Case Manager

ABRS; Blue Mountains City; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

35-hour work week

Flexible working arrangements

Paid cultural leave

NAIDOC Week day off

Extra annual leave

Job summary

Barnardos Australia is seeking a dedicated Caseworker to join our Family Connect and Support team in Leura, NSW. This is a full-time permanent role offering the chance to be part of a values-led organisation committed to making a real difference in the lives of children and families.

You will provide strengths-based, family-focused casework, holistic assessments, and develop family-led plans with clear goals and supports.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Social Science, Community Services, Psychology or a related field.
• Excellent understanding of client vulnerabilities including trauma, mental health and substance use.
• Understanding of family violence dynamics and appropriate responses.
• Experience with children, young people and families in protection, early intervention or family support.
• Experience in information provision, intake, assessment and referral for families in need of support.

Responsibilities

• Provide strengths-based, family-focused casework to children, young people and families.
• Undertake holistic assessments and develop family-led case plans with goals and supports.
• Provide information, referral and advocacy to access services within guidelines and timeframes.
• Deliver flexible support including regular home visits and tailored case planning.
• Monitor safety concerns and ensure compliance with safeguarding policies.
• Coordinate wraparound support by engaging with health, education, housing, and community services.

Skills

Strengths-based practice

Family-focused casework

Trauma-informed practice

Cultural safety

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Education

Tertiary qualifications in Social Work or related field

Job description

Are you passionate about helping children and families thrive?
Barnardos Australia is seeking a dedicated Caseworker to join our Family Connect and Support team in Leura, 2780. This is a full-time permanent role offering the chance to be part of a values-led organisation committed to making a real difference in the lives of children and families.

About the Role
As a Caseworker, you will:

• Provide strengths-based, family-focused casework to children, young people and families in accordance with CAFS Program Specifications, FCS Program Guidelines and Barnardos policies, procedures and practice guidelines.
• Work alongside families to reduce risk, build capacity and improve safety and wellbeing in the home for children, young people and families.
• Undertake holistic, strengths-based assessments of families referred to the program using Barnardos assessment tools and develop family-led case plans with clear goals, strategies and supports.
• Provide information, referral and advocacy to support clients to access appropriate services within FCS guidelines and timeframes.
• Provide flexible support including regular home visits and case planning tailored to family needs and preferences.
• Monitor child protection concerns, consult with supervisor and act in accordance with the NSW Children and Young Person’s (Care and Protection) Act, Mandatory Reporter Guide and Barnardos Australia Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.
• Identify and respond to family violence using trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches, including risk assessment, safety planning and warm referral to specialist family violence and perpetrator services.
• Coordinate wraparound support by actively engaging and liaising with universal, targeted and specialist services (e.g. health, education, housing, mental health, disability, parenting programs, supported playgroups) to ensure families can access the five Preventing Child Maltreatment: Core Components.

You’ll join a collaborative and supportive team delivering high-quality, trauma-informed services that uphold child safety, cultural safety, and family-led practice.

Skills and Experience :

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Social Science, Community Services, Psychology or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience in child and family service delivery.
• Excellent understanding client vulnerabilities such as drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, and the impact of trauma and the effect on child behaviour and development.
• Understanding of family violence dynamics, impacts and appropriate service responses.
• Experience working with children, young people and their families in a child protection, early intervention or family support context.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in information provision, intake, assessment and referralof working with families in need of support services.
• Demonstrated experience in working with families with multiple, complex and high risk needs and who may be experiencing acute crisis.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities, including a strong understanding of cultural safety, self-determination, and the historical and contemporary factors that impact Aboriginal peoples.

What’s on Offer:

• Base salary: $80,015– $92,295 per annum (pro rata, if applicable) + 12% superannuation
• Salary packaging: Up to $15,860 tax-free (general living expenses)
• Meal & entertainment packaging: Additional $2,650 tax-free per FBT year
• Leave loading and additional wellbeing leave

Other benefits include:

• 35-hour work week
• Flexible working arrangements
• Paid cultural leave and a day off during NAIDOC Week
• Extra annual leave over the Christmas–New Year period
• Ongoing development: mentoring, acting up, secondments
• Volunteer leave and opportunities to engage in community events
• Access to Barnardos’ Indigenous Cultural Support Unit, Gurung Wellama

About Barnardos Barnardos Australia is a leading children’s charity with a proud history of protecting children and strengthening families. Our work spans communities across NSW and the ACT, focusing on safe, stable, and connected futures for vulnerable children and young people.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
Barnardos Australia recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first Australians, with unique culture, languages and spiritual relationships to the land and seas. We are strongly committed to improving the lives of children and young people and to uphold the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to be safe and cared for within their own communities and remain connected to their families and culture.
For Barnardos Australia, reconciliation means working in a meaningful and respectful way with Aboriginal families and communities. It is a commitment of Barnardos Australia to work in collaboration and partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities,always guided in this process by principles of self-determination.

Pre-employment Requirements You will need (or be willing to obtain):

• National Police Check
• Working with Children Check (or APP number)
• For ACT roles: Working with Vulnerable People card, CYF Check, and Driver History Check

There is no set closing date for this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will be filled once a suitable candidate is identified. Early applications are encouraged.

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