Complex Needs Specialist Practitioner

Uniting Limited; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SCHADS Level 6 pay

Salary packaging up to $15,900

10% childcare discount

30% Office 365 discount

25% Uniting Op Shop discount

Meal entertainment benefit $2,650

Job summary

Uniting’s Parenting Children with Complex Disability program is seeking an experienced practitioner to support families of children with complex disabilities who are in voluntary care, at risk of entering care, or transitioning home. You’ll work with families and professionals to create sustainable, family-centred solutions that improve outcomes for children.

With a reduced caseload and a collaborative care team, you’ll provide intensive, evidence-based support and advocate for appropriate

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Disability or related discipline.
• Experience in Family Services or related programs (essential).
• Experience with children and young people with complex disability needs.
• Knowledge of NDIS systems and advocacy for supports.
• Strong case management, risk assessment and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Providing intensive case management and therapeutic support to families.
• Supporting parents and carers to build confidence and sustainable care strategies.
• Coordinating care teams and collaborating with disability and allied health services.
• Assisting families to navigate the NDIS and advocate for appropriate supports.
• Supporting positive behaviour strategies and family-led outcomes.

Skills

Intensive case management

Family-centred practice

Stakeholder engagement

Risk assessment

NDIS knowledge

Education

Social Work degree

Psychology degree

Disability studies degree

Job description

• Provide specialist support to families facing complex care challenges
• Intensive case management with lower caseloads and meaningful impact
• Max term full-time role until April 2027 based in Cranbourne

Your new role

Join our Family Services team supporting families of children with complex disabilities who are in voluntary care, at risk of entering care, or transitioning home. Working collaboratively with families and professionals, you'll help create sustainable solutions that strengthen family relationships and improve outcomes for children.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced practitioner from social work, psychology, disability or family services who thrives in complex environments. With a reduced caseload, you'll have the time and flexibility to provide intensive, family-centred support and make a genuine difference.

Your impact will include:

• Providing intensive case management and therapeutic support to families.
• Supporting parents and carers to build confidence and sustainable care strategies.
• Coordinating care teams and collaborating with disability and allied health services.
• Assisting families to navigate the NDIS and advocate for appropriate supports.
• Supporting positive behaviour strategies and family-led outcomes.

This maximum-term, full-time opportunity is based at our Cranbourne office and runs through to 23 April 2027.

About the Program

The Parenting Children with Complex Disability program supports families caring for children and young people with significant disability support needs. The program works with families whose children are in voluntary care, at risk of requiring care, or where family reunification is being explored.

Using a collaborative care team approach, the program develops individualised, therapeutic responses that focus on the needs of the child while strengthening the whole family. Creativity, flexibility and tailored supports are central to helping families achieve the outcomes that matter most to them.

Benefits of working at Uniting

At Uniting, in addition to your base hourly rate, SCHADS Level 6, $58.37ph + super + salary packaging, you’ll enjoy:

• Working in a values-led organisation with real community impact.
• A 10% discount for eligible employees on out-of-pocket childcare fees at Uniting learning services.
• A 30% discount on Office 365 subscriptions, and a 25% discount at our Uniting Op Shops.
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging benefits that can be used for living expenses such as groceries, bills, clothing and streaming services.
• Saving on dining out and drinks with a meal entertainment benefit of $2,650 annually.

Your skills and experience

You're an experienced and compassionate practitioner who can work alongside families facing complex disability and care challenges while delivering evidence-based, family-centred support.

You will bring with you:

• A degree in Social Work, Psychology, Disability or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in Family Services, Child and Family Services, Family Preservation, Child Protection, or a related family-focused program (essential).
• Experience supporting children and young people with complex disability needs and behaviours of concern.
• Knowledge of NDIS systems and experience advocating for appropriate supports.
• Strong case management, risk assessment and stakeholder engagement skills.

Click here to view job description

About Uniting

We create real change in people’s lives by working in partnership with people, communities, governments and other agencies to reduce the impact of poverty, trauma and disadvantage.

We provide compassionate care for people facing tough times and personal challenges. We support children and young people to break the cycle of disadvantage. We help families keep safe, together and thriving.

For over 100 years we’ve been fighting inequality, opposing discrimination, and responding to the needs in our communities across Victoria and Tasmania.

Visit us: www.vt.uniting.org

We are an inclusive, values-led organisation and proudly welcome people of all identities, backgrounds and experiences. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with lived and living experience relevant to our work.

We are committed to inclusive hiring practices. You are welcome to share your pronouns and let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process. We are here to support you.

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people. We embed child safety in everything we do. Employment with Uniting is subject to relevant pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and Working with Children Check.