• Full time maternity leave cover based in Hurstville
• $83k - $104k inclusive of Super + Salary Packaging
• Home-based family therapy service

Our Organisation 

The Benevolent Society’s vision is to build a just society where all Australians can live their best life. For more than 200 years we have supported people at the margins of society: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; children, young people, and their families; older people; carers and people with disability. We are an independent, non-religious service provider which supports people to live life their way.     

As part of The Benevolent Society's vision, we are strongly committed to reconciliation with our First Nations people of Australia. We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting the economic, political, and social inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

About the role

Functional Family Therapy is an evidence-based model built on a foundation of acceptance and respect. At it's core, is a focus on assessment and intervention to address risk and protective factors within and outside the family that impact children's safety and adaptive development.

As our Interventionist, you will use your knowledge to work intensively with families to assess strengths, needs and identify goals; develop and monitor case plans aimed at improving family functioning and increase the safety of children. You will support clients to embed changes, particularly behavioural changes and plan for potential challenges that families may face in the future using motivational interviewing skills.

This is an evidence-based global training model implemented according to strict guidelines. Applicants who do not currently have this qualification will be supported to undertake training.

Duties

• Work intensively with a range of designated high-risk clients in their homes to provide family therapy and child protection intervention using a whole of family approach during sessions. Practitioners will work with multiple stakeholders relating to the individual and/or family.

• Engage and motivate young people and families to be a part of a change process by decreasing family conflict and blame and increasing their hope about the possibility for change. This enables later phases of the Functional Family Therapy – Child Welfare model to be implemented.

• Work with clients to undertake comprehensive assessments to understand underlying causes of harm in the family and develop, implement, monitor and review clinical therapeutic interventions that identify strengths as well as areas of need, ensuring families are actively engaged in the process and demonstrate consistency with the model framework, through regular clinical consultation and data analysis.

• Coordinate and link to a range of treatment services in the community, including for specialised counselling, education and youth targeted services, domestic and family violence support, and treatment for substance abuse.

Our Benefits   

We support people to live their best life. That includes you, our employee. A ‘best life’ is unique to everyone and can change as life changes:  

• Salary Benefits -You can package up to $15,900 pa of your pre-tax salary to pay for everyday expenses before income tax is calculated, meaning you take home even more pay!    

• Motor Vehicle Packaging Options – to suit your lifestyle.      

• Work/Life Balance - Enjoy flexible work arrangements, including hybrid home/office options, and accrue an additional day off each month (a bonus of 12 days per year) as a full-time employee.  

• Recognition and Reward - Sector competitive remuneration, various recognition programs and access to long service leave after 5 years.       

• Wellness - Stay fit with a Fitness passport, utilise our Employee Assistance Program, and even purchase additional leave.  

• Professional Development - We tailor career development opportunities to all employees and volunteers for career enrichment, fulfilment, and growth.   

• Our Reconciliation Commitment - First Nations employees are entitled of up to 10 days of leave for ceremonial purposes, as well as the option to be a voice on RAP working group, and the opportunity for cultural and professional development that supports career pathways. 

• Ongoing Training – Functional Family Therapy – Child Welfare training provided and access to external consultant

Skills and Experience

You will have a minimum tertiary qualification in Social Work, Welfare, Psychology, Counselling or related discipline and:

• At least 2 years’ experience working within complex trauma and child protection, mental health and family and domestic violence using a case management framework

• Ability to actively engage, assess and case manage at risk families using a strengths-based approach

• A clear understanding of child protection issues and the capacity to identify and respond to escalated risk

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data collection

• Excellent relationship building skills and experience engaging with reluctant clients

• Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours – 3.30pm - 8pm to support families’ participation

Apply online today!

Please submit your current CV and 1 page cover letter outlining your suitability and interest in the role.

Have a question? Contact Gemma Durham at [email protected] using the subject line: Child & Family Practitioner - Hurstville enquiry via EthicalJobs for further information!

The Benevolent Society respects and promotes human rights and diversity and is committed to building an inclusive culture. We welcome diversity in all its forms; applications from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged. We value relationships with our local Aboriginal community and welcome applications from its members. We see ability not disability, if you identify as a person with a different ability, please get in contact to let us know how we can accommodate your needs. We pride ourselves on being a client and child safe organisation and as such all our staff and volunteers go through security screening relevant to the role.