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Client Advocate - SCALES Family Violence Unit

SCALES Community Legal Centre

An exciting opportunity exists within our centre for an experienced family and domestic violence advocate to work in a professional team to provide women experiencing family violence with non-legal protection and support.

As part of the Commonwealth government’s National Plan to reduce Violence against Women and their Children, SCALES Community Legal Centre has been funded to deliver ‘wrap-around’ legal and non-legal services to women experiencing family violence. The service provides intensive, trauma informed assistance and targets the most vulnerable and at risk women.

The Client Advocate will:

  • Work proactively with SCALES’ staff to provide comprehensive, ‘wraparound’ advocacy and support to women experiencing and escaping from family violence.
  • Be part of a team of likeminded professionals who are passionate about what they do to get the best possible results for their clients.
  • Enjoy challenging, self-directed, varied and rewarding work.
  • Contribute to the ongoing development of a centre of excellence to assist victims of family violence

About SCALES

SCALES is a not for profit community legal centre based in Rockingham providing a range of free legal services to the community.

SCALES aims to:

  • Work in partnership with others to provide access to justice through holistic legal services including individual assistance, community education and systemic advocacy.
  • Provide opportunities for clinical legal education programs that develop the skills and ethical practice of law students within a human rights framework.

Client Advocate key responsibilities

  • Work with women to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, risk management and safety planning.
  • Provide practical support, advocacy and referrals to assist women access resources and support such as crisis accommodation, housing, income support and debt relief, personal counselling and support in court proceedings.
  • Develop partnerships between the SCALES Family Violence Unit and other agencies working with women experiencing family violence, including police, other family violence services, counselling and crisis support services, and local health services.
  • Work closely with police, criminal justice system and other service providers to reduce or manage the risk posed by the perpetrator and ensure women receive coordinated support.
  • Provide specialist family violence information to the team and community workers and contribute to the development of community legal education programs.

Essential Criteria

  • Experience conducting risk assessments, determining the level of risk and safety planning.
  • Experience in providing crisis support and advocacy to women and children experiencing or escaping family violence and/or who are in crisis.
  • Demonstrated experience in case managing clients in an ongoing capacity and coordination of services involved in assisting the client.
  • Demonstrated understanding of family violence including the individual, familial, legal and social issues involved.
  • Knowledge of community resources relevant to the needs of women and children escaping violence and/or who are in crisis.
  • Demonstrated experience in community networking and ability to collaborate effectively with a variety of government and non-government organisations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills including ability to communicate with clients with empathy and work with clients in distress.
  • Strong written communication skills and quality file management and record keeping skills.
  • Knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and an understanding of issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
  • Understanding of and commitment to principles of social justice and to working effectively with vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

The successful candidate will be required to provide a current Police Clearance and Working with Children Card (WWCC). SCALES will arrange and pay for these documents on commencement.

Desirable Criteria

  • An understanding of and commitment to the work of community legal centres
  • Experience/knowledge in project evaluation, monitoring and reporting

Remuneration and benefits

This role is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week).

We offer attractive employment benefits including salary sacrificing, opportunities for professional development, flexible working conditions and a team friendly environment.

The salary level is 5 under the SCHADS Industry Award (MA 000100) ($85,000 to $89,000 per annum (pro rata) with a total salary package of $100,000). This includes employer funded superannuation in accordance with the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) as well as the benefits of leave loading on annual leave. Tax effective salary packaging is also available.

Additional benefits include additional leave during Christmas office closure, flexible workplace, free parking, and office close to large shopping centre and public transport.

For further information please refer to the attached Job Description and Information Kit or contact Gai on 08 9550 0410 or [email protected] using the subject line: Client Advocate - SCALES Family Violence Unit enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

How to apply

This job ad has now expired, and applications are no longer being accepted.
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