Child Protection Caseworker (Helpline & After Hours) in Liverpool

Location: Liverpool

Employment type: Ongoing

Salary: $89,934 – $116,969 pa plus superannuation and annual leave loading

We are recruiting to several roles in our Child Protection Helpline and After-Hours Response team. This is a targeted recruitment. While all applicants are welcome, preference will be given to candidates who meet the established standards of the role and are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent. This is because the Department acknowledges this lived experience contributes a perspective valuable to our work with this community.

Your role

After Hours Response team

The After Hours Response Team (AHRT) provides a range of After Hours services, working in partnership with parents and carers, extended family members and services to meet the immediate safety needs of children and young people. The AHRT provides face to face field responses to children and young people in the metropolitan area and works with regional on call teams to provide an after-hours child protection response across NSW, from 4.30pm to 6am on Monday to Friday and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.

The team undertakes assessments and responses to children and young people who are at suspected risk of significant harm and/or families who are requesting urgent assistance. The team will work closely with other agencies including NSW Police, NSW Health, Non-Government organisations and Interstate Agencies to keep children and young people safe after hours.

Child Protection Helpline

The Child Protection Helpline is a 24-by-7 call/contact centre where staff are assigned shifts according to business requirement, spanning all days and around-the-clock start times. The Child Protection Helpline receives calls and e-Reports relating to the suspected abuse and/or neglect of children and young people, as well as general inquiries about the Department.

What you’ll do

As a member of the AHRT you will:

• Work in accordance with legislative and policy requirements
• Work sensitively and respectfully with children or young people, parents, family members
• Work collaboratively with other agencies and engage in complex problem solving
• Assist families in meeting their immediate needs, addressing safety and well-being concerns, and providing appropriate assistance through home visits
• Develop safety plans and complete risk assessments
• Manage short term intervention including situations that involve working with high needs and high-risk clients and their families
• Participate in individual and group supervision

As a member of the Child Protection Helpline, you will:

• Take reports of child abuse and/or neglect from members of the public and mandatory reporters such as police, education professionals, health workers, and/or childcare providers
• Build relationships with key stakeholders to support and strengthen families
• Respond to general enquiries from the public, community partners and child and family protection professionals
• Undertake initial assessments before referring reports to a Community Services Centre (CSC) for further review and response

What we’re looking for

• Completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work, Social Science and Welfare. Other related degrees are considered, if you can demonstrate your knowledge skills and experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families
• As an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Caseworker, you will need to have a connection to, and at least two years’ experience working with Aboriginal families, children, and/or communities
• Relevant experience in child protection, Out of Home Care, or provision of casework in another setting
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to build positive working relationships
• A valid driver’s licence (P1 or above)
• A paid working with children clearance number
• Ability to undertake shift work during the hours of operation
• On site in attendance in Liverpool, NSW is required

Being a Helpline Caseworker requires resilience, tenacity and compassion to support children and families living in varied and challenging circumstances. Undertaking initial assessments of significant child protection concerns and potential risks can be confronting; however, the rewards for ensuring the best outcomes for a child can be limitless.

What We Offer

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.