Strengthening & Restoring Families Practitioner

Cafs; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 106,000 - 111,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging benefits

Professional development and careerop

Regular supervision and reflective

Values-based culture

Job summary

Cafs is seeking a Strengthening & Restoring Practitioner in Ballarat to provide intensive family support to vulnerable children, young people and families. You’ll work with partners across Child Protection, schools and services to strengthen parental capacity and improve safety, wellbeing and family stability.

The role emphasizes assessment, case management and trauma-informed, culturally safe practice to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Strong assessment, case management and engagement skills required.
• Therapeutic intervention skills and trauma-informed approach.
• Family-centred and culturally safe practice essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver in-home family support and case management under the framework.
• Develop Family Action Plans with families based on assessed need.
• Provide therapeutic interventions informed by trauma and child development theories.
• Support parenting capacity and improve family functioning.
• Collaborate with Child Protection and other stakeholders to promote safety.
• Connect families to community supports and services for better outcomes.
• Maintain accurate case records and reports in systems.
• Manage a diverse caseload with complex family needs.
• Engage in reflective practice and professional development.
• Mentor and support colleagues within the team.

Skills

In-home support

Case management

Trauma-informed practice

Family-centred approach

Cultural safety

Collaboration with Child Protection

Tools

Best Interests Case Practice Framework

Job description

Join our Strengthening & Restoring team and help families build safety, stability and resilience to create positive outcomes for children and young people.

Employment type: Part Time 0.8 Ongoing and Fixed Term (18 months)
Classification: Social Worker Level 5 (SW5)
Salary: $105,736 to $110,518 (pro rata) + superannuation
Salary packaging options: Up to $15,900 plus meals and entertainment benefits
Location: Ballarat, VIC
Above award entitlements: Including 3 days paid Christmas Leave annually

Our Values

Respect | Integrity | Collaboration | Kindness | Innovation

About the Program

The Cafs Strengthening & Restoring Program provides tailored family support services to vulnerable children, young people and their families. Aligned with the Victorian Family Services Framework, the program delivers two streams of intervention based on assessed need.

The Strengthening stream provides earlier, strengths-based support to improve child and family wellbeing through collaborative, family-led planning and intervention. The Restoring stream delivers intensive support to prevent children entering or re-entering care and to support safe family reunification where appropriate.

Guided by the Best Interests Case Practice Model and Family Preservation and Reunification principles, practitioners work alongside families to build capacity, strengthen relationships and improve safety, stability and developmental outcomes for children and young people.

About the Role

As a Strengthening & Restoring Practitioner, you will provide intensive and targeted family support to children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability and complex challenges. You will work collaboratively with families, Child Protection, schools, community services and other professionals to strengthen parental capacity, improve family functioning and enhance safety and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.

This role requires strong assessment, case management, engagement and therapeutic intervention skills, together with a commitment to family-centred, trauma-informed and culturally safe practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver in-home family support and case management interventions within the Best Interests Case Practice Framework.
• Undertake comprehensive strengths-based assessments and develop Family Action Plans with families.
• Provide therapeutic and practical interventions informed by attachment, trauma and child development theories.
• Support families to build parenting capacity, improve relationships and enhance family functioning.
• Work collaboratively with Child Protection and key stakeholders to promote child safety, wellbeing and family stability.
• Facilitate access to community supports and specialist services to strengthen family networks and outcomes.
• Maintain accurate, timely and compliant case records, reports and documentation.
• Manage a diverse caseload including complex family support interventions.
• Participate in reflective practice, service improvement initiatives and professional development activities.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues and contribute to collaborative team practice.
• Apply culturally safe, inclusive and family-centred approaches in all aspects of service delivery.
• Meet program outcomes, performance measures and reporting requirements.

Why Join Cafs?

At Cafs, you'll join a supportive and inclusive organisation where your contribution genuinely matters.

• Salary packaging benefits
• Professional development and career progression opportunities
• Regular supervision and reflective practice support
• A supportive, collaborative and values-based culture
• An organisation committed to child safety, inclusion, diversity and eliminating family violence
• Opportunities to positively influence the lives of young people transitioning from care
• Above-award benefits, including 3 days paid Christmas Leave annually

Our Commitment

Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of everything we do at Cafs. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

"To work with people to enable healing, hope and meaningful impact across all generations."

All applicants must be eligible to work in Australia and employment will be subject to satisfactory Police and Victorian Working with Children Checks.

All applicants must also have a current driver's licence.