassion: We operate from a place of care, understanding, recognising strengths and with an ability to understand the broader context of people’s struggles.
• Integrity: Our biases, prejudices and histories are recognised. We commit to transparency of process and reflexivity to enable authenticity.
• Justice: We are committed to contributing to social and political change towards creating a society where all people are valued and have the necessary skills, resources and opportunities to thrive.
• Safety: We see safety as paramount to all our work and strive to create practices that invite both safety and productive discomfort into all our work.

We commit to engaging our head and our heart in upholding our values.

STRATEGIC AIMS

The MFC aims to create safer families and communities through our work:

• With people who use violence, abuse, coercion and control;
• With people affected by others’ violence, abuse, coercion and control; and,
• With the communities and systems that this violence happens within.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Family Advocacy and Support Team (FAST) is a team of domestic and family violence specialists who provide support (primarily) to the partners/former partners/family members (“Partner Support”) of men attending the service’s Men’s Behaviour Change Program (MBCP). The position holder’s primary responsibility is the delivery of the Partner Support program.

As an accredited provider of MBCPs, Men and Family Centre programs (Partner Support & MBCP) meet the NSW Minimum Standards for MBCPs as mandated by the NSW Department of Attorney-General and Justice. The work of this position is guided by the NSW Practice Standards for Men’s Domestic Violence Behaviour Change Programs, a gender transformative framework and the Our Watch Change the Story Framework.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The position holder reports directly to the MFC Manager. The position holder will participate in clinical, operational, group and peer supervision and will work closely with other MFC team members.

The position holder is responsible for closely liaising with MBCP workers to address family risk, in addition to a number of external stakeholders. This can include referral agencies, both to represent and advocate for the Men and Family Centre’s programs and ethos and their clients.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Delivery of phone or face to face client contact and support, as part of the “Partner Support” program connected to Men and Family Centre’s MBCP – as per NSW Practice Standards for Men’s Behaviour Change Programs
• Assessing individual client safety and need, including:
  • Children’s safety and well-being, including holding children’s perspective and wellbeing as a focal point of work with parents/guardians who engage with the service
  • Initial and ongoing safety planning
  • Collaborative risk assessment and management within an integrated response/team (including MBCP practitioners)
  • Information, referrals and case management
• Providing information to clients with regard to characteristics of violence, abuse and coercion including within a gender transformative framework
• Providing information on the MBCP
• Working closely with other MFC team members as required
• Attending case management, risk review and team meetings with colleagues and management
• Undertaking liaison, communication and where necessary, advocacy, with communities of interest, service providers and key stakeholders
• Other duties and activities consistent with the above as negotiated with other MFC staff.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• Demonstrated skills and knowledge in working with families affected by domestic and family violence, including gender transformative and structural intersectional analysis
• Relevant skills in assessing individual client needs and providing appropriate intervention and case management
• Demonstrated understanding of the impact of trauma and ability to work in a trauma responsive way
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders including agencies delivering domestic violence prevention services
• Ability to be self-directed and flexible
• Ability to undertake administrative and reporting tasks
• A commitment to and understanding of EEO policy and WH&S safety standards, and ethical practice principles
• Current NSW police check and working with children check or the ability to obtain these

Desirable:

• An undergraduate degree in social science, psychology or related discipline
• Familiarity with MBCP and the NSW Practice Standards for Men’s Behaviour Change Programs
• Willingness, or capability, to co-facilitate partner support groups
• Current drivers licence

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Remuneration SCHADS 5.1- 5.3 + 10%
• Superannuation at the government legislated amount.
• Hours of work 21 hours per week
• Salary sacrificing up to $611 per fortnight.