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Applicant Information Package for the opportunity of

Case Worker

Permanent Part Time 30 hrs per week

WASH House Inc.

Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in the position of Staying Home Leaving Violence – Case Worker. This package contains the information you require to apply for the position, including:

• Overview about the Employer • Job Description • Selection Criteria

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About the employer…

Our client The Women’s Activities and Self Help (WASH) House is a community based information and resource centre for women that envisages a community in which women exercise equal rights, choose their own destiny and have a safe environment for themselves and their children. They work towards this by providing information, community development, counselling, support services and group work. The WASH House is a service run by women, for women. The organisation has been established in the area for over 35 years as a support and resource centre for women. Over this time, the WASH House has grown and evolved to run a range of programs including Staying Home Leaving Violence, Counselling, , Community Engagement events, and Information Services. Aim The aim of the W.A.S.H. House is to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of women and girls in our local community by reducing the impact of poverty, social disadvantage and violence on their lives. Vision The WASH House envisages a community in which women exercise equal rights, choose their own destiny and have a safe environment for themselves and their family. We work towards this by providing information, community development, counseling, support services and group work. The WASH House is a service run by women, for women. Statement of Reconciliation The WASH House acknowledge the Darug people as the original custodians of this land on which we live, work and learn and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. The WASH House is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas. The WASH House respects that the continuous and deep connection to their Country is of great cultural significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The WASH House believes a better understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures develops an enriched appreciation of Australia’s cultural heritage and will support reconciliation. Values The W.A.S.H. House believes in: Equality: we see gender equality as a fundamental human right Justice: we believe in the right of all people to be treated justly and fairly Respect: we respond without judgement or bias and actively respect the needs and dignity of all

individuals Courage: we are brave and strong to challenge ourselves and others when needed Non-violence: we oppose all forms of violence and abuse and act in ways that do no harm to ourselves or

others Empowerment: we support the self-determination of women Integrity: we build authentic relationships based on trust and honesty and act with consistency and

impartiality Inclusion: we promote participation, contribution and belonging for all

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Principles Feminist: we believe that all women have the right to make choices about all aspects of their lives Accountability driven: we are committed to professional standards and personal responsibility and

accountability for our work and actions Trauma informed: we ground our practice in an understanding of the impact of trauma, that emphasises

physical, psychological, and emotional safety and wellbeing for everyone, and that creates opportunities for women to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment

Client focused: the unique/individual needs of each woman from a holistic perspective are at the centre of all our decision making

Strengths based: we view women as resilient, resourceful experts in their own lives and support them to use their skills and assets to make decisions and deal with challenges

Collaboration: we commit to working in the spirit of cooperation, coordination and partnership Excellence: we take pride in striving to excel in all that we do with a determination to succeed Innovation: we will be curious, take risks and try new things to improve Accessibility: we celebrate diversity in the community and are committed to providing affordable, safe

and appropriate services to all people regardless of race, age, disability or sexuality Commitment Staff: While essentially client focused, we are committed to developing and supporting our staff by

providing opportunities for professional development and inclusive, consultative, safe work practices. We value the diverse skills sets and professionalism of our team and good communication across the organisation.

Clients: We are committed to: o clients feeling welcome and safe o inclusive and respectful dealings where clients are heard o providing a compassionate and non-judgemental response o women following their own journey and choosing when to access our services o confidentiality o professional expertise which assists our clients to the best of our ability o working with women in designing and delivering our services

Board: We are committed to providing excellence in leadership, governance and risk management. Our Board is voluntary and is proactively committed to active engagement to achieve our goals.

Donors & Funders: We are committed to ethical responsibility, transparency, accountability, providing measurable outcomes, accurate reporting, consistent contact and respect for donor privacy.

Volunteers: We value the generosity and commitment of our volunteers. We are committed to leading practice in volunteer management by creating an environment where volunteers are valued, respected, appreciated, receive appropriate levels of training and are supervised and supported to fulfil their role.

Partners: We are committed to being a reliable and accountable partner, conducting ourselves in an ethical, trustworthy and transparent manner. We will actively consult, collaborate and communicate with our partners.

Some of the great benefits provided to employees…

• Be part of an organisation that is well established in the community as a safe place for women to seek assistance, support, learning, counselling, friendship and social activities

• Make a difference in women’s lives every day • Participate in a wide range of fun and informative community events and activities • Boost your take home pay with Salary Packaging • Enjoy above award leave provisions and team days Leave work each day feeling part of making a difference to the local community! Find out more about WASH:

www.washhouse.org.au

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About the Position…

This position provides support to women & children escaping domestic violence through intervention, case management and group work services. This role works closely with clients by assessing safety needs, seeking to improve social, health, economic and legal outcomes for families, reduce homelessness and promote accountability for offenders of violence. Key accountabilities will include:

• Case Management • Community Development • Quality Improvement

About the Program… The Staying Home Leaving Violence Program is funded by Family and Community Services. The aim of the project is to provide casework and community development model enabling women (and children) ending a violent relationship to remain in their own home. Through supporting women who choose to stay in their own home this project will assess safety needs, seek to improve social, health, economic and legal outcomes for families, reduce homelessness and promote accountability for offenders of violence. Position Details…

Location: Mt Druitt Hours per week: 30 hours per week in total Days per week: 4-5 days each week/9 day fortnight/school hours (to be negotiated) Days of work: Able to be negotiated Term: Permanent Part Time Award Coverage: Salary and conditions of employment will be as described in the NSW SCHADS Award. Salary: Salary will be at Level 5. The Pay point to be determined with successful applicant

dependant on experience etc. Please click here for current Award pay rates. Positions available: There is 1 vacant position being advertised. Travel: The role is based at Mt Druitt location but works across the whole Blacktown LGA so

some travel may be required from time to time for outreach, meeting clients and attending other meetings. When a pool car isn’t available and personal car is used car allowance is offered.

Probationary Period… A six-month probationary period applies to all positions at the WASH House Inc. from the date of appointment. A probationary review will be conducted prior to conclusion of this period.

Child Related Employment… This role is classified as child related employment and as such, the successful applicant will be required to provide current clearance of a NSW “Working with Children Check” (under the Commission for Children & Young People Act 1998).

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How to Apply…

To apply for this role please note the following:

Applications will only be considered where the Applicant has submitted all documents as mentioned in the Application checklist below. To assist you, please utilise Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 following. You can either print and handwrite on these forms or type into them directly from your computer and then attach them to an email.

If providing photocopies make sure they are clear / easy to read

Your resume should outline your previous work history in chronological order starting from your most recent position, together with a brief description of the duties associated. It should also outline your education and training and a good guide is to keep it to 3-4 pages maximum.

Application Checklist…

When submitting your application please ensure you have enclosed the following:

Employment Application Form (attachment 1 following)

Response to Selection Criteria Form (attachment 2 following)

Your resume (including details of your employment & education history and 2 professional referees)

And a covering letter if you wish

When you have all these prepared, send it to the following email address:

jobs@totalworkforceservices.com.au

Important: Please ensure you submit a full application with all the items as mentioned above. Applications not including all the items above will be asked to resubmit their details before the closing date to enable the application to be considered by the Selection Panel.

Receipt of your application will be confirmed by email.

Still looking for more information? If you have any questions or would like to talk a bit more about this job before applying, please feel free to call us on (02) 4555 4634 or email jobs@totalworkforceservices.com.au Thank you for your expression of interest regarding employment with the WASH House Inc. Good Luck!

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The Position Description…

Staying Home Leaving Violence Caseworker

JOB DESCRIPTION

_____________________________________________________________________ Position Title: Caseworker Reports To: Team Leader, Staying Home Leaving Violence Award and Conditions: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services

(SCHCADS) Award, Level 5 Salary packaging is available and generous leave provisions which add value to the total remuneration package.

Hours: 30 hours per week during normal business hours RESPONSIBLE FOR Providing support, intervention, case management and group

work for women and their children ending a violent relationship. About the program: Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) is a casework and community development model enabling women (and their children) ending a violent relationship to remain in their own home or to leave home safely. Through supporting women who choose to stay in their home, caseworkers assess safety needs, seek to improve social, health, economic and legal outcomes for families, reduce homelessness and promote accountability for offenders of violence. The WASH House SHLV program covers the Blacktown Local Government Area, and is staffed by caseworkers. The position is based in Mt Druitt. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES KEY RESULT AREAS Case Management Community Development Quality Activities Teamwork

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1. CASE MANAGEMENT Facilitate a service model to support women (and their children) to safely remain in their

home or a home of their choice following domestic violence. Provide outreach, advocacy and casework service to women leaving domestic violence

relationships. Provide clients with intensive assistance to stabilise their personal circumstances and

assist them out of crisis. - Undertake comprehensive risk assessment and safety audits. - Implement safety planning and strategies including provision of personal and home

security devices. Assist and support women to enhance their existing coping skills, problem solving skills

and ability to mobilise resources. - Identify and prioritise client groups currently unable to access support options and

develop a clear understanding of client needs. - Liaise with Police and Courts regarding removal of the violent partner from the home. - Develop and maintain referral pathways and protocols. - Participate in the WDVCAS court support roster at Mt Druitt and / or Blacktown local

courts (on a roster basis with the SHLV team). 2. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Develop and maintain networks (under formal or informal partnership agreements) with

relevant agencies including: - NSW Police in the Local Area Commands - Department of Communities and Justice - Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services (WDVCAS) - Local Courts - Temporary Accommodation agencies including women’s refuges - Legal, health and support services

Influence and create positive change for women and children through effectively collaborating with sector stakeholders

Support collaborative and workable partnerships with community partners and NGOs to integrate service provision at a local level

Encourage co-operative work practices and facilitate innovative approaches to issues of common concern within the community sector

Participate in committees, forums and working groups as required by service agreement and/or WASH House priorities.

3. QUALITY ACTIVITIES Commit to ongoing quality improvement, and participate in regular reviews and

evaluation of the project Maintain a high standard of record-keeping Supply statistics and other related information on workloads, produce reports as

required, and initiate/answer any correspondence as required Data collection and liaison with other NSW Staying Home, Leaving Violence projects Participate in regular clinical supervision, and attend seminars, lectures, conferences

and supervision as required for professional development.

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4. TEAMWORK Demonstrate an active, dedicated commitment to the WASH House Vision and

Philosophy Promote a positive image of The WASH House Market WASH House vision to all stakeholders Uphold the standards of Work, Health & Safety and the principles of EEO Contribute and participate in organisational decisions involving the development of the

WASH House and its services & products Model the principles of participation, partnership, collaboration and learning Participate in and contribute to team meetings Participate in team staff development and in-service training as appropriate Attend seminars, lectures, conferences and supervision as required for professional

development Support daily routine of the WASH House facility. 5. GENERAL Maintain client records, reports and other documentation as required by the WASH

House Support and adhere to the WASH House staff Code of Conduct, and WASH House

policies and procedures Maintain a working knowledge of relevant legislation relating to child protection and

mandatory reporting Other duties as required from time to time consistent with the level of the position. At the WASH House, being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s.31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

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Attachment 1

Employment Application Form

Personal Details

First Name: Surname:

Preferred Name (if different):

Postal Address:

Phone Business Hours:

After Hours:

Email address: @

Application Details

Position you are applying for: 005WHI – Case Worker

What interested you in applying for this position?

Where did you see this job vacancy advertised?

Referee Details

(Please provide 2 professional referees who can comment on your work skills. One must be a recent supervisor. Make sure you give us their current contact information and let them know we may be contacting them.)

Name:

Organisation:

Title:

Phone:

Name:

Organisation:

Title:

Phone:

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Additional Details

What is your current work authorisation?

□ I am an Australian Citizen/ permanent resident □ I hold a current working VISA □ I require sponsorship to work in Australia

Do you hold a current NSW Driver’s License □ Yes □ No

Have you ever worked for WASH House before? □ Yes □ No

Do you hold a current NSW paid employee Working with Children check clearance?

□ Yes Clearance number: WWC ______________________ E

Expiry date: /

□ No □ My application is imminent; I will have this soon □ I can apply for this if required

Note: As of 15th June 2013 the legislation for WWC checks changed, for more information please visit the Commission for Children & Young People's website www.kids.nsw.gov.au/Working-with-children/New-Working-with-Children-

Check

Applicant Declaration

□ I declare that the above information provided by me is true and correct.

Signature: ___________________________________

Date: __________________________

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Attachment 2

Response to selection criteria form To assist you in completing this form… Tell us about any relevant work experience, qualifications, skills and/or knowledge you have that are

relevant to this position The most recent the information, the better. Try to provide detail about duties performed most recently and

avoid including information not relevant to this position you are applying for Remember to tell us about both direct experience / skills (i.e.: from the same types of work) as well as

experience and experience you may have gained from other places It is good to give specific examples of what you know, where you learnt it and to give concrete examples of

how you have applied it in the past (e.g: where/how you’ve used these skills before) Try to give different examples to each criteria that show how you meet them rather than repeating the same

information/examples

Your Name:

Application: 005WHI – Case Worker

Essential: 1. At the WASH House, being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s.31

of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). Please confirm you are a woman by ticking this box ☐

2. Please list your relevant tertiary qualifications

3. What is your knowledge and understanding of domestic violence, social policy and issues that face women and their children in Western Sydney?

4. What is your understanding and experience in case management of people with complex support

needs including outreach and advocacy?

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5. What is your experience working with women and children in crisis or at significant risk of harm?

6. Please explain your understanding of Trauma Informed Practice

7. Please explain your communication and negotiation skills

8. What is your experience networking with multidisciplinary services and agencies? Please also

comment on your ability to build & foster relationships.

9. Please detail your conceptual skills and sound analytical and problem solving ability

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10. Please comment on your ability to work effectively within a small team

11. Please detail your computer and internet skills