Family Contact Worker - Casual

Key Responsibilities

Family Contact and Supervision

• Supervise family contact visits in accordance with approved care and case plans.
• Safely transport children and young people to and from contact visits and carers' homes.
• Support positive interactions between children, young people, and family members during visits.
• Monitor and assess the quality of contact to ensure it remains in the child's best interests.
• Identify and respond appropriately to any risk of harm or child protection concerns.
• Immediately report safety concerns or incidents to the Case Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Exercise professional judgment to cease or suspend contact visits if the child's safety or wellbeing is compromised.
• Attend case reviews, team meetings, and planning sessions as required.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate, objective, and timely reports detailing observations, interactions, and outcomes of family contact visits.
• Update relevant databases and case management systems.
• Ensure all records comply with legislative, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Provide feedback to Case Managers to support ongoing case planning and assessment.

Cultural Awareness and Inclusion

• Promote culturally safe practices that recognise and respect the diverse backgrounds of children, young people, families, and carers.
• Support carers to understand and respond to the cultural needs of children and young people.
• Encourage culturally appropriate family connections and participation.
• Adopt an inclusive, anti-bias approach in all aspects of service delivery.

Service Quality and Continuous Improvement

• Support best-practice outcomes through compliance with organisational policies, procedures, and service standards.
• Participate in quality assurance and continuous improvement activities.
• Build positive relationships with families, carers, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment focused on achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

Workplace Health and Safety

• Promote a positive health, safety, and wellbeing culture.
• Follow all workplace health and safety requirements and safe work practices.
• Report hazards, incidents, and risks in accordance with organisational procedures.
• Support the implementation of safety improvements and risk management strategies.

Selection Criteria

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience working with children and young people.
• Understanding of Out of Home Care (OOHC) services and child protection principles.
• Ability to identify, assess, and respond to risks affecting children and young people.
• Experience supporting children and families during complex or conflict-based interactions.
• Strong written communication and report-writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Sound computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience managing or contributing to community-based projects.
• Experience in community engagement or community development activities.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Knowledge of family preservation and restoration principles.

Qualifications and Requirements

Essential

• Demonstrated experience working within Out of Home Care or child and family services.
• Current Driver's Licence.
• Current First Aid Certificate.
• National Criminal History Check.
• Working With Children Check (NSW).
• Ability to travel across the Sydney metropolitan area as required.

Desirable

• Certificate IV or Diploma in Community Services, Youth Work, Child, Youth & Family Intervention, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Human Services, Social Work, Community Services, Psychology, or a related discipline.

What We Offer

• SCHADS Award Level 2 remuneration.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Supportive and collaborative team environment.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people.
• Access to a pool vehicle for work-related travel.
• Employee wellbeing and support programs.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about supporting children and young people to maintain safe and meaningful family connections, we would love to hear from you.

Lifestyle Solutions is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All applicants will be subject to relevant employment screening and probity checks.