Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $118,818 - $136,747
Grade: CYF5
Occupation: Community services
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: VG/DFFH/CSOS/578576
THE ROLE
Kinship Engagement Coordinator
This innovative position will drive positive changes and enhance the life outcomes for children and young people across each of the Department of Families Fairness and Housing areas. The Kinship Engagement Coordinator will work under the new model of kinship care that was rolled out across Victoria, in the early identification of potential kinship carers in a child or young person's network and supervising staff providing ongoing kinship placement support.
Kinship care is provided by relatives or a member of child or young person's social network when a child cannot live with their parents. In December 2017, the Minister for Families and Children announced the rollout of a new model of Kinship care throughout Victoria to commence on 1 March 2018. The model will focus on better and earlier identification of kinship carers; strengthening connections for Aboriginal children and young people with family, culture and community; providing increased, ongoing support for carers, children and young people; and a great emphasis on assessing the needs of carers, children and young people.
The new kinship care model will include 17 dedicated Kinship Engagement Coordinators as well as these Kinship Engagement Worker positions employed by the department. There will be additional investment to provide better support to placements from commencement and identifying the needs of carers, children and young people. There will also be additional support to Aboriginal agencies to strengthen supports to Aboriginal children and young people.
Situated in the Placement and Support Planning Unit in the North Division, the Kinship Engagement Coordinator will play a pivotal role to implement the new model of Kinship Carer in Victoria. In the new model, the Kinship Engagement Coordinator, supported by the Kinship Engagement Worker, will undertake the initial search for a child or young person's extended family network. The Kinship Engagement Worker will promote placement quality and stability and support children and young people by being a key contact point for Kinship carers. The Kinship Engagement Worker will report to the Kinship Engagement Coordinator. The Kinship Engagement Coordinator and the Kinship Engagement Worker will work closely and Child Protection to support the case plan goals.
The role requires a strength bases practitioner who is child-centred and family-focused, with a commitment to securing positive outcomes and enhancing opportunities for children and young people accessing out of home care and ready to contribute to the ongoing development of services.
ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE
Please open the position description to read more.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria.
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.
Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including a national police check and misconduct screening.
For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)
Please apply to submit your interest in this position.