POSITION DESCRIPTION Position Reports to Team Leader, Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder Program Manager, Intensive Services Direct reports Caseworkers x 3 Status Location Terms of employment Full time, 38 hours per week - ongoing, subject to successful completion of six (6) month probationary period East Brunswick To be negotiated with the successful applicant. Attractive Salary Packaging arrangements offered. The scheme is managed by Advantage Salary Packaging - refer to their web site for further information. http://www.salary.com.au/professional_salary_packaging_programs Position Information General Enquiries Narelle Slater - P: (03) 8388 1840 or E: narelles@vacca.org Human Resources P: (03) 8388 1855 or E: recruitment@vacca.org Applications close 23 February 2014 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply 1. Background The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) operates within the context that Aboriginal children continue to be significantly over-represented in the protection and care system within Victoria. VACCA considers that it has the responsibility and the opportunity to promote, advocate for and achieve positive changes in the lives of Aboriginal children, their families and the broader Aboriginal community. VACCA's objectives include the preservation, strengthening and protection of the cultural and spiritual identity of Aboriginal children and to provide culturally appropriate and quality services, which are responsive to the needs of the Aboriginal community. As a state wide community based Aboriginal organisation VACCA has extensive experience in the management and delivery of a range of community services programs to the Aboriginal community with a particular focus on services to vulnerable children families and community members. VACCA programs include: Family Services which includes Integrated Family Services, Playgroup, Aboriginal Family Decision Making, Aboriginal Family Preservation and Restoration, Child FIRST, Family Violence and Playgroup, Out of Home Care which includes Foster Care, Kinship Care, Residential Care, Permanent Care, Adolescent Community Placement, Leaving Care, Cradle to Kinder and Koori Cultural Support Programs as well as Youth Homelessness services. VACCA provides community cultural strengthening programs as well as Koorie Connect, a case referral service, services to Stolen Generation members through Link Up. VACCA also has the Aboriginal Child and Specialist Advice and Support Service (ACSASS) which provides cultural advice to child protection staff and Aboriginal children and families involved in child protection matters. As the lead state-wide child and family agency, VACCA provides services in all regions and is the key point of policy advice for the Department of Human Services (DHS) on Aboriginal community wellbeing especially in child and family welfare matters. Edited: February 2014 To be reviewed: February 2015 Page 1 of 5
2. Program overview The Early Intervention and Family Services team works with families to promote family wellbeing, participation in the broader community and access to relevant services. The team provides families with a range of options for culturally responsive support in times of need, with a focus on positive parenting and family interaction to promote children s development. We provide a positive, culturally safe workplace environment supported by family friendly and culturally sensitive workforce policies, including professional development, continuing education and staff wellbeing. The Cradle to Kinder and Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program, funded by DHS, has been operating in a number of locations across Victoria since mid-2012. These programs provide intensive pre-birth, early parenting and family support for vulnerable young mothers and their children, commencing in pregnancy and continuing until the child reaches four years of age. The Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program is aimed at expectant mothers, aged under 25 years, who are Aboriginal or pregnant with an Aboriginal child, where a report has been made to Child Protection regarding significant concerns about the wellbeing of their unborn child, or in other cases where strong indicators of vulnerability for the unborn child are identified. Priority access is given to adolescent women, young women who are, or have been, in out-of-home care and young women with a learning difficulty. The objectives of the program are to: improve child health and optimise child development and wellbeing promote child safety, stability and cultural identity address underlying areas of concern relating to the family s vulnerability strengthen parenting capacity promote positive parent-child relationships and attachment increase the family s connection with culture and Community build the family s financial and social self-sufficiency. The Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program is currently being introduced in the north metropolitan Melbourne area, covering the local government areas of Banyule, Darebin, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Yarra, Hume and Moreland. This program will be led by VACCA, in partnership with Melbourne Citymission and the Queen Elizabeth Centre. 3. Position summary The Team Leader forms part of a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified and experienced staff from a range of professional backgrounds. The principle role of the Team Leader is to oversee the day to day management of the Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program and to guide, supervise and support caseworkers in the delivery of the service. In addition, the Team Leader has a key role in providing culturally safe support, guidance and mentoring to the caseworker employed by VACCA in the West Cradle to Kinder program. It is the Team Leader s responsibility to ensure that any actions or decisions made are in the best interests of the child, and that families receive a service that is culturally relevant, trauma-informed, strengths based and holistic. It is expected that the Team Leader has a good understanding of the practice tools, manuals, forms and checklists relevant to the effective operation of the program. The Team Leader will also have a key role in ensuring caseworkers are familiar with and adhere to relevant VACCA policies. 4. Key responsibilities a. Program management and leadership Work in conjunction with the program manager to plan and implement the Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program. Manage the day to day operations of the program, including referral, local intake, case allocation, case planning and decision making. Oversee the development and implementation of child and family action plans. Edited: February 2014 To be reviewed: February 2015 Page 2 of 5
Provide leadership and case direction to caseworkers to ensure the needs of children and their families are being met in accordance with their action plan. Participate in local governance structures including Child and Family Alliance Operational Group and Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder Integrated Service Network. Plan and chair regular team meetings. Attend allocations meetings, as required. Participate in the duty intake system. Support the program s recruitment, selection, orientation and induction processes. Monitor use of flexible support funds. Monitor service targets and proactively address any underperformance issues. Ensure Aboriginal culture is embedded throughout all aspects of the program to ensure cultural safety in all activities. To be responsible for maintaining and updating knowledge in relation to relevant legislation, policies, processes and templates, both internally and externally of the organisation. The incumbent is also responsible for guiding staff within their Program/s to embed these frameworks in to their practices. Ensure awareness and compliance by self and staff to Client Services policies, including cyber safety, substance abuse in out-of-home care, responding to children and young people with trauma related behaviour, responding to problem sexual behaviour, restraint and critical incidents. b. Partnerships and collaboration Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, sharing individual skills and knowledge. Participate in family and care team meetings, network meetings, workshops and case conferences, as appropriate. Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with infants, children, parents (including fathers), extended family and the Aboriginal Community. Promote an integrated service system though the development and management of strong relationships with key universal, secondary and tertiary child and family services, including local, state and federal government departments, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, community health services and community service organisations. Work in close collaboration with Child FIRST and child protection in the development and management of a streamlined referral pathway into the program. Support Cradle to Kinder programs in other locations in their capacity to deliver culturally competent services to Aboriginal families. c. Staff development and wellbeing Undertake joint visits, assessments, planning and casework with staff, as appropriate. Provide consultation and support for staff in complex cases and where progress has stalled. Provide high quality supervision and informal support for staff, in accordance with VACCA s supervision framework and related policies. Build skills, expertise and confidence in case practice through coaching, role modelling, mentoring, observation, feedback and self-reflection. Identify gaps and recommend appropriate supports. Create professional development plans with staff and conduct annual performance reviews. Address and appropriately manage underperformance, time management, transference, client boundaries or staff fatigue issues, as they arise. Edited: February 2014 To be reviewed: February 2015 Page 3 of 5
Support non-aboriginal staff to access professional development opportunities to increase their knowledge, skills and understanding of culturally safe practice. Support staff to respond to critical client incidents and provide debriefing, as required. d. Quality assurance Ensure services are provided in accordance with the departmental standards, program requirements for family and early parenting services in Victoria, Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder practice guide and program framework. Contribute to the development, review and service improvement activities for the Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder program. Collate, monitor and review service and outcomes data using the Integrated Relationship Information System (IRIS), Family Outcomes Star, NCAST Parent-Child Interaction Teaching Scale and any other tools determined by the program. Prepare and submit data, outcomes and compliance reports to the department as required by the service agreement. Monitor and review the team s compliance with information sharing, data reporting, case recording and client files management. e. General Participate in formal supervision, annual performance appraisals and professional development activities, in accordance with VACCA s supervision framework and related policies. Participate in external clinical supervision, as required. Participate in service promotion and community education activities relating to the program. Maintain a strong working knowledge of relevant theoretical, legislative and policy developments. Contribute to the organisation s strategic and operational planning processes to identify service system issues and opportunities for practice improvement. Participate in organisational and team meetings. Adhere to VACCA s Code of Conduct, Occupational Health and Safety and all relevant policies. Fulfil other duties, as required, commensurate with the capacity, qualifications and experience associated with the position and classification level. 5. Key Selection Criteria a. Skills, knowledge and attributes The successful applicant will possess: a sound understanding of Aboriginal culture, values, protocols, inter-generational factors and complex kinship systems, as well as the issues facing vulnerable Aboriginal families that may impact on their capacity to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their children, and a demonstrated capacity to work in a culturally competent, sensitive and respectful manner a sophisticated understanding of the child and family welfare legislative and policy context, theories of attachment, trauma and child development as well as relevant risk assessment frameworks, service responses and interventions in working with vulnerable families a proven ability to develop, manage and lead a team in quality casework practice, with a demonstrated capacity to: o work successfully with Aboriginal children, young people and their families o assess and manage risk for highly vulnerable children and families o develop innovative strategies and make decisions in the best interest of the child o effectively manage conflict o engage and negotiate with key stakeholders o assess staff competencies and needs and provide critically reflective supervision o critically review service data and outcomes Edited: February 2014 To be reviewed: February 2015 Page 4 of 5
o consistently meet program objectives and service targets. excellent organisational and planning skills high level interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal a demonstrated commitment to establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with families, colleagues, government departments, sector partners and the Aboriginal Community. b. Qualifications and experience The successful applicant will be required to hold a tertiary qualification in early childhood education, early childhood development; youth work; nursing; maternal and child health; community health; social work; psychology or a related discipline and have at least three years experience in the child and family services system. c. Highly desirable Experience in working with adolescent parents (including fathers), young people in out-of-home care and/or young people with a learning difficulty or disability will be highly regarded. Experience in using the Family Outcomes Star and/or NCAST Parent-Child Interaction Teaching Scale will be equally well regarded. 6. Conditions of employment a. This is an ongoing, full time position comprising 38 hours per week. In order to perform the duties of this position effectively you may be required to work additional hours or vary your working times, on any day of the week, as appropriate and necessary from time to time. There is no paid over time, however, time in lieu arrangements will be negotiated as required. b. The position is currently based at East Brunswick, subject to change, based on strategic and operational needs of the organisation and program. c. Terms and conditions of employment will be included in an Employment Contract. d. The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory pre-employment checks, including providing at least three (3) professional referees, completion of a medical declaration, Police Records Check, Working With Children Check, Victorian Driver s Licence, and proof of identify and qualifications. e. The successful applicant must have and continue to hold a full Victorian Driver s Licence. f. The successful applicant will be required to disclosure any pre-existing injury/injuries and/or medical condition/s, which could be aggravated by the type of employment they are applying for. The existence of an injury/injuries and/or medical condition/s will not preclude the applicant from employment, unless they are unable to perform the inherent requirements of the position. However, failure to disclose any relevant information may affect a claim for Worker s Compensation. g. VACCA has a smoke-free workplace policy. How to Apply Send: - Cover Letter - Response to Key Selection Criteria - CV/Resume (including details of at least three (3) referees) Email Post recruitment@vacca.org Human Resources Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency PO Box 494 Northcote Plaza Northcote VIC 3070 Edited: February 2014 To be reviewed: February 2015 Page 5 of 5