POSITION DESCRIPTION Position: Senior DFV Practitioner commencing March 2018. Classification: Queensland Community Services and Crisis Assistance Award State 2008 Level 5.1 5.3. Salary: $38.88 $40.87 (hourly rate) or $75,816 to $79,696 pro rata per annum. Generous salary sacrifice package and other additional benefits. Hours: 76 hours per fortnight (9AM to 5PM Monday to Friday). Accountability: Board of DVAC, CEO, Operations Manager, Integrated Response Manager and Staff Team/MCS IFSS Leadership team. Location: The position is an outreach position based at DVAC, with a significant portion of time to be co-located at Mercy Community Services IFSS in the Ipswich area. Vision Our vision is for a community where all people are participating with respect and dignity, to ensure that everyone lives safely and free from violence and abuse. Purpose DVAC works with individuals and communities to eliminate, prevent and respond to domestic and family violence, and sexual violence by: Collaboratively providing quality support services; Challenging social norms and structures that enable people to use violence/enable the use of violence; Building awareness and capacity within the community; and Encouraging egalitarian relationships.
Values Feminism informs our understanding of the nature of violence in our communities and guides the way we work to address it. In delivering our services, DVAC is committed to: Safety A subjective and complex human right, which is the basis for a rich and meaningful life; Integrity A commitment to act ethically and transparently, with congruence and goodwill ( walking the talk ) Community Belonging and connectedness Justice Equal access to the benefits of society and human rights Innovation Creatively exploring possibilities and responding to evolving needs The Organisation The Domestic Violence Action Centre (DVAC) is a not-for-profit organisation located in Ipswich servicing the local government areas of Ipswich City Council, Somerset Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council (excluding Beaudesert) and Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. Since April 1994, DVAC has been committed to working with our communities towards the prevention and elimination of domestic and family violence. To this end, DVAC is actively involved in supporting women, young people and children who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic and family violence, supporting men who are actively committed to behaviour change as well as providing information and education to the community at large. DVAC provides a range of services that include: Telephone information, referral, advocacy and support services to women and children; Court support for women in our three regional courts; Counselling services for women and children; Group work for women, children and young people; Safety upgrades for women and children wanting to stay in their homes; Schools community education sessions; Providing professional training and resources to other service providers and stakeholders; and Community development, education and awareness raising events. DVAC is also funded to provide sexual violence support services to those who have experienced historical sexual violence in the Ipswich & Toowoomba regions. This distinct program of DVAC, the Service Against Sexual Violence, commenced in June 2016, and provides counselling and support services. DVAC has also been funded from August 2016, to deliver a group program, ReNew, for young men (and their mothers) who are using violence against their mother and/or siblings. This program is being delivered in partnership with Talera Services Carinity. In addition to this, DVAC works closely with our communities and key stakeholders to develop and maintain an integrated response to domestic and family violence issues. This role involves
encouraging other key stakeholders to engage in collaborative responses to domestic and family violence issues throughout our community to ensure safety for women and children and accountability for people using violence. More recently, Ipswich has been selected to host integrated service response sites, including High Risk Teams, funded by the Department of Communities. DVAC will be the lead non-government agency, and a key driver of integrated responses in the Ipswich region, with a view to innovation to best meet client need. DVAC will also be directing referrals to, and actively participating in the High Risk Teams. Our partnering agency, Mercy Community Services (MCS), exists to support and empower those who are poor, vulnerable, marginalised or in a position of disadvantage. MCS aims to be recognised as a leading provider and facilitator of quality, responsive community services. MCS values Mercy, Acceptance, Excellence, Dignity, Empowerment, Integrity - underpin all of their work in the community. The Connected Families Intensive Family Support program works with families experiencing a broad range of intersecting issues (including DFV) that compromise their ability to maintain safety and wellbeing for the children and young people in the family. The majority of these families have had, or are at risk of having, Child Safety Services intervention in their lives. The intention is to work with the breadth of need of these families to increase safety and connectedness to supports so they can remain safely together. The MCS Connected Families Program IFSS sits alongside a continuum of programs to support children, young people and families through a multitude of life transitions. Equal Employment Opportunities DVAC values diversity in our workforce, and as such encourages applications from women from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island backgrounds. DVAC also encourages women from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds to apply for vacant positions. DVAC recognises and celebrates the unique benefits that employing a diverse group of women with a broad range of life experiences brings to the organisation. DVAC has an exemption under Section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (QLD) and it is a general occupational requirement that all applicants identify as female. Position Summary The Senior DFV Practitioner role is an outreach position employed by DVAC, with a significant portion of time to be co-located at MCS IFSS in the Ipswich area. The position will be responsible for managing a caseload of referred families whose primary issue is the experience of domestic and/or family violence; the work with these families will contribute toward the outcomes and funded target outputs of the MCS IFSS program. A proportion of this work will occur in family homes in the communities across the catchments of the Ipswich North, Ipswich South and Springfield Child Safety Service Centres. At the same time the role will be responsible for providing consultancy across the entire MCS IFSS team to ensure safe and consistent practice in relation to families experiencing violence, providing a specialist
domestic and family violence perspective, with a focus on encouraging and supporting the uptake of the Safe & Together model. These principles also provide a framework of practice for the role as applied to the MCS IFSS context. As a specialised position, it is envisaged that the Senior DFV Practitioner will provide a critical screening role to assist appropriate referral to the Ipswich DV High Risk Team. The role will be required to build and maintain a network of service connections to support timely, appropriate, supported referrals to specialised providers to meet the broad needs of family members in the interests of their safety and wellbeing. Attendance of (and representation of the MCS IFSS at) interagency network meetings, especially those with a DV focus (such as the High Risk Panels when invited), will be a requirement. To maintain a current and supported DV framework in the conduct of the role, the Senior DFV Practitioner will work from the DVAC offices at least one day per week. This will allow for appropriate professional supervision, participation in peer professional development and supervision opportunities and to maintain a connection with the larger DVAC work group. Preferred Qualifications and Experience Possession of relevant bachelor-degree level tertiary qualifications in the psychology, social work or human services field; Experience and skills in risk assessment, safety planning, crisis support, counselling, court support and advocacy; Knowledge regarding feminist practice and its application in working against domestic and family violence and experience and skills in working in community based organisations utilising a feminist perspective with cultural, gender and age safety and sensitivity; Experience supporting families in the child protection setting, with knowledge of relevant theory and legislation, supported by a practice approach that aligns with the Strengthening Families, Protecting Children framework and broad-based safety and risk assessment skills including the application of a Safe & Together model of practice; Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills; Current driver s licence and Blue Card; Working knowledge of the Domestic & Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and knowledge of court and legislative proceedings as they relate to the Act; Working knowledge of the Queensland Child Protection Act 1999 and the Strengthening Families, Protecting Children practice common framework of child protection practice; and All DVAC staff are required to complete a National Police Check upon successful offer of position. Selection Criteria
1. What is your knowledge of the issues affecting women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, and your understanding of feminist perspectives on domestic and family violence, including the individual, familial, legal and social issues involved? 2. Outline your extensive experience and skills in, and conceptual framework for conducting DV risk assessments and delivering counselling and case management and advocacy work with women who have experienced trauma from a feminist perspective. 3. Outline your experience and skills in engaging, assessing and supporting children and young people experiencing abuse and/or neglect, especially those exposed to DFV, from a trauma-informed perspective, including the types of intervention you have successfully employed to meet their needs for safety and wellbeing. 4. Outline your experience working with people using violence to change their behaviour with a view to supporting them to be safe and accountable in their parenting role and associated relationships, including successful interventions employed to support your direct work. 5. Outline your knowledge of the role and importance of David Mandel s Safe & Together Model in responding to domestic & family violence in the context of child protection concerns. 6. What strategies and skills do you employ to work autonomously and prioritise competing demands, and in what contexts have you had to apply these strategies? 7. How have you contributed to, and what are your values in relation to, a supportive and collaborative staff team environment in a community based organisation? Responsibilities and Duties Service Delivery: Oversee, participate in, and provide consultation regarding intake and assessment procedures, with particular reference to impact that domestic and family violence is having on family functioning and the ability of the non-offending parent to parent effectively. Manage a caseload of families referred to the MCS IFSS where domestic and family violence is the primary presenting child protection issue. Work will be conducted in a range of settings but primarily majority in family homes (where safe to do so); Engaging children and young people who have been exposed to or are living with DV, to understand their experience and provide direct and indirect support to meet their needs for safety and wellbeing; Engaging with those family members using violence and, where this is a parent, working with them to improve parenting skills where necessary and appropriate and hold them accountable in their parental role, whether they are living with the children or are having frequent contact with them. Oversee the practice and administrative duties of a designated Family Support Worker/s within the team to help meet funding stipulations relating to qualifications;
Provide specialised DFV information and advice to entire MCS IFSS team, with an emphasis on risk assessment and safety planning; Provide phone and face to face risk assessment, safety planning, crisis support, advocacy, information, counselling and referral to women and children who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence; Engage, assess and plan with people using violence that is impacting the safety of children, to ensure they are supported appropriately to parent safely and be accountable in their parenting role; Provide information and support on the court process to women accessing DVAC. This includes supporting women to apply for in domestic violence protection order applications outside call over hours if required; Build positive, effective, collegial and mutually beneficial relationships with Mercy Community Services, particularly the MCS IFSS team to support partnership oriented case collaboration and consultation; Build positive and effective working relationships with other key stakeholders and networks in the provision and facilitation of adequate and safe responses to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence with all possibilities for collaboration considered; Provide specialist group work services to women, and possibly young people, who have experienced domestic violence in collaboration other workers or external co-facilitators; Provide access to specialist group work and other supports to persons using violence, in collaboration other workers or external providers; Facilitate and/or undertake safety audits of homes eligible for safety upgrades brokerage in collaboration with other team members and/ or stakeholders; Report risk management issues that may impact upon the safety and health of clients to the Integrated Response Manager (or Operations Manager in her absence), and to the MCS IFSS Program Manager; Undertake administrative duties associated with direct service delivery and data collection. Staff Team: Participate in the development of a supportive and safe working environment for all staff, including clear communication paths and consultative decision making practices; Abide by the DVAC communication commitment and associated procedures in relation to respectful and direct communication; Actively prepare for, and participate in regular performance appraisals with the Integrated Response Manager (DVAC) and Program Manager (Mercy IFSS);
Undertake internal and external professional supervision to ensure accountability of work practices and professional development in relation to the direct work with women and organisational practices; Participate in regular and ongoing consultation with the Integrated Response Manager and management team, and the staff team where necessary and appropriate, to discuss issues that may impact on work performance; Participate in support systems within the organisation including staff meetings, team supervision, staff appraisals, and informal contact; Provide and receive peer support as a part of the staff team, and; Practice the Sanctuary Model, in line with MCS values. Organisational Responsibilities: Meet the requisite administrative and reporting requirements of the role, within timeframes, as defined in the MCS IFSS funding specifications and program procedures; Monitor and meet the outcome and output requirements of the role as a contributing member of the MCS IFSS team; Comply with all DVAC and Mercy Community Services policy and procedures; Participate in the identification of trends to inform appropriate service development; Where relevant to your role, and where capacity allows, participate in and contribute to the development of funding submissions, in collaboration with the CEO; Ensure the provision of culturally, gender and age appropriate services to clients in accordance with service values and requirements; Advocate on behalf of the service within the funded area; Occasionally represent the service at external forums when requested and available; Participate in the monitoring of legislative and policy developments in regard to domestic and family violence; Participate in media activities where appropriate; Participate in planning, policy development and other organisational activities; Participate in community engagement events on behalf of the organisation, such as Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month; Participate in staff meetings fortnightly and Board meetings as required; Comply and contribute to the established accountability systems in place in the organisation; All workers are required to work within the Practice Standards for Working with Women affected by Domestic & Family Violence developed by the Department of Communities Qld; and \ Undertake any other duties as lawfully directed by the CEO, Operations Manager or Integrated Response Manager.
Accountability The Senior DFV Practitioner is required to work within the philosophy, objectives and policies of the organisation including working within a feminist framework; working as a member of the staff teams; and utilising consultative and collaborative processes. The Senior DFV Practitioner is directly answerable to the Integrated Response Manager and will report to them on all service delivery and organisationally related aspects of the position in the first instance. For some other organisational aspects the Senior DFV Practitioner may report to the Operations Manager. The Senior DFV Practitioner is ultimately accountable to the Operations Manager, CEO and the Board as the employing body; however, the immediate line of accountability rests with the Integrated Response Manager. When the Integrated Response Manager is away or unavailable, the Senior DFV Practitioner will report to the Operations Manager. The Senior DFV Practitioner will comply with the established processes for ensuring the transparency of all decisions and actions taken in the course of her work. The Senior DFV Practitioner will also be accountable to the staff team and the consumers of the service. At MCS IFSS the Senior DFV Practitioner role is embedded within a work group in the broader IFSS team and has accountability to the Senior Caseworker (and Program Manager) in relation to the outcomes and outputs of that work group in line with quality requirements, utilising MCS IFSS administrative systems. The Senior DFV Practitioner role is expected to be transparent, respectful and accountable in all their dealings, and to ensure best practice for both services is adhered to; a grievance protocol will be established between services to manage significant practice discrepancies, ethical dilemmas and other conflict as they may arise. As they will spend a significant amount of their time co-located at this MCS site, the Senior DFV Practitioner expected to abide by reasonable workplace directions by the Mercy IFSS Program Manager and/or Senior Caseworker, and comply with expected work practices in that setting. Applying for this position Closing date is 9AM Monday, February 19 th, 2018. Please send a current CV along with a no more than 2 page document, addressing the selection criteria to: The Selection Panel PO BOX 964 Ipswich, QLD 4305 Or email ea@dvac.org.au using the subject line IPSWICH SENIOR DFV PRACTITIONER EOI