Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Worker

Are you ready to embark on a fulfilling journey where you can play a pivitol role in transforming lives and breaking the cycle of domestic and family violence? Do you possess the compassion, capabilities, and commitment to empower women and  help break the cycle of abuse and support survivors to safety and healing?  If so, we want you to be part of our remarkable team!

Why Join us?:

• Professional Growth: Contribute to building something extraordinary and grow along with us with regular professional supervision
• Balance and Well-being: We prioritize your work-life harmony, ensuring a supportive and flexible work environment with a 35 hour week and flexible hours
• More holidays: We have 5 weeks holiday plus additional leave at Christmas
• Great salary: Starting package full time $106,000.00 + super (neg. dependent on experience)

About Justice Support Centre

Justice Support Centre is a not-for-profit community legal Centre.

Our legal services include information, advice and legal representation for people in South West Sydney, whose access to justice is denied or constrained, including specialised legal services for victim-survivors of DFV.

Our DFV services include court support and advocacy, safety planning, case management and financial counselling.

Both the legal and DFV teams offer tailored training and workshops to the community members and community organisations.

We give our clients the guidance, legal advice, support services and strength they need to claim their rights, know their options and choose their next steps.

About the role

The Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Worker assists the Manager in the overall administration and coordination of the South West Sydney WDVCAS responsibilities. The Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Worker works in partnership with the Safety Action Meeting Co-ordinator and other WDVCAS workers to provide clients with an effective, streamlined service.

This position is open to female applicants only. Justice Support Centre considers being a woman to be a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s. 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Principle Duties 

The work of the DFV Specialist Worker (includes, but is not limited to, the following duties:

• accepting electronic referrals from the Central Referral Point as well as telephone and paper referrals from government agencies and non-government services
• contacting clients referred to the Local Coordination Point in a timely and appropriate manner to offer a service
• conducting a threat assessment with clients to ascertain current risk status
• undertaking safety planning with clients to address their immediate safety needs
• liaising with the Safety Action Meeting Co-ordinator regarding clients at serious threat to ensure these clients are placed on the agenda for the next Safety Action Meeting 
• providing relevant and appropriate information in making warm referrals to a range of service providers to assist clients with their ongoing needs
• liaising with clients in relation to safety action plans developed at Safety Action Meetings and / or appropriate support provided, or arranged, by the Local Coordination Point
• attending court on AVO list days and other days as required, in particular; mentions, hearings, prosecutor hearing clinics etc to provide information, assistance, referrals and court advocacy for South West Sydney WDVCAS clients, as directed by the Manager or the Assistant Manager in liaison with the SAM Coordinator
• ensuring women have access to appropriate legal representation for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO) matters as required i.e. private ADVO applications
• ensuring the safety of South West Sydney WDVCAS clients at court by advocating on their behalf with court staff and Sherriff Officers to assist them into and out of court.  Obtaining copies of orders and other notices from the court staff on behalf of South West Sydney WDVCAS clients, as required
• assisting the Safety Action Meeting Coordinator to develop and administer policies, systems and processes for the effective operation of the Local Coordination Point and the Safety Action Meeting
• developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key WDVCAS partners including NSW Police Force, Local Courts, legal representatives and referral agencies, in order to facilitate client access to those agencies and services
• complying with the Safety Action Meeting Practice Manual and the Domestic and Family Violence Information Sharing Protocol as well as the WDVCAP policy manual
• fulfilling data entry and reporting requirements for the WDVCAP Database and the Central Referral Point in line with the WDVCAS Service Agreement and the WDVCAP Principles, Policies and Standards as needed
• complete all necessary training as outlined in the WDVCAS service agreement and the WDVCAS Policy and procedure manual.

Hearing Specific Duties

• contact clients in a timely manner, assessing risk and undertaking safety planning in relation to clients’ attendance at court for hearing
• explaining the court processes and accompanying clients to court for the hearing
• liaising with Police and court staff to ensure clients have access to remote witness facilities/AVL, safe rooms, qualified interpreters and other supports as needed
• where the accused is self represented, and a Court Appointed Questioner is being appointed, supporting the client during this process
• supporting the client to make her arrangements to travel to court and supporting her to make arrangements for childcare
• assisting with the organisation of Police Prosecutor Clinics each month and attending as requested by the Manager.

General Duties

• adhere to all JSC policies, procedures, principles and service standards
• be familiar and comply with all administrative, WHS and Human Resources procedures and processes relevant to your position
• undertake training and professional development to develop and maintain skills and qualifications necessary to effectively fulfil your position and as directed
• adhere to and work within codes of practice relevant to your role, position in the community and community sector
• maintain client and organisational privacy and confidentiality
• attend and contribute to regular team/staff meetings and planning activities as required
• actively and constructively participate in performance reviews
• promote JSC in a positive manner at all times
• encourage and maintain an atmosphere of harmony in the workplace by promoting and observing ethical practices, professionalism and teamwork
• work collaboratively with other team members by sharing skills, resources, projects and ideas
• participate in staff development opportunities
• maintain a working familiarity with office equipment required within the position
• other duties as requested by the Manager that are within the scope of this position.

ESSENTIAL AND DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Essential Criteria 

• demonstrated understanding of the dynamics, complexities and legal and social welfare consequences of domestic violence
• demonstrated understanding of the criminal justice response to domestic violence including Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) applications and criminal prosecutions and related legal matters such as family law, care and protection, migration and victim’s compensation issues
• demonstrated ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with key stakeholders in the local area
• demonstrated understanding of the particular needs of and challenges faced by clients from diverse communities, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and clients from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds
• demonstrated ability to engage effectively with clients in crisis and provide appropriate, trauma-informed support
• ability to deliver services in accordance with policies, principles and other operational documents
• sound organisational, administrative and management skills 
• excellent communication skills, particularly in negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution
• ability to work effectively with interpreter services and other support services for victims with specific needs
• basic IT skills.

Desirable Criteria

• proficiency in a language other than English.

This position is open to female applicants only. Justice Support Centre considers being a woman to be a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s. 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Closing Date: applicants will be interviewed progressively   

Contact Person: Enquiries about the roles should be emailed to Nikki Williams, Manager SWS WDVCAS, **************@jsc.org.au

The preferred applicants will be required to undergo a Working with Children Check and a National Police Records Check.  Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate knowledge of DFV Conect.

How to apply for this position:

1. Apply online with your cover letter, detailing how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria along with your resume.
2. Please address the essential and desirable criteria in full. Applications that do not address the essential criteria will not be considered.