• Full time | Maximum term to June 2025

About the opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a number of social workers to join our unique family services program, Starting Out. The program supports young people under 25yrs who are pregnant or parenting, and are experiencing complex issues that impact on parenting, family life and children’s wellbeing. Responding to referrals from The Orange Door, the program assists clients to enhance their parenting capacity through assertive outreach and group work.

In a typical day, a Starting Out Case Worker might:

• Use a creative approach to engage with a reluctant young family
• Build rapport to carry out a strengths and risk assessment in the client’s home or community
• Support a family to establish and reach identified parenting goals
• Build parenting skill, confidence and knowledge to support and promote their children's safety and wellbeing
• Support young people to parent to the best of their ability

About you

To be successful in your application you will meet the person specification in the position description, including having a relevant tertiary qualification in a field related to social work or psychology.

You will also have:

• Demonstrated experience in assessing risk to babies, children and young people
• Sound understanding of the Best Interests Case Practice Model and Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
• Demonstrated knowledge of age, stage and development (birth – 5yrs)
• Proven ability to plan and implement innovative strategies to successfully engage reluctant young families
• Excellent communication and organisation skills

Click here to view the full position description.

How to apply

Click APPLY to submit your interest. We’ll be reviewing applications as they come through and conducting interviews prior to applications closing. Please send your application through as a priority as we’re keen to engage with someone.

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please contact Amanda Baker – Team Leader, Starting Out on (03) 9724 2222.

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. As a ‘child safe’ organisation, employment with Uniting is subject to a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check and relevant Working with Children Check in your State prior to commencement of any paid or unpaid work and/or participation in any service or undertaking.

Uniting is also committed to equal opportunity and ensuring the workplace is reflective of the community. We encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability.