More Than Just a Job!

At Communities we play a vital role in supporting and strengthening communities across Western Australia. We provide services and work with our partners to keep children safe, provide vital community services, including in emergencies, address homelessness, prevent family and domestic violence and provide stewardship for the disability sector. Our work also includes regulating early childhood education and care and leading initiatives across women’s interests, youth, seniors and ageing, carers, and volunteering.

Why Work With Us?

• We offer some of the most competitive public sector wages in Australia.
• We are a nationally recognised Accredited Carer Friendly Employer through the Carers + Employers program.
• District allowance in addition to salary, including additional regional benefits for Carnarvon (subject to eligibility).
• More for your future – 12 per cent employer super contributions.
• Smart salary packaging – novated leases & work laptops.

Read more about the benefits of working with us.

Your Role. Your Impact.

Step into the world of Child Protection and Family Support, where your work is more than just a job.

As a Child Safety Practitioner or Child Safety Officer you will work in the areas of child protection, children in care and family support, you will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Responding to concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children in accordance with provisions of the Children and Community Service Act 2004.
• Taking legal action to promote the safety and wellbeing of children where necessary.
• Providing services to children placed in the care of the CEO.
• Assisting identified families and their children with relevant Agencies and community resources to ensure appropriate supports are in place.
• Engaging and working alongside families to strengthen their capacity to provide care and safety to their members in ways that are sustainable, will build resilience in children, families and the community and increase social wellbeing.

As the Senior Child Safety Practitioner / Senior Child Safety Officer you will work in the areas of child protection, children in care and family support and is responsible for (but not limited to):

• Responding to concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children and applying the provisions of the Children and Community Services Act 2004;
• Taking legal action to promote the safety and wellbeing of children where necessary;
• Undertaking case work activities of a complex nature and provide advice and expertise to District staff on the child safety and protection issues;
• Providing services to children placed in the care of the CEO, including investigating serious concerns about the welfare and safety of children and taking action appropriate to the situation.
• Assisting and planning with District staff and others to develop community and family capacity to provide a safe environment for children and other vulnerable people;
• Developing and maintaining a high degree of knowledge and skills in providing services and supports to families and communities to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Visit Careers at Communities – our roles for more information.

If you want to know more about the team or the role, please connect with Kathryn Allen, Assistant District Director, on (08) 6277 5151 or via email [email protected].

Opportunities Available

The following 2 permanent positions are available for immediate filling:

• 005111 – Child Safety Practitioner, CSQ1, permanent full-time, located in Geraldton.
• 009514 – Senior Child Safety Practitioner, CSQ2, permanent full-time, located in Geraldton.

Suitable applicants will be placed in a pool from which appointments will be made for fixed term or permanent Child Safety Practitioner (CSQ1), Senior Child Safety Practitioner (CSQ2), Child Safety Officer (CSU2), and Senior Child Safety Officer (CSU3) positions or similar roles that arise within the next 12 months across the Department of Communities.

Which Position Do I Apply For?

Under our Child Protection Workforce Model, priority will be given to qualified applicants in the first instance to maintain a qualified workforce. Should a qualified applicant not be identified then this selection process will be used to fill the vacancy.

If you have a Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology or relevant human services area, apply for the Child Safety Practitioner (CSQ1, 94,000 - $116,000 pa) or Senior Child Safety Practitioner (CSQ2, $117,455 - $129,875 pa) position/s. Overseas qualifications must be assessed for Australian equivalency. Refer to our website for information about the qualification requirements.

If you do not hold an approved qualification, apply for the Child Safety Officer (CSU2, $82,000 - $105,000 pa) or Senior Child Safety Officer (CSU3, $111,245 - $120,560 pa) position/s.

Skills/experience required for the Child Safety Practitioner (CSQ1) position include:

• Demonstrated knowledge of Child Protection and approaches to enhance child safety and wellbeing.
• Knowledge of or experience in engagement, assessment and intervention with parents, children and families.
• Demonstrated resilience and ability to manage multiple and conflicting priorities.
• Strong communication skills and demonstrated skills in analysis and intervention planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues effecting Aboriginal and culturally diverse people.
• A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or a relevant Human Service area.

Skills/experience required for the Senior Child Safety Practitioner (CSQ2) position include:

• Proven assessment, analysis, analytical and intervention skills when working with vulnerable children, their families and communities.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders within a compliance driven and legislative framework.
• Knowledge and experience in working with people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or other culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and have sound management, supervisory and leadership skills particularly in promoting quality practice and procedures, including counselling and therapeutic intervention.
• A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or a relevant Human Service area.

Skills/experience required for the Child Safety Officer (CSU2) position include:

• Demonstrated knowledge of child protection and approaches to enhance child safety and wellbeing.
• Ability to engage, empower and build effective working relationships with a diverse range of clients, stakeholders, partners and colleagues.
• Demonstrated resilience and ability to manage multiple and conflicting priorities.
• Demonstrated assessment and analytical skills, as well as strong communication skills (written, verbal and non-verbal).
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues effecting Aboriginal and culturally diverse people.

Skills/experience required for the Senior Child Safety Officer (CSU3) position include:

• Proven assessment, analysis, analytical and intervention skills when working with vulnerable children, their families and communities.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders within a compliance driven and legislative framework.
• Knowledge and experience in working with people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or other culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and have sound management, supervisory and leadership skills particularly in promoting quality practice and procedures, including counselling and therapeutic intervention.

Want to join us?

Visit the main advertisement on the WA Government Jobs Board by clicking the Apply button, or visit https://search.jobs.wa.gov.au/ and search Pool ref COM17726. Here you will find the Job Description Form (JDF) and application requirements. We look forward to receiving your application!