Foster Care Practitioner

• Dandenong
• 12-Month Fixed Term part time 0.8
• SCHADS Level 5 | $105,557.68 pro rata  superannuation & salary packaging
• Plus ex gratia days Easter & Christmas 

Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people

At OzChild, we believe every child and young person deserves to be safe, respected and nurtured. As a Foster Care Practitioner, you will play a vital role in supporting children and young people in foster care, while working alongside foster carers, families and key stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

This is a rewarding opportunity to join our Foster Care team in Dandenong on a 12-month fixed-term basis.

About the role

The Foster Care Practitioner is responsible for delivering quality case management and support to children, young people and foster carers. You will develop and implement plans that support positive outcomes, promote stability and safety, and contribute to permanency objectives.

You will:

• Provide case management and ongoing support to children, young people and foster carers.
• Develop and implement plans to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Conduct regular face-to-face visits with children and young people and complete assessments to inform Care and Placement Plans.
• Provide regular supervision and support to foster carers.
• Complete carer supervision, compliance checks and Annual Foster Carer Reviews.
• Work collaboratively with children, families, carers and internal and external stakeholders.
• Support children to maintain and strengthen relationships with their birth families where appropriate.
• Advocate for the needs and voices of children and young people.
• Identify and manage risks and contribute to quality-of-care and incident management processes.
• Maintain accurate case management records, assessments and documentation.
• Develop strong professional relationships with DFFH Child Protection, schools, health professionals and other community and welfare agencies.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and quality service delivery.

The role requires a strong commitment to child safety, sound professional judgement and the ability to work effectively with children, young people and families with complex needs.

About you

We are looking for a passionate and experienced practitioner who can build strong relationships and advocate for the best interests of children and young people.

You will ideally have:

• A tertiary qualification in Social Work or an equivalent qualification recognised in Australia.
• Experience in complex case management and working with children, young people and families.
• Knowledge and understanding of child protection legislation and practices.
• Experience working with children in alternative care is highly desirable.
• Strong assessment, advocacy, conflict resolution, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong professional judgement and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to build positive and productive relationships with clients, carers, families and stakeholders.
• A commitment to culturally sensitive and person-centred practice.

You will also need a valid driver's licence and access to reliable transportation. 

How to apply

If you are passionate about supporting children and young people and want to make a genuine difference through Foster Care, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Why join OzChild?

At OzChild, you will be part of an organisation committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families. You will work alongside a passionate Foster Care team and have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.

OzChild is committed to providing a recruitment process that embraces equity, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure every applicant has an equal opportunity to participate.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people of all genders, sexual orientations and identities.

OzChild is committed to the employment of Aboriginal people and to creating a workplace where Aboriginal cultures, knowledge and values are respected, celebrated and supported.

OzChild is a child-safe organisation committed to protecting children and young people from all forms of abuse, bullying, exploitation and neglect. We are dedicated to creating environments where children are safe and feel safe. 

Successful applicants will be required to undergo relevant safety screening, including National/International Police Checks (if required) and Working with Children Checks. 

For further information about the position, please contact Elizabeth Abdilla, Talent Acquisition Specialist on 0499 655 939 or email eabdilla@ozchild.org.au using the subject line: Foster Care Practitioner enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.