Caseworker - Stepdown Program - Full Time

About Marist180

Marist180 is a child-safe organisation. We are committed to prioritising the safety, wellbeing, rights and voices of children and young people in everything we do. We expect all employees to actively contribute to a culture where child safety is understood, championed and everyone takes responsibility for identifying, reporting and responding to concerns. 

About the Role

The Stepdown Caseworkers is responsible to develop and implement Therapeutic Case Plans, which respond to the individual needs of children and young people in Intensive Therapeutic Care programs. The Incumbent will support children and young people to achieve their case plan goals, including supporting them to be restored to their family, live independently, move to a permanent home or step down to less intensive placement types. 

The role will require to participate in the on-call roster (roughly 2 times a year for one week each).

Primary accountabilities of the role of Caseworker include, but are not limited to:

• Work as part of the ITC leadership team and program to address the impacts of abuse, neglect, separation from families and complex trauma on children and young people.
• Ensure the ARC therapeutic framework guides assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and review of children and young people’s individual case plans.
• Support the Therapeutic Specialist by participating in care team meetings relevant to the development and implementation of Leaving care Plans / P4I / After Care Financial Plans / Cultural Support Plans.
• Collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Support to incorporate and implement strategies within case plans to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to maintain their culture and identity.
• Develop and implement Cultural Support Plans for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse children and young people to support them to maintain their culture and identity.
• Ensure that high quality, up to date record keeping is maintained for each child or young person assigned to the Case Worker.
• Work within the principles of the NDIS and relevant legislation if applicable to those with a NDIS plan.
• Liaise with Housing NSW and other housing providers.
• Inform Youth Worker (Stepdown) about their roster and ensuring that risks are managed, and staffing levels reflect the needs of children and young people.
• Work with the Therapeutic Specialist to plan and implement a purposeful and therapeutic shared home environment, ensure staff work as a team to support children and young people.
• Actively engage children, young people, their families and other people important to them, as well as the community they will be living in and link them in with the local community services as in the formulation and implementation of their Leaving care plans.

Qualifications:

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree (Social Work, Psychology or equivalent)

Experience & Skills: 

• Demonstrated experience in case planning with children and young people who have experienced trauma
• Demonstrated experience in developing positive developmental relationships that build trust with children and young people through visible interest and active engagement, and to place the best interests of the child at the centre of case planning
• Demonstrated experience in working autonomously in implementing therapeutic case plans for multiple clients simultaneously
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrated experience in leading / coordinating a team.
• Demonstrated understanding of current casework practice for children and young people
• Demonstrated understanding of Intensive Therapeutic Care as part of the Permanency Support Program
• Understanding of the NDIS and facilitating a NDIS application

Work Requirement:

• Current First Aid and CPR certificate.
• Current Working with Children Check.
• Clear National Criminal History Check.
• Unrestricted NSW driver’s licence.
• Eligibility to work in Australia.
• Provide M180 consent to complete a verification of the Residential Care Workers Register managed by Office of the Children’s Guardian.

At Marist180, you will receive:

• A comprehensive orientation and training program.
• Ongoing professional development and mentoring throughout your career journey.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program with 24/7 wellbeing and crisis support for you and your family.

Marist 180 provide Equal Employment Opportunities for everyone. We value the benefits of diversity and strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, mental health as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and mature aged applicants.

ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED