The Department for Child Protection is seeking a High-Risk Infant Worker to join the Port Augusta office on a full-time term basis.

The role is responsible for:

• Undertaking specialist assessment of complex high risk infant child protection cases and preliminary and initial assessment of unborn child concerns in the context of DCP Infant at Risk Policy, Procedures and Practice Standards
• Supporting Social Workers and Case Managers to engage with and build effective partnerships with families and carers, pre and post-natal, to support the safety and well-being of high-risk infants and their siblings
• Co-ordinating the service response in partnership with relevant government and non-government services working with pregnant women, High-Risk and Unborn Infants and their families
• Providing a specialist opinion or recommendation to support Youth Court processes and act as a witness in court proceedings
• Fostering good working relationships and providing consultation, advice and training to DCP staff and professionals in relevant external organisations.

About You

We are looking for a confident individual with a good understanding of the Child Protection Act together with the knowledge and understanding of the physical, social and emotional development of infants and young people.

To be successful in this role you will have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the social, cultural and environmental influences on family well-being, family development and positive parenting.

You will also have the ability to carry out brief interventions including counselling, behavioural change practice and family interventions in order to empower clients to make changes to empower wellbeing.

Background in the provision of support and advice to less experienced case workers will be ideal.

If you are looking for the opportunity to promote and advocate for service delivery improvements then this may be the role for you.

Essential Qualifications

AHP: A degree level qualification in Social Work which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

PO: Appropriate degree qualification in Community Services, Social Sciences, Human Services, Health or related field.

Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department for Child Protection (DCP).

To find out more about this role, including the key selection criteria and special conditions, please click on the attached role description.

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The Department for Child Protection (DCP) plays a key role in the protection of children, young people and their families within South Australia. The department provides support to vulnerable children and young people to be safe, strong and connected.

What We Offer:

• Career progression tailored to your goals: we are a large organisation with diverse opportunities across metropolitan Adelaide, regional and remote South Australia
• Employee Assistance Program: confidential and independent counselling for employees and their families
• Strong commitment to learning and development
• Paid Parental and Partner Leave
• Free annual flu vaccination for staff
• Leave loading and salary packaging opportunities
• Access to Fitness Passport: a workplace health and fitness program that give you and your family access to a wide choice of gyms and pools across South Australia.

Port Augusta

Port Augusta is 307 km from Adelaide and takes just over 3 hours to drive. The Port Augusta office employs approximately 34 people and is one of (six) offices in the region. As a member of this office you will work with other professionals to deliver services to Port Augusta, Iron Knob, Roxby Downs, Woomera, Andamooka, Quorn, Leigh Creek, Hawker and up to Maree (and everywhere else in-between!).

The Port Augusta office, provides a continuum of child protection functions from first engagement, removal (if necessary), to long term case management of children under the Guardianship of the Chief Executive. This affords staff the opportunity to develop a wide variety of child protection skills and knowledge which may provide career development pathways within this department.

Port Augusta has a significant and established Aboriginal population. The opportunity to develop your experience, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture makes working in this office unique. To find out more about working in the region, visit working with DCP in Port Augusta.