Foster Care Placement Specialist

RGIT Australia; Maryborough; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

CQID is seeking a Placement Support Officer to assist the Team Leader in providing foster carers with personalised support and case management under the Strong Carers, Strong Children program. This Maryborough-based role supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to live safely in family homes.

The role involves carer assessments, Blue Card processes, cultural engagement and collaboration with Child Safety and community partners to ensure culturally connected care.

Qualifications

• A relevant qualification in community services, human services, child protection, social work or a related field, or a combination of relevant cultural knowledge, skills and demonstrated experience.
• Strong cultural identity, knowledge and connection to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community, with the ability to work respectfully across different communities, cultures and kinship systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, kin and communities in a culturally safe, respectful and strengths-based way.
• Experience in kinship care, foster and kinship care, child protection, family support, community services or a related area is highly desirable.
• Knowledge or experience in carer assessments, Household Safety Studies, Blue Card requirements and carer approval processes is desirable.
• Understanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, family-led decision-making, cultural safety and the impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and build trusting relationships with families experiencing complex circumstances.
• Ability to gather, assess and analyse information and prepare clear, accurate and culturally respectful written reports.
• Demonstrated ability to identify family strengths, support needs, safety concerns and practical barriers to caring.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, organisation, record-keeping and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complete assessments, case notes and other documentation within required timeframes.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and with Child Safety, prescribed delegates, community-controlled organisations and other service providers.
• Knowledge of confidentiality, information sharing, professional boundaries and child-safe practice requirements.
• Willingness to participate in supervision, cultural reflection, training and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Work under the direction of the Team Leader and in collaboration with the Senior Practice Lead and other staff to deliver CQID’s Equipping Kin service.
• Build trusting and respectful relationships with carers, children, family members and household members through culturally safe engagement, home visits, outreach and yarning-based approaches.
• Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, kinship systems, cultural authority, family relationships, community and connection to Country guide all engagement and assessment activities.
• Apply culturally safe, family-led, strengths-based, trauma-informed and child-centred practice consistent with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
• Complete carer assessments, Household Safety Studies and associated assessment documentation accurately and within required timeframes.
• Support prospective kinship carers and adult household members to understand and complete application, Blue Card, health, safety and other approval requirements.
• Provide families with clear and accessible information about statutory care, assessment processes, kinship carer responsibilities and available supports.
• Work alongside foster carer families to identify their strengths, support needs and barriers to caring and develop practical strategies to address them.
• Coordinate referrals, practical assistance and the timely and appropriate use of brokerage in accordance with relevant guidelines and approval processes.
• Ensure the views, wishes, safety, cultural identity and lifelong connection needs of children and young people are appropriately considered throughout assessment.
• Work collaboratively with children, families, kin, CQID programs, Child Safety, prescribed delegates, assessment panels and community services.
• Support culturally safe and coordinated referrals and transitions between Connecting Kin, Equipping Kin and Supporting Kin services.
• Participate in supervision, cultural reflection, case discussions, training and professional development.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and timely case notes, assessments, brokerage records, performance data and other required documentation.
• Identify and promptly report child safety, cultural safety, household, practice or compliance concerns to the Team Leader and Senior Practice Lead.
• Comply with relevant legislation, departmental requirements, assessment guidelines, CQID policies and quality standards.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities and classification of the position.

Skills

Cultural safety

Communication

Relationship-building

Time-management

Case management

Collaboration

Observation and reporting

Yarning-based engagement

Education

Community services / human services qualification

Knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture

Tools

Blue Card process

Job description

CQID is seeking a Placement Support Officer to assist the Team Leader in providing foster carers with personalised support and case management under the Strong Carers, Strong Children program. This Maryborough-based role supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to live safely in family homes.

The role involves carer assessments, Blue Card processes, cultural engagement and collaboration with Child Safety and community partners to ensure culturally connected care.