The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQA+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated. All jobs can be worked flexibly, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities.

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

Position Details

Advanced Child Protection Practitioner – After Hours

• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Attractive on-call allowance and overtime
• Generous retention payments for identified regional locations

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families? Being a Child Protection Practitioner means making real change to the lives of others – keeping children safe and families strong. If you are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children, then a career in child protection is for you.

About the role

As part of the After Hours team you will work to a structured rostered model to provide response and emergency outreach visits as required to child protection matters received outside core business hours, including evenings, weekends and on public holidays. In the After Hours team, you are eligible for a standby (on-call) allowance for each time period you are on standby and overtime rates for hours worked when called out on outreach visits.

There are multiple opportunities available across After Hours, including:

• Wangaratta full time or part time
• Shepparton full time or part time
• Ballarat part time
• Bendigo part time
• Bairnsdale part time
• Morwell part time
• Warrnambool part time

Some Part time positions will be required to work 20 hours per fortnight with a fixed roster of 3pm to 1am on Saturday and Sunday. This roster schedule attracts excellent penalties in accordance with the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2004. There may be opportunity to pick up additional shifts.

Key responsibilities for an Advanced Child Protection Practitioner in After Hours, include:

• Responding to reports about children where there is concern that they need protection
• Gather detailed information, coordinate, manage and directly respond with telephone advice
• Begin investigations and develop plans to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people
• Visit children or families in urgent cases where harm or likelihood of harm requires immediate child protection involvement
• Manage requests from divisions for out-of-hours tasks for children who are already subject to child protection intervention
• Provide an after-hours placement function for children and young people requiring out of home placement.

Who we are looking for

We're looking for professionals who are confident and resilient, with a strong sense of social justice. You must be empathetic and open to change when working collaboratively with families and other professionals. A great deal of case work involves statutory investigation, analysis and critical thinking.

You will bring an understanding of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic), plus understanding of the legislative, policy, and practice requirements relating to family violence and to families impacted by drug and/or alcohol abuse and can apply these skills in practice.

You will possess an understanding of Aboriginal culture and demonstrate an understanding of the legislative, policy and practice requirements relating to Aboriginal children, families, and communities, including the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle and the programs and initiatives that support its implementation in child protection practice.

For more information about the role and the skills and experience required, please view the attached position description.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified temporary visa holders. Successful candidates may be eligible for employer sponsorship under SID482 visa.