The Organisation:

Sutherland Shire Family Services (SSFS) aims to support and strengthen the capacity of families within our community by providing programs and services which are designed to contribute to the promotion and maintenance of safety and well-being to all family members.

The Position:

Sutherland Shire Family Services provides auspice for SSWDVCAS and is the Court Advocacy Service for Sutherland Shire and St. George regions in Sydney. We are seeking a professional who will be responsible for the daily operation of SSWDVCAS ensuring seamless service, including managing and supporting a team of 10.

The SSWDVCAS Co-ordinator is required to ensure the delivery of the Legal Aid NSW Model for Service for Court Advocacy Services in NSW. In doing so, you will exercise a high degree of autonomy reporting to and supported by SSFS’s management team.

This is a full time 35 hour per week position.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Managing the day to day operation of SSWDVCAS
• Assisting SSFS with compliance reporting and other requirements under the WDVCAP Service Agreement, policies and standards.
• Recruiting, supporting and provision of supervision to SSWDVCAS team and seconded workers and ensuring they have access to appropriate training;
• Developing and administering operational policies and administrative tasks, systems and processes for the effective operation of the WDVCAS before, at and after court including the collection, recording, reviewing and storage of client information, conflict of interest, client confidentiality and privacy, referrals to and from the WDVCAS, client and worker safety, staff professionalism, child protection notifications and follow-up assistance;
• Developing and implementing, in consultation with Specialist Workers and local community organisations, strategies aimed at ensuring that the WDVCAS is relevant and accessible to a diverse range of women and children and responsive to their needs;
• Developing and implementing strategic and operational plans aimed at ensuring the effectiveness of the WDVCAS and compliance with WDVCAP outcomes;
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key WDVCAS partners including NSW Police Force, Local Courts, legal representatives and referral agencies and facilitating access to those services;
• Sourcing seconded workers from appropriate agencies who can assist in WDVCAS court work where possible; co-ordinating a roster of seconded workers; ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to undertake WDVCAS work and providing them with regular updates and debriefing;
• Undertaking high level liaison and advocacy with and on behalf of WDVCAS clients where required;
• Providing high-level advice and contributing to legal policy reform through the WDVCAS Network, court user and other forums.

Selection Criteria:

Essential Criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Social Sciences or related discipline.
• Experience in team management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the dynamics, complexities and legal and social welfare consequences of domestic violence.
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience and understanding of the criminal justice system and its response to domestic violence including ADVO applications and criminal prosecutions and related legal matters such as family law, care and protection, migration and victim's compensation issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid NSW policies in relation to grants of legal aid for people in domestic violence matters;
• Ability to deliver services in accordance with the WDVCAS Service Agreement, WDVCAP Principles, Policies and Standards and operational documents;
• Demonstrated knowledge of The Domestic and Family Violence Framework for Reform
• Sound organisational, administrative, financial management and IT skills;
• Ability to recruit, train, supervise and support WDVCAS staff and seconded workers;
• Ability to develop and implement service delivery strategies aimed at ensuring the relevance, accessibility and responsiveness of WDVCAS services to a diverse range of women and children;
• Excellent communication skills, particularly in negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution;
• Excellent networking skills.
• Drivers licence

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working within a trauma informed framework and the impact of domestic violence on children.
• Knowledge of appropriate referral agencies in service area.
• Knowledge of and an ability to work effectively with interpreter services.

The successful applicant will benefit from excellent ongoing professional development opportunities, a flexible family-friendly working environment and an attractive remuneration package with a tax free salary component. You will be employed under the SCHCADS award at level 7.

The preferred applicant will be subject to screening in relation to child-related employment.

Sutherland Shire Family Services considers being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s.31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)