Advanced Case Manager - Adoption Services

Department of Justice; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 97,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Justice and Community Safety in Melbourne seeks an Advanced Case Manager to support Adoption Services. The role involves counselling, assessing families, preparing court reports, liaising with overseas agencies and supervising placements.

You will contribute to information programs, ensure adherence to Adoption Act processes, and develop collaboratives with service providers, while delivering timely, high-quality casework for families and children.

Qualifications

• Recognised Social Work degree or similar in welfare/behavioural field.
• Experience counselling or case work.
• Experience with adoption processes and sensitive family scenarios.
• Ability to liaise with multiple stakeholders, including overseas agencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide counselling to parents considering adoption and support case management.
• Assess families and prepare reports for court or relevant authorities.
• Liaise with a range of service providers and overseas agencies.
• Supervise and support placement processes and record preparation.

Skills

Counselling

Case management

Report writing

Liaising with agencies

Adoption knowledge

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Advanced Case Manager - Adoption Services

Advanced Case Managers - Adoption Services Victoria

Department of Justice and Community Safety

• Are you passionate about helping adopted children and their families?
• Can you assist children and their families facing complex adoption and identity related issues?
• Can you provide advice and conduct assessments of prospective parents considering adoption?

If so, then this job may be for you.

We are seeking multiple Advanced Case Managers to join the team on a fixed term and ongoing basis.

• 1 Ongoing, 2 Fixed Term – Full time opportunities based in Melbourne
• Contribute to the community by providing support through adoption services.
• Salary range of $97,429 - $109,593 plus superannuation

Adoption Services is part of the Civil and Enforcement Services Group of the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

Adoption Services delivers a range of services under the Adoption Act 1984, including counselling to people considering placing a child for adoption, assessing people to be approved to adopt a child from Victoria or overseas, and providing records to people who have been affected by past adoptions.

About the role:

An Advanced Case Manager within Adoption Services may be responsible for any or all the following: providing counselling, assessing families, writing reports for court, liaising with agencies including those that are overseas, supervising and supporting placement, preparing records for release, searching for family and providing an intermediary between people separated by adoption.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide a quality, timely and effective casework and case management service including counselling parents who are considering adoption of their child.
• Assist in running information and education programs and in the development and presentation of educational publicity and recruitment strategies.
• Adhere to all established processes and procedures in the delivery of services under the Adoption Act. Occasionally contributing and reviewing development of new processes, projects, procedures or practice standards.
• Liaise with stakeholders by establishing and maintain effective working relationships with a range of service providers.
• Prepare reports, briefs and correspondence containing informed commentary, viable options for consideration and well-reasoned recommendations including the research and potential application of contemporary developments in the field.

About you:

• Knowledge and understanding relevant to the area of children and families, including experience undertaking casework and assessments.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively utilising theory, knowledge and informed judgement in the application of a range of assessment, evaluation and intervention techniques and strategies that would be applicable to adoption.
• Advanced knowledge and skills relating to the case management of people with complex needs, requiring the highest level of supervision and support in the community to manage risks, relevant to their development, gender and cultural needs
• Demonstrates perseverance in achieving objectives and copes effectively with setbacks and problems

Qualifications:

• A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes:
  • a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably;
  • a practical component such as counselling or case work practice.

Why work with us?

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we provide every person with the means to achieve their potential through ongoing learning and development opportunities in a diverse, equitable and supportive environment.

We look for people who are prepared to do their very best in line with our values and behaviours. Our values shape and influence how we recruit, train and develop our staff and build relationships with stakeholders.

We will also provide you with professional development opportunities, an employee assistance program, access to job opportunities across the Victorian Government, salary packaging and much more.

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, nationally coordinated criminal history checks (NCCHC), and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).