• Full time role for 12 months, with potential to extend
• Due to growth, we need this role filled urgently
• Based in Hamilton North

About SSI

SSI is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. We work with children and young people as well as people with refugee and asylum-seeking background, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, people with disability and more to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.

About the Multicultural Child and Family Program

Every child has a right to a safe, happy and permanent home connected to family, community and culture. When children under the age of 18 years, for safety reasons, cannot live with their family or carers we work with the Department of Community and Justice (DCJ) to support them be safe and work out the best options for their long-term care and wellbeing outcomes. This may include returning the children to their family's care or being cared for by foster carers on a long-term basis.

SSI delivers a specialist out-of-home care service that provides a culturally appropriate model for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds aged 0-18 years. We have a strong commitment to culturally responsive services. Wherever possible, as needed, we support children to be cared for by foster carers who share the same culture as the children or where this is not possible we maximise opportunities for children to be connected with their family's ethnic backgrounds, religion/s and language/s.

About the role

We are experiencing significant growth at the moment within our program across Sydney and Newcastle. As a result of this extra work we are looking for a resilient and energetic Case worker to join our team in Hamilton, Newcastle. Someone with previous working experience in PSP and/or child or family from CALD backgrounds.

You will be required to work closely with children, their families and foster carers as well as DCJ and other organisations to help children understand why they are in care and be supported to meet their education, health, social and cultural needs.

Duties/responsibilities include:

• Maintaining effective relationships with children, families and foster carers, collecting, assessing and documenting information about their safety and wellbeing. Helping to plan and support those involved in a child's care respond to their needs;
• Working closely and collaboratively with partner agencies such as DCJ and various other internal and external service/support providers to ensure successful outcomes for children and their families;
• Maintaining accurate documentation in line with OCG standards and best practices relating to children's care and case management;
• Taking responsibility for ongoing learning and professional reflective practices that assist maintain high standards in casework.

About you

The successful candidate will ideally have the following skills & experience:

• Tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, welfare/community services or a related discipline;
• Demonstrated experience of working with vulnerable children, young people and their families;
• Knowledge of current child protection legislation/framework and PSP practice models;
• Demonstrated skills in preparing and writing high quality assessment reports;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build long-lasting relationships;
• A full unrestricted NSW drivers' licence;

If you have previously worked with culturally and linguistically diverse communities and you have an approachable nature coupled with strong administration and written communication skill you will succeed in this role.

What we offer at SSI

• Salary packaging options - receive up to $15,900 of your salary tax-free meaning more take home pay!
• Flexible working arrangements and work/life balance;
• Opportunity to work a 9 day fortnight;
• Working alongside collaborative and outcome focused team members all wanting to make a difference in our communities.

About our Recruitment Process

At SSI we have a zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation where protecting children and preventing and responding to child abuse is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of all employees, contractors and volunteers. All employees will undergo a National Police Clearance and a Working with Children Check as a condition of employment.
We encourage candidates to provide a cover letter along with your resume, by submitting online. Should you be successful for the first round of shortlist, one of our Talent Acquisition Specialist will guide you through our process and next steps.

SSI will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. If you require a reasonable adjustment, or want to update your preferred method of communication, please email [email protected], using the subject line: Case Worker, Permanency Support Program - Hamilton North enquiry via EthicalJobs, or call Vimla Khooblall on 02 8799 6700.