Strengthening Families Practitioner

Holstep Health; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

WFH one day a week

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Holstep Health in Coburg is seeking a Strengthening Families Practitioner to deliver in-home support for vulnerable children, young people and families within the Strengthening Families program. You will work within a child-centred framework to promote resilience, safety and wellbeing.

The role involves risk assessment, case planning, and collaboration with partner agencies. A tertiary qualification in Social Work or Psychology plus 2–3 years’ experience is required, with opportunities for

Qualifications

• Two to three years’ experience in Child Protection and/or Family Services.
• Demonstrated experience in counselling, casework and case management with vulnerable families.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate delivery of Strengthening Families Program and in-home support.
• Provide assertive in-home outreach to engage families and sustain participation.
• Undertake comprehensive child and family assessments and develop care plans.
• Deliver and coordinate complex family casework and risk assessment processes.
• Collaborate with Care Teams for integrated service delivery.
• Monitor risk and wellbeing and escalate as required.
• Provide counselling, mediation and parenting support to strengthen family functioning.
• Build parental capacity through coaching and skill development.
• Maintain documentation in line with requirements.

Skills

Social work knowledge

Risk assessment

Counselling skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Social Work or Psychology

Job description

• Location:Victoria Street, Coburg
• Job Type:Fixed Term - Full Time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Join the Family Services Team at Holstep Health.
Based in Coburg
Salary packaging
WFH one day a week
Career and professional development opportunities
Supportive work culture

The Strengthening Families Practitioner coordinates the provision of in-home support to vulnerable children, young people, and their families, delivering a range of services including case management, counselling, community linkages, parenting skill development, and group work within the Strengthening Families platform. This work prioritises the best interests of the child or young person within the context of their family and community.

The Practitioner adopts a strengths-based and outcomes-focused approach, tailoring strategies and interventions to ensure they are culturally safe, inclusive, and respectful of diversity. Grounded in evidence-based practice, the role involves working collaboratively with children, young people, and families to deliver timely, responsive, and sustained interventions that strengthen family functioning and safety. This includes supporting families to address risk factors and build protective capacities.

Working in partnership with families through a child-centred framework, the Practitioner delivers comprehensive assessment, care team planning, and safety and risk management, alongside targeted parenting strategies that promote resilience, stability, and self-determination. Practice is relational, adaptable, and responsive to the evolving needs of families.

The Practitioner works closely with Child Protection, The Orange Door, Youth Justice, and partner agencies to ensure coordinated, culturally safe, and integrated service delivery.

In addition to the Strengthening Families program, the role may also support the delivery of Restoring Families response, providing intensive, wrap-around interventions to families with higher levels of risk, including those at risk of children entering or re-entering out-of-home care or requiring reunification support.

The Holstep Health Strengthening Families program is delivered in partnership with the Hume Merri-bek Child and Family Alliance, contributing to a collaborative and integrated service system response.

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Responsibilities Direct Service to Clients

• Coordinate delivery of the Strengthening Families Program in accordance with the Strengthening Families Guidelines, applying sound professional judgement within a legislative framework.
• Provide assertive in-home outreach to engage children, young people, and families, using flexible and responsive approaches to support participation and sustained engagement.
• Undertake comprehensive child and family assessments, including MARAM-aligned family violence risk assessment and management, and develop, implement, monitor, and review case plans to support safety, stability, and wellbeing outcomes.
• Deliver and coordinate complex family casework, including goal setting, action planning, risk assessment, and review processes to support effective service responses.
• Establish, facilitate, and contribute to Care Teams to ensure coordinated, integrated service delivery across internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor risk and wellbeing of children and young people, exercising appropriate escalation and liaison with the Team Leader and Child Protection as required.
• Provide counselling, mediation, and parenting support to strengthen family functioning, relationships, and capacity for change.
• Build parental capacity through coaching, modelling, and targeted skill development to support sustainable outcomes.
• Maintain effective collaboration with internal and external services to ensure culturally safe, inclusive, coordinated, and integrated service responses.

Community Development and Training

• Participate in appropriate Hume Merri-Bek Family Services Alliance activities as directed.
• Contribute to health promotion activities that promote family health and wellbeing.
• Contribute and advise on the program review initiatives to ensure it is meeting community needs.
• Contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of community education activities.

Quality, Reporting and Professional Practice

• Work collaboratively within an integrated Family Services model partnering with colleagues and external services to ensure coordinated, holistic support for children and families.
• Maintain accurate, timely and professional documentation including reports, case notes, service records and data collection in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements.
• Undertake professional development and supervision in accordance with annual work plan developed in consultation with team leader.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of sector developments and best practice.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, funding guidelines, service standards and contractual obligations.
• Practice complies with professional registration, and delegated scope of practice.
• Undertake fortnightly supervision.
• Contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of group work programs.

Other Duties

• Participate in annual staff and program reviews.
• Work within the Restoring Families platform as required, delivering intensive, evidence-based interventions.
• Undertake any reasonable additional tasks as directed by Holstep Health.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, or equivalent as determined by Holstep Health.
• Two or three years’ experience in Child Protection and/or Family Services, with demonstrated experience supporting families with complex needs.
• Demonstrated experience in counselling, casework, and case management with vulnerable children, young people, and families.
• Demonstrated ability to assess, analyse, and respond appropriately to risk for children and young people.
• Advanced knowledge and application of the Best Interests Case Practice Model and the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and associated amendments.
• Knowledge of child development, trauma-informed practice, and attachment theory.
• Knowledge and application of strengths-based approaches when working with vulnerable children and families.
• Knowledge and understanding of the MARAM Framework and practice guidelines.
• Working knowledge of the Child Protection system, relevant legislation, and service pathways.
• Highly developed interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs, experiences, and cultural considerations of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Desirable

• Experience in developing, facilitating and evaluating group Programs
• Specialist professional development or post -Graduate training in a relevant field e.g. family therapy, infant mental health.
• A second relevant community language.
• Experience working in the Northern Metropolitan Region.