Child and Family Practitioner – Integrated Family Services Focus Public Housing Estates

Support vulnerable children and families to thrive | Integrated Family Services | Prevention and early intervention | Public housing communities | Inclusive, values-led NFP team

• Salary: SCHADS Level 5 | Full-time (1.0 FTE) | + super + NFP salary packaging

About Drummond Street Services

Drummond Street Services is a not-for-profit, non-denominational agency with over 130 years of delivering innovative services that strengthen families and communities across Victoria. We provide family services, mental health and wellbeing support, relationship counselling, parenting programs, and specialist services that reflect the diversity of the communities we work alongside.

We are committed to creating meaningful change through evidence-informed and trauma-informed practice. Our work is grounded in social justice and inclusion, supporting our teams to deliver services that are responsive to the needs of children, young people, individuals, families, and communities.

About the Role

Join our Inner City Family Services team as a Child and Family Practitioner – IFS Focus Public Housing Estates, based primarily in Carlton, with travel to other DS or partner sites as required. Reporting to the Inner City Family Services Team Leader, you will deliver prevention and early intervention services to vulnerable children, young people and their families, with a particular focus on families living in high-rise public housing estates across the City of Melbourne and Moonee Valley.

Working within the Integrated Family Services (IFS) program, you will support families experiencing disadvantage and complex challenges, including poverty, trauma, substance use, mental health concerns and family violence, including families who may be at risk of becoming involved with the Child Protection system or who are already involved with Child Protection.

Using a whole-of-family approach, you will provide counselling, case work, outreach support, group programs and community education, working collaboratively with families and the broader service system to strengthen safety, wellbeing and developmental outcomes for children and young people.

Duties

• Provide child- and family-centred support that reduces risk, strengthens protective factors and improves safety, developmental and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.
• Assertively engage vulnerable and hard-to-reach families and manage a caseload of approximately 20 families.
• Undertake comprehensive whole-of-family assessments and collaboratively develop, implement and review family action plans, ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing remain central to practice.
• Deliver evidence-informed counselling, case work and multidisciplinary interventions matched to the complexity and intensity of family needs.
• Coordinate collaborative responses with Child Protection, Integrated Family Services partners and other relevant agencies, including case conferences and service coordination.
• Develop and maintain community networks and referral pathways, facilitate therapeutic and educational programs, and connect families with appropriate supports.

Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work or equivalent, with further training relevant to family work.
• Minimum three years’ experience in family services, mental health or a related community services setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of therapeutic approaches for individuals, children, young people and families.
• Demonstrated experience providing counselling and case work to individuals, children, young people and families experiencing multiple and complex needs, including mental health, family violence and substance use.
• Demonstrated ability to establish collaborative relationships with external services, communities and other professionals.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

Please review the Position Description, which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria.

Culture

We value reflective practice, innovation, and continuous learning, creating an environment where practitioners are supported to deliver high-quality services and grow professionally.

We are an intersectional organisation committed to equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents, and people with lived experience, as we recognise that diverse perspectives strengthen our practice and better reflect the communities we serve.

Benefits

• SCHADS Level 5 salary + superannuation.
• NFP salary packaging – up to $15,900 tax free each year.
• Full-time (1.0 FTE), 30 June 2029, with the option of extension subject to funding
• Hybrid work model, where operationally viable and in line with role requirements.
• Professional development and ongoing learning opportunities.
• Reflective practice, supervision and a supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Meaningful work supporting children, young people and families experiencing complex circumstances.

How to Apply

Click 'Apply Now' to submit your resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview and asked to provide evidence of their qualifications.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Shazia Choudhry, Team Leader Family Services – Inner City, at shazia.choudhry@ds.org.au using the subject line: Child and Family Practitioner – Integrated Family Services Focus Public Housing Estates enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Drummond Street Services is committed to child safety and to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation in line with Victorian Child Safe Standards. The safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people is central to our work. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in the best interests of children and young people. All staff are required to participate in a thorough recruitment and screening process, including holding a current Victorian Working with Children Check and completing a National Police Check.

A position description is attached.